08 - Working with Typography

In this video we are looking at the new easy to use,
typography features in X6.
In previous videos we created this brochure.
We used the new 'Layout Toolbar' and
the new and improved Corel CONNECT.
We also used the improved [Object Manager] and
the new page numbering feature.
I created a background layer for
the background to appear across all pages and
I created and placed objects on a layer.
We also selected objects from the object manager.
In this video I’m working with the [Object Properties] docker.
It's been updated and improved.
Selecting text, automatically the character properties appear
in the [Object Properties] docker with many options.
Although this text works well with this brochure,
There is a lot more I can do.
To open the [Object Properties] docker,
Go to [Window] - [Dockers] - [Object Properties] or use [Alt+Enter].
The [Object Properties] docker was in previous versions.
For X6 it has been improved,
particularly in the area of OpenType features
which I will demonstrate to you.
The [Object Properties] docker sections can be easily collapsed.
If I click collapse, all sections are collapsed.
These icons at the top let me open a section.
Selecting 'Paragraph' causes that section to be dominant.
The same applies for the others.
I am going to work with the 'Character' section.
Previewing fonts in the [Object Properties] docker is easy.
While the text is selected, click the font list.
As I hover over a font, the text updates in real time.
That's fantastic!
Notice this symbol at the front of the fonts.
Most have the symbol 'O' and some have 'TT'.
'TT' = TrueType font and 'O' = OpenType font.
OpenType fonts allow the creator
to add extended features.
Some fonts included in X6 contain OpenType features,
fonts like Frutiger, Futura, Garamond, Helvetica, and Zapfino.
The last 5 fonts selected display at the top.
I'm choosing Zapfino, it has advanced OpenType features
for me to demonstrate this new section to you.
To help you understand what's about to happen
I've added extra lines.
This line is the baseline and this is the x-height.
The x-height is where the area of lowercase characters exist.
The baseline to the ascender line
is where the main body of the characters exist.
Notice that characters do display outside of this line.
For right now, just understand that
font creators work inside of these parameters.
As I select features and the font changes,
be assured the font is using these parameters.
Here in the Object Properties docker
is a brand new OpenType features area.
If you see a symbol not grayed out it means
a set of features is available for the selected font.
For professionals these symbols mean something,
for those of us who are not, this is the place to experiment.
If I choose 'Stylistic alternatives', click the triangle
and select one of the alternatives; watch the changes.
I'll select another one.
This one has glyphs coming down past the baseline.
I'll click None and move on to the next set.
From 'Stylistic set', I’ll click 01.
Notice nothing happened?
That doesn't mean nothing is available there.
It means that I don't have the proper characters
or grouping of characters for that stylistic set.
So just turn it off and try a different set.
This set does apply an effect.
Doesn't that look fantastic?
It is worthwhile experimenting here.
Try different combinations to see what you can create.
However, there is also another way.
Corel have created a real-time preview option.
I'll demonstrate.
Double-cclick for the 'Text tool' and highlight 'B',
I'll make the text black in color, notice this arrow appears.
It's the interactive OpenType preview.
I can have one character, multiples or multiple words selected
but I can't have more than one line selected.
different groups of letters selected, results
In different OpenType features.
I presently have the letter 'B' selected and in
this display, are all of the options for the letter 'B'.
As I hover you see a real-time preview.
Notice the fit to the ascender line, baseline and x-height.
The original option, is the form that it is in right now,
and remember it may have a stylistic set already applied.
Original is the way it looks before changing it.
I’m going to choose
'Swash Variants'.
I'll select the whole line and fill it black,
Now because I have more characters,
it is likely I'll have more features available.
There are certainly more options now.
They all look good.
Corel have done an amazing job
making it easily to preview and access OpenType features.
I'm going to choose stylistic set 4 and fill with white.
This style works so well with this brochure.
On to Page 4.
I've placed 4 phone numbers for this demonstration.
and I've also chosen the OpenType font
Frutiger Serif because it has many OpenType features.
Let’s look at the number styles options.
I'll Choose 'Proportional Lining'.
Watch the number.
See how it closed up.
Spacing is based on the character width of each number,
it's a good option in text as it spaces similar to text.
The next option I’ll choose is 'Tabular Lining'.
Not much changes with tabular lining.
It spaces as if they were all identical width and height.
The next option is 'Proportional Oldstyle’.
Some of the strokes are now coming below the baseline.
It has the effect of upper and lowercase.
The spacing is based on the width of the characters.
The final style is 'Tabular style old'.
This is identical to above but the characters
are spaced as if all characters were the same width.
I'm choosing 'Tabular Oldstyle', I'll delete the others.
I want it to be 24pt & white in color.
Move to the right.
Add 'mobile' to the front.
To create a duplicate use [Ctrl+D].
Move above and
add 'headquarters' to the front.
Now I’ll turn on alignment guides
so I can align the phone numbers to the 4.
The phone numbers are now completed.
On to Page 2.
Notice when I select the text frame there is
another icon available in the [Object Properties docker].
This icon opens the properties for text frames.
This option turns on/off ‘Align to baseline grid’.
I did align to baseline grid earlier so I’ll leave it on.
This option displays vertical alignment in real-time
as I hover over the options.
I can select a background color.
I can choose any of the available colors.
However, I will stay with no color.
I can now add columns.
Add columns as needed. The equal column width option
forces all column widths to be equal.
Or adjust column widths with the Column settings box
for accuracy.
I only need one column. Let’s now look at paragraph.
I've created a second text frame,
I have copied the first paragraph of the text below.
I've done this to create a before and after example.
Paragraph properties has all the usual options
'Center', 'Right justify', 'Full justify', etc.
I want to demonstrate word spacing because
word spacing can impact the readability of text.
As I increase spacing the text looks easier to read.
This area is worth experimenting with when you
have large paragraphs of text that are difficult to read.
Character spacing is another option to consider.
Increasing character spacing impacts readability also.
Character spacing can also help text to fit in the frame
It can open or close up your text to fit the frame.
Then there is the Paragraph spacing Options.
I want to look at 'Line spacing'.
If I enter 200, just to exaggerate the point,
See how line spacing can also impact readability.
The combination of these three, are always
worth looking at for readability.
Entering 10 for the first line indent,
is a really great look.
To have a left line indent also, enter a value of 10
to create an entire indent on the left-hand side.
Setting Left Indent back to 0, is interesting also.
For now I will set both to 10.
And I'll set Right Indent to 10 as well.
Now I have a right and left indent of 10mm.
Selecting Full Justify really highlights this.
That looks great!
Paragraph properties really is the place
to perfect a project.
X6 has the ability to save for earlier versions
so the same results can be seen.
Although X6 uses OpenType features,
the look can be preserved in an earlier version.
If I choose [Save As], which I’ve done before.
I've saved in an editable and a non-editable version.
To demonstrate, Ill call this 'Test' and save as Version 15.
We see a new dialog box.
‘Keep text editable’, means
if the document contains a font using OpenType features,
the features are removed and a straight font will appear.
If I choose 'Keep text appearance',
the font and OpenType features will be converted to curves.
I'll demonstrate this for you.
I'll open X5.
In X5 the 'B7 Pisces' has been converted to curves.
The other editable version has the straight Zapfino font
without the OpenType features.
In X6, if I open the same files,
the editable and non-editable version, we see a new toolbar.
Selecting text causes the toolbar to also appear in the
[Object Properties] docker in the OpenType features area.
Because this file was saved as an old version, X6 wants to
update the file to support the new features.
In the next video, I'll discuss, “Working with Object Styles”.