In page layout, vertical justification is used to align columns of text evenly. Typically vertical justification is used to force the last line of a text frame or adjacent columns of text to align with the bottom margin or some other point on the page. It can also help to eliminate widows or orphans left floating at the ends of paragraphs by forcing a paragraph to stay together.
Page layout and word processing software programs often have a command or settings which will automatically align the bottoms of text columns or frames. It can also be done manually. Vertical justification is accomplished by making minute adjustments to line spacing (leading) and tracking in order to stretch or compress text so that it lines up evenly and ends at the bottom margin (or some other desired point on the page).
When working with adjacent columns of text, unless leading creep is acceptable, it may prove difficult to acheive both vertical justification alongside baseline synchronization (all baselines line up) unless the same leading adjustments are made to both columns of text.
