Sketch Text Character Spacing won't accept a negative value

[JFKANSAS]

Typically in typesetting you can apply a negative value to text spacing to bring characters closer together. I was surprised when Fusion won't do this. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Negativ bedeutet für mich nicht näher, sondern vor.

For me the 2nd letter is behind the first.
What is the point of negative spacing.

günther

[MichaelT_123]

Yes, Mr Guenther Andresen,

... for the Latinised populace and particularly those with a machinist background ... you are right ... next character is to the right to the previous one. 🙂

In the general worldwide population, it is not always the case. Scripts in different civilizations can differ significantly. That is why the font as a method of displaying glyphs of character in the standardized and optimized way is widely used in order to deal with the complexities of scripts.

TF360 have made a shortcut in implementing sketchText Object by adopting the machinist's rigid simplicity with no room for tolerance.  In the broader context of software development, one can even point out (I will be gentle here) a deficiency of a deeper understanding of the font/text issue.

Having said that, I recognize that the Text Problem is not a trivial one, but also until it is adequately addressed, there always be topics on this forum worthy of replying to! 🙂

Regards

MichaelT

[JFKANSAS]

If you have 2 letters or numbers like "22" the spacing between is too far in some fonts. There is a character spacing option in the text dialog, but it only accepts positive numbers which only makes the characters further apart. Generally when you have a character space value a negative value is available to bring the characters closer together. 

I can make it work by manually moving 2 2s to be closer together. It would be easier if I could type them out with the spacing I want. Just less work. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Now I understand what you mean.

I know something like that only from DTP programs.

It would be nice for some of us to have such options in Fusion as well.
But we should not forget that Fusion is a CAD application and not a DTP tool.

günther

[JFKANSAS]

I know, just was reporting, maybe it is just an oversight. Most likely an unsigned data type is being used for that field that only allows positive numbers. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

However, such an option reaches its limits where intersections occur during extrusion or embossing, especially with curved surfaces.

günther

[JFKANSAS]

Not in the Sketch environment. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

When I create  text in a sketch, I use it for extruding or embossing afterwards.

günther

[JFKANSAS]

Right but before you do that you would want to adjust the text spacing in the sketch if needed. To actually used the text outlines for anything you have to explode it first, and then it isn't "text" anymore, it is just paths. 

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1. when you extrude and emboss, the text does not need to be converted to paths.
2. when the text is embossed on a curved surface, it follows its curvature. This causes the characters to be tilted against each other and overlap if the spacing is small at the same time, subsequently causing an error message.

günther

[Galaktican]

The Fusion 360 team has added a Character Spacing feature that only accepts positive numbers to increase the spacing between characters.  We are simply asking for the ability the decrease the space between characters, requiring the ability to enter negative numbers.  Its a simple and valid request.  I've needed this feature many times and I have to create a new text box for every character in order to workaround this lack.

[Galaktican]

And, while they're at it.  I need a function to change (increase and decrease) the character spacing vertically, also.

[mark]

The ability to adjust the tracking (the inter-character spacing between all letters of a word) of text would indeed be very useful. 

[brandonXNQ6E]

Just ran into this problem myself.  Like you, I was surprised when a negative value did not work.  This is a standard typography adjustment...so yeah, let's get this fixed.

[341187375]

Such a basic feature... why is this still not available

[novakkryHVRFG]

Hello Autodesk,

could we please fix this issue? Could we get a negative value of spacing so our texts are not so much apart?

Thank you

[bsimmes]

Dear Moderator, how can I decrease the spacing between characters? BR Bernd.

[matthewM5R6M]

Just a bump to this thread, why can't this be fixed?!?  

I have to explode the text, and use scale!

[hamocean]

Isn't the purpose of Fusion 360 to design beautiful products? All products include text. Beautiful products have good-looking text. It is fundamental to design that you want to beautifully adjust the space between letters. No matter how great your design is, you don't want to use stupid words with far between letters. This is not a feature unique to the dtp program. This is a basic feature to consider in any program related to design. Autodesk should actively respond to a resolution for this issue.