merging

adj 1: combining or mixing [syn: {blending}, {mingling}]

2: flowing together [syn: {confluent}, {merging(a)}]

n 1: the act of joining together as one; "the merging of the two

groups occurred quickly"; "there was no meeting of

minds" [syn: {meeting}, {coming together}]

2: a flowing together (as of rivers) [syn: {confluence}, {conflux}]

kerning

The process of reducing the spacing between certain

pairs of letters to improve their appearance. When a {font}

is created, each {character} is given a width that includes

some space around it so that the letters don't run into each

other when displayed or printed. This can be thought of as an

invisible box around each character. Some pairs of characters

such as A and V, look better if the boxes overlap slightly,

bringing the characters closer together (but still not

touching).

See also {tracking}, {leading}.

(1996-06-07)