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Apply a character style to a drop cap

You can apply a character style to the drop-cap character or characters in a paragraph. For example, if you want a drop-cap character to have a different color and font than the rest of the paragraph, you can define a character style that has these attributes. Then you can either apply the character style directly to a paragraph, or you can nest the character style in a paragraph style.

Drop cap formatted automatically by nested character style

  1. Create a character style that has the formatting you want to use for the drop-cap character.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • To apply the drop cap to a single paragraph, choose Drop Caps and Nested Styles from the Paragraph panel menu or the Control panel menu

    • To nest the character style in a paragraph style, double-click the paragraph style, and then click Drop Caps and Nested Styles.

  3. Specify the number of drop-cap lines and characters, and then choose the character style.
  4. If the drop cap is aligned too far away from the left edge, select Align Left Edge.

    Selecting this option uses the original left side bearing of the drop-cap character rather than the larger value. It’s particularly useful for drop caps formatted in sans serif fonts.

  5. If the drop cap character overlaps the text below it, select Scale For Descenders.
  6. Click OK.

If you want to apply a different nested style to any characters after the drop cap, use the New Nested Style option. (See Create nested styles.)