Drop Cap vertical alignment question?

track and kern16 February 2006 · 00:42

When inserting a drop cap, should the top of the character align with the baseline, x-height, or cap-height of the first line in the paragraph?

kaibernau16 February 2006 · 01:28

Not the baseline, rest at your discretion.

If you set in a language that utilizes ahellafalotta ascenders, or many accents (or both!) maybe higher than x-height (which is what I would normally aim at as a starting point). In short: Utilize eyes and critical observation ;-)

Alessandro Segalini16 February 2006 · 04:25

I suggest you pp. 193-213 of “The Complete Manual Of Typography: A guide to setting perfect type”, by J. Felici (Peachpit Press, 2003).

Nick Shinn16 February 2006 · 07:19

The typographic solution to this question is to start the paragraph with two or three words set in caps or small caps, and align the top of the drop cap with the top of those words.

Alessandro Segalini17 February 2006 · 00:58

Yes, you are right Mr. Shinn (I prefer small caps), dude, your icon is quite robocop !

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