In the vast expanse of typographic rules, letter spacing stands out as the most crucial, yet often ignored, fundamental.
Imagine, if you will, a font where letters are as close as possible, like a crowded elevator in a high-rise building.
This, my friend, is not letter spacing. This is letter squashing.
Letter spacing, on the other hand, is like having an open, airy, and spacious elevator where each letter has its own private bubble.
So, how much letter spacing should you use? The answer, much like the perfect amount of ketchup on a hot dog, is subjective and depends solely on personal preference.
That being said, here are some general guidelines:
- 1-2% is for the minimalist, 'I'm a hipster' types.
- 2-4% is for the 'I'm a designer, hear me roar' crowd.
- 4-6% is for the 'I've got a lot to say, and I want to say it all' folks.
- More than 6%? You're just showing off.
And don't even get me started on tracking and kerning.