When kerning text strings in Edit View I typically paste in each text string, repeating the line to match however many Masters/Layers there are. I then select one text string at a time besides the first (the first is naturally set in the first Master/Layer so long as I have the first Master/Layer selected) and set it to whatever the next Master/Layer would be.
This way I can view and kern all the Masters for a given family which allows for quick referencing of each Master’s kerning pairs as I proceed.
So, I essentially have one text string/line after the other, the first set to say the Thin Master Layer for example, the second text string/line being set in the Regular Master Layer, and the third set in the Black Master Layer. Each text string/line is exactly the same text repeated, it’s just set in it’s own line and set to an individual Master/Layer so I can go over them all at the same time basically.
But, I have an upcoming 9-Master family, and manually pasting in my kerning text string, then selecting each of the other 8 strings/lines of text and selecting the appropriate Master/Layer will be very time consuming. Especially in comparison to a 2, or 3 master family.
Is there a faster way to be able to view a single text string set in its own line, one below the other in descending order and set in each Master/Layer within the Edit View window without having to do it all manually, so that I can just focus on the kerning part?
I would not add the string multiple time but switch between the masters. Either with the Cmd+1-8 shortcut, or by pressing Opt+Fn+up/down (on a MacBook keyboard) or Opt+pageup/down (one of the six keys above the arrow keys).
And use the sample text dialog to switch quickly between sample texts (add your own texts in Preferences > Sample texts and add them with Cmd+Opt+F; in what window, simply press up/down to select a line).
Georg, no worries. I know things are designed to utilize a different process.
I just like being able to have an overview of all masters at once for each text string, move between them with the cursor and at least have them in my periphery as I work. Since all masters of a family are related, it allows me to gauge everything together and complete the kerning for all masters for any given text string at one time, before moving on.
I imagine that might sound strange to most designers, but I love having that level of control. It’s the best process I’ve found so far to kern and at times to even solve for any tweaks to sidebearings, or even minor glyph changes since each master basically informs the others to some degree.
The disconnect in going back and forth between masters and not having that seamless overview just doesn’t really work for me, at least for the kerning process specifically.
But, thinking about this further, I’ve realized that although it’s time consuming to set up for this process, it’s more efficient overall in being able to gauge the family as a whole in real time, rather than separately.
Have a look at MasterBlaster. Can install from the Plugin Manger (under Scripts): NaN-xyz Scripts.
I too like to be able to think about the kerning for a given pair across masters. What is also helpful for this, if you aren’t using it already, is SpaceBar plugin.
Kern-A-Lytics is also interesting since it shows, visually and numerically, the kerning of a selected pair plus the ability to Delete, Average, Equalize, Interpolate…but I find it limiting since it only shows a pair of glyphs without additional context (surrounding control letters or use in a word).