Typography & type setting
Set display type, kerning, tracking and text on paths to a reference.
20 project-authored proposals · taxonomy v1.1 · 0 new benchmark runs. Verifiers and partial-credit rules below are designs, not executed results.
- Typical applications
- Illustrator · InDesign · Affinity Designer
- Class GUI-need label
G2· GUI-essential
Task proposals · 20
Expand to inspect the complete original wording and proposed checks. Original proposal text remains English in both interfaces.
R06.01.01.02-T01 Kern a display headline to target pair values
Original instruction
In Adobe Illustrator, open input/headline.ai with live type 'AVATAR WAVE' set in the provided font at 96 pt. Set manual kerning so pairs AV, VA and WA are each between -80 and -60, overall tracking +20, and every other pair at metrics. Keep the text live. Save output/headline.ai and export output/headline.svg (text as outlines).
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
key· Shortcutsvis· Visual judgmenttype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Read kerning/tracking from .ai text object via PDF-compat stream parse: pair values in range, tracking 20, others 0 (metrics); outlines SVG glyph positions consistent with values. ExtendScript disabled; .ai must carry Illustrator save history.
Proposed partial credit
45% three pair values in range; 25% tracking; 20% other pairs untouched; 10% exports.
R06.01.01.02-T02 Set OpenType figure and ligature options for body text
Original instruction
In InDesign, open input/annual_report.indd. In paragraph style 'Body Table', switch figures to tabular lining and turn discretionary ligatures off; in 'Body Text', use proportional oldstyle figures and keep standard ligatures. Do not apply local overrides. Save and export output/annual_report.idml.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicknav· Pan/zoom/scroll- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: ParagraphStyle attributes (FigureStyle, DiscretionaryLigatures, Ligatures) exact for both styles; no CharacterStyleRange local overrides of those attributes in stories. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
40% Body Table settings; 40% Body Text settings; 20% no local overrides.
R06.01.01.02-T03 Set circular type on a path starting at twelve o'clock
Original instruction
In Illustrator, on input/seal.ai, set 'NORTHWIND COFFEE ROASTERS • EST 2026' on the 80 mm circle, centered at the top so the text's midpoint sits at 12 o'clock (+/-3 deg), reading clockwise outside the circle, baseline shift 0, tracking chosen so the text spans 200-220 deg of arc. Save output/seal.ai and export SVG.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
drag· Drag & dropgeom· Precise geometryvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Outlined SVG glyph centroids: angular midpoint within 3 deg of 90 deg; arc span 200-220 deg; baseline radius constant (std <= 0.2 mm); text order clockwise; live type-on-path in .ai. Illustrator scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so artwork must be built in the Illustrator UI.
Proposed partial credit
35% centering at 12; 25% arc span; 25% baseline radius; 15% orientation and live text.
R06.01.01.02-T04 Build a modular type scale with paragraph and character styles
Original instruction
In InDesign, create paragraph styles H1-H4 and Body for input/brochure.indd on a perfect-fourth scale (ratio 1.333) from Body 10 pt: sizes 10, 13.33, 17.77, 23.69, 31.58 pt (+/-0.5 pt), leading 1.25x size, and a character style 'Lead-in' (bold, small caps). Apply them to the tagged text per input/style_map.md.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: style sizes and leading within tolerance; Lead-in attributes; each paragraph's applied style matches style map (>= 95%); no local size overrides. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
35% sizes; 20% leading; 15% character style; 30% styles applied.
R06.01.01.02-T05 Lock a two-column layout to a baseline grid
Original instruction
In InDesign, set a 12 pt baseline grid starting at the top margin for input/newsletter.indd (2 columns, 6 pages). Align all body paragraphs to the grid, keep headings off-grid but make the following body line land on-grid via space-after, and let the spanning headline span both columns. No text may become overset.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clickvis· Visual judgmentnav· Pan/zoom/scroll- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML + exported PDF: grid prefs; body styles align-to-grid; extracted baselines of body lines on 12 pt multiples from margin (+/-0.1 pt) on all pages; span setting on headline; overset count 0. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
30% grid settings; 40% body lines on grid; 15% heading spacing; 15% no overset.
