Use swashes, titling alternates, or stylistic alternates

Last updated on Sep 11, 2025

Learn how to apply swashes, titling alternates, or stylistic alternates to enhance your typographic designs.


OpenType fonts often include alternate versions of characters that go beyond the basic typeface. These alternates can be used to create a more expressive typographic effect. Swashes introduce flourishes, titling alternates are designed for large text, and stylistic alternates offer more visual styling options for individual characters.

Select the characters or type objects using the Type tool.

Note

Ensure that you select an OpenType font. If you don’t select any text, the setting applies to new text you create.

Select Window > Type > OpenType.

In the OpenType panel, do one of the following:

  • Select or deselect the Swash icon to add or remove swash characters.
  • Select or deselect the Stylistic Alternates icon to add or remove stylistic characters.
  • Select or deselect the Titling Alternates icon to add or remove titling characters.
The OpenType panel displays Swash, Stylistic Alternates, and Titling Alternates options among others.
Select the desired options in the OpenType panel

A. Swash B. Stylistic Alternates C. Titling Alternates

Note

You can select Swash, Stylistic Alternates, or Titling Alternates if they are supported by the selected font.