How to Adjust Kerning in Google Slides?

While Google Slides doesn’t have dedicated kerning functionality, fret not, typography enthusiasts! This post delves into alternative methods to finesse your text spacing, ensuring your presentations radiate visual harmony.

Understanding Kerning and Its Absence in Google Slides:

Kerning refers to the adjustment of space between specific letter pairs, crucial for optimal visual balance and legibility. Google Slides currently lacks this native feature, but fear not! We’ll explore alternative approaches to achieve similar effects.

Method 1: Embrace Letter Spacing – A Broader Look:

While not kerning in the strictest sense, letter spacing allows you to adjust the overall space between characters.

• Highlight the text you want to modify.
• Click on Format in the menu bar.
• Choose Text options and then Paragraph spacing.
• Under Letter spacing, utilize the slider to adjust the spacing to your liking.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different values to find the sweet spot for your font and design goals. Remember, subtler adjustments often yield more balanced results.

Method 2: The Invisible Hero – Non-Breaking Spaces for Precise Control:

This method involves strategically inserting non-breaking spaces to create targeted spacing between specific letter pairs.

• Select the text you want to adjust.
• Click on Insert in the menu bar.
• Choose Special characters and then Non-breaking space.
• Insert these spaces strategically between letter combinations that feel too close.

Pro Tip: This method requires more effort but offers greater control over individual letter spacing. Use it judiciously to avoid excessive gaps that might disrupt readability.

Method 3: The Power of Choice – Selecting Fonts with Innate Space:

Certain fonts boast wider letterforms by design, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. Consider these typography gems:

• Open Sans: A versatile sans-serif font with a clean, open feel.
• PT Sans: Another popular sans-serif with slightly wider letter spacing than Open Sans.
• Merriweather: A serif font with a generous letter spacing, ideal for headings and titles.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different fonts and preview them in your presentation context to find the perfect match for your desired spacing and overall aesthetic.

Method 4: Beyond Slides – Exploring Design Software for Advanced Typography:

If precise kerning control is paramount, consider exporting your text to design software like Figma or Adobe Illustrator. These programs offer advanced typography features, including kerning.

Remember: While Google Slides doesn’t have dedicated kerning, these alternative approaches empower you to achieve visually balanced and compelling text spacing in your presentations. Experiment, explore, and embrace the creative freedom these methods offer!

Bonus Tip: Consider the overall visual hierarchy of your presentation when making spacing decisions. Titles and headings often benefit from slightly wider spacing for emphasis, while body text might require tighter spacing for optimal readability.

Embrace the Challenge, Craft Compelling Presentations:

Remember, the absence of a dedicated kerning feature doesn’t hinder your ability to create visually captivating presentations. By understanding the nuances of spacing and employing the methods outlined above, you can transform your text into a powerful design element, elevating your presentations to new heights.