# Format Glyphs

Lettering elements are special in that the glyphs themselves become the focus of the element. How they are positioned and styled allows you to create a bold title for your story or add dramatic visual sound effects.

1. Select the lettering element you want to format.
2. In the Format sidebar, click the Lettering tab.
3. Use the glyph controls to make adjustments.
   - Join glyphs: When checked the overlapping parts of glyphs are connected making the fills, outlines and shadows become uniform across the entire lettering element. When unchecked the style settings are applied to each glyph individually.
   - Align Glyphs: Line mode only Aligns the glyphs with the guide path.
   - Spread: Adjusts the spacing between the glyphs. Moving the slider to the right increases the gap between each glyph. Moving the slider to the left increases the amount the glyphs overlap.
   - Skew: Block mode only Adjusts the baseline of the glyphs to give a stair-step effect going up or down depend on the position of the slider.
   - Shear: Line mode only shears the glyphs along the x-axis giving them an oblique appearance leaning either forwards or backwards.
   - Stagger: Adjusts the baseline offset of alternating glyphs up and down.
   - Tilt: Adjusts the angle of alternating glyphs left and right.
   - Vertical Spread: Adjusts the spacing between the lines of a multi-line lettering.

To learn how to add a 3D effect to your lettering see Apply a 3D Effect for more information.