In some programs, such as Corel Ventura, Adobe Creative Suite applications, and QuarkXPress 8, hanging punctuation is an automated function. However, even with the assistance of the software, the default settings are not always optimal. It may be necessary to fine-tune your text after using these tools. Also, the appearance of your hanging punctuation may change a little or a lot if you change the typeface, font size, or text alignment.
InDesign
- With text selected, choose Type > Story to open the Story palette
- Check the Optical Margin Adjustment box
- Enter an amount of overhang (how much the punctuation and serifs will fall outside the margin edges)
Note: Start by setting the overhang the same as the text size then adjust as necessary.
Photoshop & Illustrator
With your cursor in your text block, check off Hang Punctuation or Roman Hanging Punctuation (may vary by version) from the Paragraph palette's fly-out menu. It will apply to left, right, or both margins depending on the text alignment selected for that text.
QuarkXPress 8
- Select your text
- Go to Style > Formats.
- Open Paragraph Attributes > Formats
- From the Hanging Character Set drop-down menu, choose Hanging Punctuation or Punctuation Margin Alignment
You can use the edit options to fine-tune your hanging punctuation and apply your hanging punctuation settings to a style sheet.
- Introduction Hanging Punctuation
- Technical Alignment Close-up Without Hanging Punctuation
- Optical Alignment Close-up With Hanging Punctuation
- this page
- Manual Hanging Punctuation When Your Software Doesn't Have Automatic Options
