Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

Chapter 24. Initial Caps

LARGE OR ORNATE LETTERS at the beginning of first paragraphs, also called initial caps or drop caps, not only add interest to a page, but help guide the reader’s eyes and pull the reader into the text. There are many ways to create an initial cap, as shown in the examples following. Be brave, be strong, be big where appropriate. Here are just a couple of simple guidelines to remember.

• The baseline of most initial caps or the bottom of the graphic image belonging to the initial cap should align with one of the baselines of the text.

• Don’t overdo it. One initial cap is beautiful; an initial cap beginning every paragraph on the page is redundant and destroys the effect. Sometimes on a text-heavy page you can use two or three ...