Kerning changes everything about how text looks. Most people never notice letter spacing, but they feel it. Good kerning makes a design look smooth, clean, and balanced. Bad kerning makes a word look strange, uneven, or messy. Even a small gap can break the flow of your design.

This guide breaks down the kerning meaning, the kerning definition, and how you can use kerning in your own design work. You’ll learn when to adjust spacing, how kerning differs from tracking, how kerning began, and how to practice it with Picsart fonts. Everything stays simple, readable, and beginner-friendly.

If you want a broader start on type basics, this article helps too. But first, let’s begin with the basics.

What is kerning?

Kerning is the process of adjusting the space between two characters. Not entire words. Not entire paragraphs. Just the spacing between specific letter pairs.

Some letter shapes naturally leave big gaps. Others sit too close. Kerning fixes these issues so your text feels even and visually balanced. When kerning is good, the eye doesn’t notice spacing at all. The word simply “feels right.”

Kerning meaning (in simple words)

The kerning meaning is the spacing between two letters that you adjust so the word looks better. Designers use kerning when letters sit awkwardly, collide, or create weird gaps.

For example, “A V” often needs special spacing. So do combos like “T o,” “W A,” or “Y a.” Without kerning, the spacing looks uneven. With kerning, everything flows.

Kerning is small, but it changes the mood and clarity of your text.

Kerning definition

The kerning definition is:
“The adjustment of space between individual characters to improve visual spacing.”

This definition is simple but powerful. Kerning is all about improving how text feels. Typography is not just arranging letters – it’s designing the experience of reading.

Why kerning matters

Kerning matters because:

  • It improves readability 
  • It makes words feel balanced 
  • It creates professional-looking text 
  • It strengthens your layout and brand 
  • It smooths the visual rhythm of a design 

Good kerning gives your design an intentional, polished feel. Bad kerning leaves a design looking rushed or amateur.

You can have an amazing font, great colors, and a strong layout but if kerning is off, the whole design feels wrong.

Kerning vs tracking

Kerning and tracking both deal with spacing, but they are not the same.

  • Kerning adjusts spacing between specific pairs of letters. 
  • Tracking adjusts spacing across all letters equally. 

If a title looks too tight overall, adjust tracking first. If certain pairs still look bad, adjust kerning next. Both work together to create clean spacing.

How kerning started (the origin)

Kerning comes from traditional printing. In the era of metal type, each letter was carved onto a block. Some letters had overhangs, called “kerns,” that extended beyond the metal block so letters could sit closer together.

This is where the term kerning comes from – the physical kern.

As printing moved into digital design, kerning transformed into software-based spacing rules. But the purpose stayed the same: keep the spacing natural and readable.

Kerning in modern digital typography

Today, fonts include built-in kerning pairs. These are preset spacing rules created by the type designer. They help most text look even without manual editing.

Software like Picsart, Adobe tools, and other design apps use these preset rules through auto-kerning. But automatic kerning is not always perfect. Some letter pairs still feel too open or too tight.

This is why manual kerning still matters, especially in logos, titles, posters, and branding.

If you want help choosing fonts for design work, this article is a great resource:

When should you kern text?

Kerning is helpful in situations where spacing issues are easy to spot. You should adjust kerning when:

  • Fonts have inconsistent spacing 
  • A word feels visually unbalanced 
  • You’re working with large text or headlines 
  • You’re designing logos or wordmarks 
  • You’re using decorative or display fonts 
  • Uppercase text feels uneven 
  • You want clean spacing for posters or covers 

Small body text usually doesn’t need kerning because the size hides spacing issues. But big text shows everything.

Manual kerning vs auto kerning

Auto kerning

Auto kerning uses the spacing rules built into the font. It’s fast and works well for general text, paragraphs, and simple designs.

Manual kerning

Manual kerning is when you adjust spacing yourself. It gives you full control. Designers use manual kerning for:

  • Logos 
  • Titles 
  • Branding 
  • Packaging 
  • Large headlines 
  • Custom layouts 

Manual kerning requires practice, but it makes a huge difference.