R06.01.01.02-T06 Fix rags, widows and runts across a long story
Original instruction
In InDesign, input/essay.indd (12 pages, ragged right) has widows, orphans, runts and ugly rags. Adjust hyphenation, keep options and minimal tracking (-10..+10 only on affected paragraphs) so there are no widows/orphans, no last lines with one word, and no rag line shorter than 60% of the measure in the middle of a paragraph. Page count must not change.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
vis· Visual judgmentclick· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
Exported PDF text-line geometry: 0 widows/orphans, 0 single-word last lines, no mid-paragraph line < 60% measure; tracking overrides within range; page count 12; text content unchanged (diff). InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
30% widows/orphans; 25% runts; 25% rag rule; 20% constraints kept.
R06.01.01.02-T07 Match a reference lockup's spacing by optical kerning
Original instruction
In Affinity Designer, set the word 'Lumière' in the provided font to match the spacing of the approved lockup input/lockup_ref.png (same font, size 120 pt): adjust kerning per pair until each glyph's left edge is within 0.5 pt of the reference positions. Keep text live. Save output/lockup.afdesign and export output/lockup.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Affinity Designer
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G3· GUI-only- Interaction primitives
vis· Visual judgmentkey· Shortcutsgeom· Precise geometry- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF glyph origins vs reference positions: per-glyph error <= 0.5 pt for full credit (linear to 3 pt); text remains live (font embedded as text, not outlines). The VM has no shell or scripting runtime and the PDF Creator field must name Affinity, so files not exported by the app are detected.
Proposed partial credit
80% per-glyph position accuracy; 20% live text.
R06.01.01.02-T08 Set a poem with hanging punctuation and small caps
Original instruction
In Affinity Publisher, typeset input/poem.txt on page 1 of input/chapbook.afpub: 11/15 pt body, optical margin alignment (hanging quotes and dashes), first line of each stanza in true small caps via OpenType, stanza spacing 1 line, and the title in the 'Title' style. Export output/chapbook.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Affinity Publisher
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G3· GUI-only- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & formsvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: quote/dash glyphs at line starts positioned left of the text margin (hanging); small-cap glyph ids (smcp) used on first lines, not scaled caps; sizes/leading exact; stanza spacing. The VM has no shell or scripting runtime and the PDF Creator field must name Affinity, so files not exported by the app are detected.
Proposed partial credit
35% hanging punctuation; 30% true small caps; 20% size/leading; 15% stanza spacing.
R06.01.01.02-T09 Run text along an S-curve without glyph collisions
Original instruction
In Illustrator, set 'SUMMER SOUND FESTIVAL' along the S-curve path in input/wave.ai, centered on the path, baseline on the path, with the 'Rainbow' path effect; adjust tracking and character spacing so no glyph bounding boxes overlap in the tight inner bends. Save output/wave.ai and export outlined SVG.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
drag· Drag & dropvis· Visual judgmentkey· Shortcuts- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Outlined glyphs: no pairwise polygon intersections; glyph baselines within 0.3 pt of path; text centered (arc-length midpoint within 2%); effect type in .ai. Illustrator scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so artwork must be built in the Illustrator UI.
Proposed partial credit
40% no collisions; 30% baseline on path; 20% centered; 10% effect.
R06.01.01.02-T10 Automate catalog styling with GREP and nested styles
Original instruction
In InDesign, in input/catalog.indd style the product listings: a GREP style applying 'Price' to currency amounts like $1,299.00, 'Phone' to phone numbers, and a nested style making the run-in product name through the first em dash bold. All rules live in the paragraph style 'Listing'; no manual character formatting.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsclick· Point & click- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: Listing style contains GREP styles with expressions matching key test strings (grader runs regex on hidden test set) and nested style definition; exported PDF shows correct fonts on 100% of prices/phones/names; no local CharacterStyleRange overrides.
Proposed partial credit
35% price GREP; 20% phone GREP; 30% nested style; 15% no manual formatting.
R06.01.01.02-T11 Set variable-font axes for a headline
Original instruction
In InDesign, set the headline on page 1 of input/cover.indd in the provided variable font with weight axis 650 and width axis 85, optical size auto, and tracking -10. Export output/cover.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: font variation settings wght 650, wdth 85; tracking -10; PDF embeds the instance with matching outlines (glyph advance check). InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
40% weight; 40% width; 20% tracking.
R06.01.01.02-T12 Publish a responsive type-style library in Figma
Original instruction
In Figma (test team file), create text styles Display, H1, H2, Body, Caption from input/type_spec.json (font, size, line height in %, letter spacing in %, paragraph spacing), apply them to the sample frames, and publish the library. Mobile variants must be styles in a 'Mobile/' folder with sizes scaled 0.875.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windowsweb· Any OS (web)- Applications
- Figma
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUIbrow· Browser- GUI need · task setting
HY· Hybrid- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
- None declared
- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Figma REST: 10 styles with exact properties; sample text nodes reference the styles; library published. Plugins disabled in the test org.
