Select the Type tool to place the insertion point in the paragraph where the drop cap is required.
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Apply drop caps and text positioning
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to apply drop caps and adjust superscript or subscript positioning in Adobe InDesign.
Drop caps are enlarged initial characters that extend across multiple lines at the start of a paragraph. They can be applied to one or more paragraphs and customized using character styles for additional visual effects.
Create a drop cap
Select Type > Paragraph.
Set a value in the field next to the Drop Cap Number of Lines icon to define the height of the drop cap.
Set a value in the field next to the Drop Cap One or More Characters icon to define how many characters are included.
Select the Paragraph panel menu and select Drop Caps and Nested Styles.
Select a Character Style to customize the appearance, if required.
Select OK.
Remove a drop cap
Place the insertion point in the paragraph containing the drop cap using the Type tool.
Set Drop Cap Number of Lines or Drop Cap One or More Characters to 0.
Apply superscript or subscript in non-OpenType fonts
InDesign can apply superscript or subscript even when the font lacks true OpenType glyphs. It simulates the effect using baseline shift and size adjustments. These values are based on Type preferences.
Apply superscript or subscript
Select the text you want to format with the Type tool.
Select Type > Character.
Select the Character panel menu icon and then select Superscript or Subscript. A predefined baseline shift value and type size are applied to the selected text.
Change the default size and position
Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced Type (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Advanced Type (macOS).
Modify the Size and Position values in the Superscript or Subscript section as needed.
Select OK.
Note
Superscript and Subscript values are percentage-based, using font size and leading from Type preferences. These values don’t appear in the Character panel because they aren’t fixed settings.
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