Practical kerning tips (simple and effective)

Here are easy tips you can use right now:

1. Check problem letter pairs

Letters with angles or curves cause the most issues. Pay attention to:

  • A 
  • V 
  • W 
  • T 
  • Y 
  • O 

These shapes leave gaps that auto-kerning doesn’t always fix.

2. Look at the whole word

If you fix only one pair, the rest may look uneven. Compare spacing across the whole word for balance.

3. Zoom out often

Kerning is easier to judge from a distance. Too much zoom hides the big picture.

4. Use the “blur trick”

Blur your design. If one gap jumps out, that’s where spacing is wrong.

5. Adjust slowly

Kerning changes look best when done in tiny steps. A little movement goes a long way.

6. Test in multiple sizes

Text that looks perfect at 200 px might look off at 60 px. Always test small and large versions.

Advanced kerning tips designers use

Here are deeper techniques that give your kerning a professional touch:

Study the rhythm

Good kerning has a rhythm – evenly spaced, smooth, and predictable. If one letter breaks the rhythm, adjust it.

Watch for optical illusions

Some letters look closer even when the spacing is the same. Curves need more space. Straight lines need less.

Avoid symmetrical spacing

Spacing should look even, not measure even. The eye, not the ruler, decides kerning.

Turn words sideways

This helps you focus on spacing instead of reading.

Compare similar words

If designing a logo, try different words with similar letters. You’ll see which spacing looks cleanest.

Kerning mistakes to avoid

Beginners often make these mistakes:

1. Making everything too tight

Tight spacing is trendy, but too tight becomes unreadable fast.

2. Fixing just one letter

A single adjusted pair can throw off the whole word.

3. Using the same kerning rules for every font

Every typeface has its own spacing style. Adjust kerning differently for serif, sans-serif, script, and display fonts.

4. Kerning only in zoomed-in view

Kerning must look balanced at the final viewing size.

5. Ignoring capital letters

Uppercase letters often need more kerning than lowercase.

How to practice kerning using Picsart fonts

The easiest way to learn kerning is to practice with many different typefaces. Picsart makes this simple with a wide range of fonts you can try and preview. Here’s how to practice:

Step 1: Pick a font

Browse the fonts page. Try serif, sans-serif, script, and display fonts so you see how spacing changes with style.

Step 2: Type test words

Use words with tricky pairs:

  • WAVE 
  • TYPE 
  • LOOK 
  • ANY 
  • AVATAR 
  • YOUR NAME 

These help you see spacing issues instantly.

Step 3: Study the spacing

Look for areas that feel too open or too tight.

Step 4: Adjust slowly

Small changes make the biggest difference.

Step 5: Test different sizes

Make the text small, then large. Kerning changes based on size.

Step 6: Apply to designs

Use your kerned text in posts, logos, covers, or graphics.

Practicing with many fonts strengthens your eye faster than any tutorial.

Why Picsart fonts are great for learning kerning

Picsart fonts work well for kerning practice because they are:

  • Easy to browse 
  • Fast to preview 
  • Available in many styles 
  • Good for beginners 
  • Flexible for mobile and desktop 
  • Helpful for logo and poster work 

The range of styles helps you understand how kerning changes by type category.

Conclusion

Kerning is a small detail that makes text look smooth, intentional, and professional. Once you understand the kerning meaning, how it differs from tracking, and when to use it, your designs immediately look cleaner.

Kerning shapes the rhythm of your words. It guides the eye. It improves readability. And it helps your design look polished, even if everything else stays simple.

With Picsart fonts, you can explore spacing, test letter pairs, and build your kerning skills in a visual, beginner-friendly way. Even small adjustments can completely change the final look.

FAQ

What is the difference between kerning and spacing?

Kerning adjusts the spacing between two characters. Tracking adjusts spacing across all characters.

What is an example of kerning?

“A V” is the classic example because the angled shapes often leave a large gap.

What does kerning mean in Word?

In Word, kerning means adjusting the space between letters through font settings.

Why is it called kerning?

It comes from the old “kern” – the part of a metal letter that overhung the block so letters could sit closer.