14 Replies Latest reply: Nov 16, 2010 4:17 PM by on5lb RSS

    Initial character

    on5lb Community Member

      Hello,

       

      I use iD CS4 trying to write a book, and would like to know if there's a possibility to create the so called "Initial" at the beginning of a paragraph ?

       

      Can someone tell me how to proceed ?

      Thanks in advance,

      Tegards,

      Jean

        • 1. Re: Initial character
          Joel Cherney Community Member

          I've never heard it called "initial," but a quick search tells me that I'm an uncultured yahoo and that it might be another valid name for what I've always called a "drop cap." Is that what you're asking about?

          • 2. Re: Initial character
            on5lb Community Member

            Sorry, i'm a french speaking person, but yes, it looks like !

            I want to start the first line of a paragraph with the first letter something like 32pt, possible ?

             

            If you can tell me how to proceed, i will realy appreciate.

            Regards,

            Jean

            • 3. Re: Initial character
              Joel Cherney Community Member
              Sorry, i'm a french speaking person, but yes, it looks like !

              No apologies necessary! It looks like English uses "initial" to refer to this practice when discussing thousand-year-old illuminated manuscripts. In page layout software, I've always heard "drop cap." Speaking of which:

               

              dropcap.png

               

              ... it won't let you specify the point size of the drop cap. If you need more control, I bet that you could do it with a single letter in an anchored object. (Unfortunately, I have no idea how to say "anchored object" in French. )

              • 4. Re: Initial character
                on5lb Community Member

                Thanks for you reply, and no apoloies ;-)

                 

                The anchored object is an "Attached" object right ?

                 

                So, i will chech the procedure tomorrow, because it's already midnight in Brussels !

                Regards,

                Jean

                • 5. Re: Initial character
                  Nini Tjäder Community Member

                  No need for any attachments or anchored objects. Go to the Paragraph panel as shown above. Set how many lines you want the drop cap to span and how many characters, done.  If you want that drop cap to be a different font, jsut select it and choose desired font.

                  • 6. Re: Initial character
                    [Jongware] Community Member
                    If you want that drop cap to be a different font, jsut select it and choose desired font.

                     

                    Actually, if you set it to use a custom character style that'd be even better. If you don't like the looks of it, change the character style and you're done!

                     

                    Screen shot 2010-11-16 at 10.45.39 PM.png

                    • 7. Re: Initial character
                      Joel Cherney Community Member

                      Sorry, helpful folks, when I was thinking of anchored objects for additional control, I was thinking of stuff like "if you want vines growing all over your drop cap, or if you want it to be inhabited by elves" and so on. If there's a "Elves" checkbox in the character styles, tell me where it is, because the horrifically boring application form I'm working in twelve languages on would be much improved by some curling ivy and mischevious elves.


                      • 8. Re: Initial character
                        P Spier CommunityMVP

                        I used to have a link to some cool fonts like that, butthe emphasis seems to be on "used to" ...

                        • 9. Re: Initial character
                          Joel Cherney Community Member

                          Feature Request: Where Are My Elves? DANGIT I WANT ELVES ADOBE DON'T LET ME DOWN

                          • 10. Re: Initial character
                            P Spier CommunityMVP

                            Elves has left the building...


                            • 11. Re: Initial character
                              on5lb Community Member

                              Hello,

                              Thanks all of You.

                              I succeeded putting a "Drop Capr" (correct ?) but i still have  problems !

                               

                              1) How can i adjust the drop cap position ?

                              Am i limited to use the mouse, or is there an other option for a more acurate adjustment ?

                               

                              2) Using "sub-paragraph's" ? how do i refuse the drop cap option and have it as the example

                              (please look at the link)

                               

                              http://www.rescon.be/iD/Lettrines/De-ci_de-là.png

                               

                              Can i modify the options from the Paragraph panel, style..?

                               

                              Thanks in advance for your help.

                              Regards,

                              Jean

                              • 12. Re: Initial character
                                Nini Tjäder Community Member

                                Well then it's an anchored graphic you need.


                                • 13. Re: Initial character
                                  Joel Cherney Community Member
                                  1) How can i adjust the drop cap position ?

                                  Am i limited to use the mouse, or is there an other option for a more acurate adjustment ?

                                  The kerning, tracking, and position above/below baseline can all be changed with keyboard shortcuts.  Also, in Type -> Preferences, in Units and Increments, you can change the amount that some of those are changed (leading, size, but not above/below baseline).The drop cap also behaves just like text, so the drop cap will obey the indent for the paragraph as in the example picture you just posted.

                                   

                                  2) Using "sub-paragraph's" ? how do i refuse the drop cap option and have it as the example

                                  (please look at the link)

                                   

                                  http://www.rescon.be/iD/Lettrines/De-ci_de-là.png

                                   

                                  Can i modify the options from the Paragraph panel, style..?

                                   

                                  Lots of ways to do this. Nini is pretty much right - the anchored graphic is probably the way to go, you get the most flexibility with that tool - but you could also have two paragraph styles (like "BodyWithInitial" and "BodyNoInitial") and use the "Next Style" feature in the Paragraph Style preferences to always apply "BodyNoIntial" after a paragraph of "BodyWithInitial."

                                  • 14. Re: Initial character
                                    on5lb Community Member

                                    Thanks Nini and Joel, i'll try i tomorrow, it's bed time for me...01:15 !

                                    Jena