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[Ariel]
[Ariel]
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The point of two points?

Feb 13, 2012 1:43 PM

Hello,

 

I've been meaning to ask for a long time: I often find myself cycling

through the measurement units (CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-U by default), especially

to switch between pts and mm.

 

Anway, I notice that there seem to be two types of points, or at least,

when you cycle through, to get past pts you have to press twice.

 

So I'm wondering: what is (is there?) a difference between those two

point measurements? What is the difference? How do I know which is

which? What's the real point? What am I asking? Why am I here?

 

No, but seriously. Do you know?

 

Thanks,

Ariel

 

914 Views   12 Replies   Latest reply: winterm, Feb 14, 2012 2:17 AM
 
Replies
  • Daniel Flavin
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    1. Daniel Flavin,
    Feb 13, 2012 2:12 PM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    This sounds like one for Ann Marie at InDesign Secrets...

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    2. Peter Spier,
    Feb 13, 2012 2:16 PM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    On my system when you run through that way you go through Pixels (which is the same as points) then custom, then real points.

     
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  • [Ariel]
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    3. [Ariel],
    Feb 13, 2012 2:41 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    I should have mentioned that I'm on CS4 (ME if that's relevant but I

    think not in this case).

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    4. Peter Spier,
    Feb 13, 2012 2:53 PM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    I thnk you're seeinghte Custom units.

     

    Go to the prefs and set your ruler to custom and I bet it shows 12 (the default) which would look just like the reguular points settings.

     
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  • mpc999
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    5. mpc999,
    Feb 13, 2012 2:58 PM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    Maybe you're seeing Postscript points and traditional points, two choices in units preferences that are very similar.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    6. Peter Spier,
    Feb 13, 2012 3:06 PM   in reply to mpc999
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    mpc999 wrote:

     

    Maybe you're seeing Postscript points and traditional points, two choices in units preferences that are very similar.

    No, that governs the spacing of the tick marks in rulers that use points. The custom setting is also points, but changes the number of minor ticks between major lines. If you leave it at twelve, you'll be looking at Pica divisions.

     
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  • [Ariel]
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    7. [Ariel],
    Feb 13, 2012 3:14 PM   in reply to mpc999
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    Hi mpc999: I also considered that -- but I measured carefully, well

    zoomed in, and I saw that there was no difference. I think that's a

    choice you make in preferences only (ie Adobe points or Trad points) and

    it redefines the points measurement wherever it is used throughout the

    document.

     
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  • [Ariel]
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    8. [Ariel],
    Feb 13, 2012 3:20 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Peter, you're right. Selecting custom in the prefs brings up 12pt in the

    adjacent box (never noticed those boxes before, never used custom

    either). I tried changing custom to 36pts, and lo! that change is

    clearly reflected in the ruler when I cycle through the units. So one of

    the points is the regular point, and the other is the custom.

     

    But, if I'm guessing correctly, the custom unit IS actually points? It's

    just the display on the ruler that changes when you select custom,

    right? I guess some people want to be able to easily tick-off every 54th

    point or what have you. But the underlying measurement unit remains

    points, which is why (at least in CS4) it displays as points (ie all

    measurements have the pt suffix).

     

    So in that case Custom is not really the same as the other units.

    Because for all other units, if  you type 1 in some measurement box,

    you'll get different actual lengths; but for custom and points you'll

    get 1 point in both cases. Wait, and I guess that the same for inches

    and decimal inches too.

     

    Okay, I guess this is making sense. Thanks!

     

    Ariel

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    9. Peter Spier,
    Feb 13, 2012 3:27 PM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    I think tha about sums it up. Custom is useful if you want easy oddball increments to show on the ruler (maybe for colmns of some sort), but it's still just points.

     
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  • [Ariel]
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    10. [Ariel],
    Feb 13, 2012 3:44 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Thanks all!

     
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  • John Hawkinson
    5,528 posts
    Jun 25, 2009
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    11. John Hawkinson,
    Feb 14, 2012 2:07 AM   in reply to [Ariel]
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    If you want to know what unit you have selected, Control-click the intersection of the two rulers.

    Reading this thread it looks like you didn't try that, but maybe I'm wrong.

    It's a moot point anyhow, I guess, if it is even a point.

     
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  • winterm
    176 posts
    Sep 16, 2010
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    12. winterm,
    Feb 14, 2012 2:17 AM   in reply to John Hawkinson
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    John Hawkinson wrote:

     

    If you want to know what unit you have selected, Control-click the intersection of the two rulers.

    That's on Mac, I suppose. In Windows - right click that intersection for context menu.

     
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