Tracking

Definition

Tracking refers to the spacing between groups of letters in a word or block of text. It plays a crucial role in creating legibility and enhancing the overall aesthetic of typography. Proper tracking helps guide the reader’s eye smoothly across lines, improving readability while also contributing to the visual communication of a design.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adjusting tracking can significantly affect how a viewer perceives a design, with tight tracking often giving a more formal appearance and loose tracking offering a more relaxed feel.
2. In print design, optimal tracking can prevent words from appearing cramped or too spaced out, which can enhance readability.
3. Tracking adjustments are often more beneficial in larger blocks of text rather than in short phrases or headlines, where kerning typically takes precedence.
4. Different typefaces may require different tracking settings due to their unique characteristics; sans-serif fonts often need different tracking than serif fonts.
5. Professional typographers use tracking adjustments strategically to create mood and impact in their designs, impacting how audiences interpret the text.

Review Questions

• How does tracking influence the overall readability of a text block?
  • Tracking significantly affects readability by adjusting the space between letters, allowing for smoother visual flow when reading. Properly tracked text enables readers to move their eyes effortlessly across lines without distractions caused by cramped or overly spaced letters. A well-balanced tracking adjustment can enhance comprehension and keep the reader engaged, making it essential for effective typography in any design project.
• Discuss the relationship between tracking and other typographic elements like kerning and leading.
  • Tracking works in conjunction with kerning and leading to create an effective typographic design. While kerning focuses on the space between specific letter pairs to improve visual harmony, tracking applies a uniform adjustment across groups of letters. Leading complements both by influencing the vertical space between lines of text, which impacts how easily a reader navigates through paragraphs. Together, these elements must be harmonized to achieve optimal readability and aesthetic appeal.
• Evaluate the impact of varying tracking settings on different typefaces and their intended messages in design.
  • Varying tracking settings can dramatically alter how a typeface is perceived, impacting its intended message. For instance, increased tracking in a bold sans-serif font may convey openness and modernity, while tighter tracking in an elegant serif font can evoke sophistication and tradition. Designers must consider how different fonts respond to tracking adjustments; some may require looser spacing for clarity, while others may benefit from tighter adjustments for emphasis. This understanding allows designers to effectively manipulate typography to align with the communication goals of their projects.

Related terms

Kerning:

Kerning is the adjustment of space between individual letter pairs to achieve a visually pleasing result, making text appear more cohesive.

Leading: Leading is the vertical space between lines of text, influencing how easily a reader can follow the text and understand its flow.

Baseline:

The baseline is the invisible line on which most letters sit. Understanding how tracking interacts with the baseline helps create balanced typography.