Metrics vs Optical kerning in InDesign CS3

[Norcrans]

Is there anyone out there that can further explain the difference between Metrics and Optical kerning in InDesign CS3? I'm also wondering if one setting is better for use in the Print Industry.

Dov, I'm hoping your still out there and may be able to help me.

I've read through the "About kerning and tracking" section in the InDesign Help and I see that the default setting in InDesign is "Metrics" and to me it sounds like the best option to use. I however have a designer in house that thinks we should change it to Optical kerning because this option looks better when typing in numbers in certain typestyles. By the way we use Adobe Font Folio 11 library for our fonts.

From the way I am reading the description of how the 2 options work I'm afraid if we would change this to the Optical setting that yes it may kern some number combinations better but could it also over kern some letter combinations making the text touch.

I have multiple departments in house that share files and I need to come up with the best option that works for everyone.

Any thoughts?

 

[Tech]

It's a "yes" and "no" answer.

Yes, optical kerning is visually "better" or more "pleasing" because 1) it's automatic and 2) designers in general prefer tighter spacing between letter.

No, this is purely based on designer's opinion. Your average reader will never know any difference nor care about tighter kerning or not and certainly depends on the font used as well.

Frankly, if you really want to find out what setting is better for type in general, find an experience old-school typographer with eagle-eyes and run a few setups using different fonts you used the most with a mixed of optical/metric kerning. It'll still be he/her opinion, but here is where I trust old-school skills better than technology. BTW, our in-house old-school typographer also prefer optical kerning, but again, there are cases where it doesn't work well on certain typefaces.

Here's to what others have written regarding this issue on Adobe's forum.
Adobe Forums - Optical Vs. Metric Kerning

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

If your metrics are good then metrics are better. But if the metrics are generated automatically by a software then it may be identical to optical kerning. Metrical kerning will also be optimal at normal tracking as you through anything that affects character spacing, tracking or flush lines you would be better off with Optical kerning (IMO). Also trust your eyes, if it looks good it is good, if you are not happy with it use what you are happy with, or most happy with at least.