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Tracking on exported artwork doesn't match Illustrator Settings

You may find that even if you set your tracking to a specific value (like 30) in Adobe Illustrator, it exports as a different value. This usually happens because Illustrator is performing "compensation math" to account for a distorted text object. Follow this guide to ensure your tracking exports exactly as intended.

1. The "No Stretching" Rule

The most common cause of tracking errors is manually resizing a text box using the selection handles.

In Illustrator, 72pt should exactly equal 1 inch. If you "stretch" a text box to make it fit a sign, you create a "Transformation Matrix." The SVG exporter then has to recalculate your tracking to make the letters fit that distorted shape.

How to check for "Dirty" Scaling:

  • Select your text and look at the Transform Panel.

  • If the height (H) does not equal "font size 72" or 1", your text is stretched.

  • Open the Character Panel (Ctrl/Cmd + T) and click the options menu. Ensure Vertical Scale and Horizontal Scale are both set to 100%.

2. Set Kerning to "0" (Not Auto)

Illustrator’s Auto (Metrics) kerning uses a font’s internal table to move specific letter pairs closer together. However, SVG code (CSS) can only handle one single tracking value for a whole block of text.

When Kerning is set to "Auto," the SVG exporter "borrows" from your tracking value to account for those variable gaps, which mangles your final number.

  • The Fix: Always set Kerning to 0 in the Character panel. This gives the exporter a clean, literal value to work with.

3. Use "Point Type" Over "Area Type"

  • Area Type: When you click and drag a box before typing. This often leads to resizing the box to fit the sign, which accidentally stretches the text.

  • Point Type: When you simply click once and start typing.

Best Practice: Always use Point Type. It is much more stable and prevents the "invisible scaling" that breaks SVG math.

4. The "Emergency Reset" (How to fix existing text)

If you have a file where the tracking is already exporting incorrectly, don't just change the numbers in the panel. The object itself is likely "dirty." Follow these steps to reset it:

  1. Copy the text content.

  2. Select the Type Tool (T) and click once on the artboard (do not drag a box).

  3. Paste your text.

  4. Manually set your Font Size, set Kerning to 0, and set Tracking to your desired value.

  5. Export using the standard SignAgent SVG settings.