Unfortunately, the provided reference doesn't fully explain how to adjust paragraph spacing in Illustrator. It only mentions indents. Therefore, this answer will provide the comprehensive steps for adjusting paragraph spacing in Illustrator.
To adjust paragraph spacing in Adobe Illustrator, you'll primarily use the Paragraph panel and, optionally, the Character panel. Here's how:
Accessing the Paragraph Panel
- Window Menu: Go to
Window > Type > Paragraphto open the Paragraph panel. If you're also adjusting character settings,Window > Type > Characterwill open that panel.
Adjusting Paragraph Spacing
1. Paragraph Indents (Left and Right)
- As the provided reference mentions, you can control paragraph indents.
- Left Indent: This controls the distance between the left edge of the text frame and the beginning of the paragraph. Enter a value in the "Left Indent" field (usually a small triangle icon with a line).
- Right Indent: This controls the distance between the right edge of the text frame and the end of the paragraph. Enter a value in the "Right Indent" field. This is especially useful when justifying text.
2. Space Before and Space After Paragraph
- Space Before: Add space above the selected paragraph(s) by entering a value in the "Space Before Paragraph" field.
- Space After: Add space below the selected paragraph(s) by entering a value in the "Space After Paragraph" field. This is generally the preferred method for adding spacing between paragraphs.
3. Line Spacing (Leading)
- While not directly paragraph spacing, line spacing affects the overall appearance. You can adjust leading (the vertical space between lines of text) in the Character Panel (Window > Type > Character). The setting is often represented by an "A over A" icon, or a field labeled "Leading." Auto leading is also an option.
Example Scenario
Let's say you have a block of text and want to add space between each paragraph:
- Select the text object with the Selection Tool (V).
- Open the Paragraph panel (Window > Type > Paragraph).
- In the Paragraph panel, locate the "Space After Paragraph" field.
- Enter a value (e.g.,
12pt). This will add 12 points of space after each selected paragraph. Experiment with different values to achieve the desired look.
Additional Tips
- Character Styles and Paragraph Styles: For consistent formatting, create and apply Character Styles (for character-level formatting) and Paragraph Styles (for paragraph-level formatting). This allows you to quickly apply the same spacing settings to multiple text elements throughout your document. To create these, go to
Window > Type > Character StylesorWindow > Type > Paragraph Styles. - Justification: Be mindful of justification settings (found in the Paragraph panel) as they can interact with indent and spacing.
By using the Paragraph and Character panels, you can easily control and adjust paragraph spacing to create visually appealing and well-organized text in your Illustrator designs.
