Kerning
Kerning: Kerning is the adjustment of spacing between particular pairs of characters.
What Kerning means
Kerning is the adjustment of spacing between particular pairs of characters. Kerning corrects pair-specific spacing so letters appear visually balanced. It is different from tracking, which changes spacing across a range of characters.
In graphics work, this concept affects either image construction, color representation, compositing or the presentation of type. The correct workflow depends on whether the output is for screens, print, scalable artwork or pixel-based imagery.
How it is used in web and design work
Design tools often provide nondestructive ways to make changes so original image or type information remains available. Keeping editable structure is useful when a file must be revised, resized or exported to several formats.
In practical work, Kerning should be interpreted according to its technical or design context. The surrounding document structure, software, output medium, browser behavior or publishing workflow determines how the concept is applied. The purpose of the term is to describe a specific part of that process, not to replace the other concepts around it.
Where the term fits
Graphics terminology often depends on the representation and output medium. Raster files store pixel information, vector graphics store geometric descriptions, screen color commonly uses RGB, and many print workflows use CMYK. Photoshop layers, masks and Smart Objects describe editing structure, while typographic terms such as kerning, tracking and leading describe specific spacing relationships within type.
Before changing a graphics file, confirm whether the source is raster or vector, its pixel dimensions or intended physical size, its color mode and whether important edits remain nondestructive. For typography, evaluate the actual typeface, size, line length and output context rather than applying one spacing value universally. These properties affect one another but describe different parts of the finished result.
Why the distinction matters
A common mistake is confusing screen, print, vector and raster concepts. Pixel dimensions, physical output size, color models and scalable geometry describe different properties and should be handled separately.
Using precise terminology helps designers, developers, editors and clients describe the same problem without mixing separate layers of a project. That is especially useful when a visual issue may actually come from document structure, when a WordPress issue belongs to a theme or plugin, or when an image problem depends on resolution, color or file type rather than styling.
Related glossary terms
The following entries sit close to Kerning in the same workflow or terminology set. The distinction is useful because each term names a separate concept:
Tracking: Tracking is the uniform adjustment of spacing across a range of characters.
Typography: Typography is the selection, arrangement and styling of type to communicate written content effectively.
Leading: Leading is the vertical distance between lines of type, commonly measured from one baseline to the next.
Blend Mode: A blend mode determines how the color values of one layer or element are mathematically combined with the content beneath it.
Sources and further reading
This entry is a concise, independently written definition based on established documentation. The linked references provide standards, product documentation or broader technical context.