Re: do narrow and bold-narrow font-series exist? How can i squish Lyrics horizontally?

[Robert Stoddard]

The typesetting term for this is "kerning" -- modifying the space between letters.  A valuable tool in text setting.

Long ago Adobe sold fonts that were continuously variable, i.e. you could "dial in" any degree of bold or italic.  I don't recall, though, that even those fonts had a "narrow" option.

In tight lyric situations, I have had to resort to one or both of two tricks:

1. Change the point-size of the lyric font.

2. Underlay lyrics using _\markup commands.  While this loses the exact note-by-note underlay, it can be used to good effect to borrow extra space from words in a phrase.

Query for the group: is there any way to ensure that the baselines of two note-linked markups (e.g., _\markup) are aligned?  Consider the following mini-code:

\relative c'' {

c4_\markup{ "A pseudo-lyric" } b a g

f g_\markup{ "won't align"} a e'

\break

c4_\markup{ "A pseudo-lyric" } b a g

f g_\markup{ \null \vspace #0.85 "now aligns"} a e'

\break

c4_\markup{ \concat { "A pseudo-lyric" \hspace #3 "re-aligned" }} b a g

f g a e'

}

I hate the kludge required to eye-ball the alignment in the second version above, and the third is hardly better; is there a better solution?  

~Robert Stoddard

www.bostonsing.org

2011/1/13 Janek Warchoł <address@hidden>

2011/1/11 Alexander Kobel <address@hidden>:

> On 2011-01-11 00:30, Janek Warchoł wrote:
>> Ok, thanks.
>> What about compressing words? I mean, is it possible to change the
>> amount of space between the letters?
>
> I don't think so, and I don't think it's to come: this is not even a
> feature too common in amateur-grade DTP applications.

The only thing i can say is that OpenOffice supports it. I don't know
if this is an appropriate program to speak of, though.

> But if you were to choose 'bold-narrow, you'd get the same as selecting
> a condensed font for this syllable.  It might look okay if you just use
> this for a syllable, depending on the very font and the difference
> between the variants.  Otherwise, try something like \markup \scale
> #'(0.97 . 1) "syllable"; that's about all I can come up with.

I tried it and unfortunately the scaled syllabes start to look weird
as soon as i compress them by the amount that makes any difference in
my situation (0.9 for example).
I think that adding ability to reduce distances between letters
without affecting letters would be useful, especially in tight lyrics
situations.
Nevertheless, thank you very much for your help!

cheers,
Janek

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