Proposed partial credit
45% style properties; 20% mobile variants; 25% applied; 10% published.
R06.01.01.02-T13 Typeset an Arabic headline with mixed-direction numbers
Original instruction
In InDesign (Middle Eastern features enabled), set the Arabic headline and deck from input/ar_copy.txt in the provided Arabic font right-to-left with the World-Ready composer, Hindi digits in the headline and Arabic (Western) digits in the deck per input/brief.md, kashida justification for the deck. Export output/ar_page.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsclick· Point & clickvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: glyphs are contextual forms (shaping check via glyph ids), visual order RTL, digit glyphs per spec, kashida glyphs present in justified deck; text extraction equals source. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
35% correct shaping/direction; 30% digit sets; 20% kashida; 15% text fidelity.
R06.01.01.02-T14 Set Japanese vertical text with horizontal-in-vertical numbers
Original instruction
In InDesign (Japanese features), set input/ja_story.txt as vertical text (tategaki) in 2 frames, Mincho body 10 Q, mojikumi set for vertical body, 2-digit numbers as tate-chu-yoko, kinsoku 'strong' rules, and ruby on the 3 words listed. Export output/ja_story.pdf and IDML.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsclick· Point & clickvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro apptutorial· Follow docs/tutorial- Proposed difficulty
- 5 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: vertical story orientation, mojikumi and kinsoku settings, tatechuyoko on all 2-digit runs, ruby on 3 words; PDF: no forbidden line-start characters. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
25% vertical frames; 25% tate-chu-yoko; 25% kinsoku compliance; 25% ruby.
R06.01.01.02-T15 Control: define the T04 type scale by editing IDML
Original instruction
Control pair of T04. Without opening InDesign, edit input/brochure.idml (unzipped XML) with a script so the H1-H4/Body paragraph styles and 'Lead-in' character style match the same scale, leading and mapping, and write output/brochure.idml.
- Platforms
lin· Linuxmac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Python · IDML XML
- Interfaces
term· Terminal- GUI need · task setting
CL· CLI-sufficient- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
code· Code & commands- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
- None declared
- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
Same IDML checks as T04; package re-zips and validates against the IDML schema.
Proposed partial credit
35% sizes; 20% leading; 15% character style; 30% styles applied.
R06.01.01.02-T16 Craft a connected logotype from set type
Original instruction
In Illustrator, set 'flowstate' in the provided script-like font at 200 pt, convert to outlines, and modify the letter joins so 'f-l', 'o-w' and 's-t' connect with smooth strokes matching input/logotype_ref.png, unite into one shape, and keep stroke-contrast consistent. Save output/logotype.ai and SVG.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- Illustrator
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
path· Continuous pathvis· Visual judgmentgeom· Precise geometry- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 4 / 5
Proposed verifier
SVG: single united shape with 3 joins present (connectivity check at join regions); IoU >= 0.9 vs reference; tangent continuity at joins within 5 deg. Illustrator scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so artwork must be built in the Illustrator UI.
Proposed partial credit
40% joins present and smooth; 40% IoU; 20% single shape.
R06.01.01.02-T17 Add an optically aligned three-line drop cap
Original instruction
In InDesign, add a 3-line drop cap to the first paragraph of each of the 4 chapters in input/stories.indd via the paragraph style 'Chapter Opener', with the cap's top aligned to the cap height of line 1 and left-edge optical alignment, plus a character style for the first 4 words in small caps.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & forms- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 2 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML: style has DropCapLines 3, DropCapCharacters 1, align-to-cap-height and left-glyph-edge options; nested style for 4 words; applied to 4 opener paragraphs. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
40% drop cap settings; 20% alignment options; 20% small-caps nested style; 20% applied.
R06.01.01.02-T18 Fit a headline to an exact measure
Original instruction
In InDesign, on input/poster.indd fit the headline 'ARCHITECTURE NOW' on one line to exactly the 180 mm text frame width using only font size changes (whole or half points) and tracking within -30..+30; no horizontal scaling, no forced justify. Export output/poster.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
CL· CLI-sufficient- Interaction primitives
type· Text & formsvis· Visual judgment- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro app- Proposed difficulty
- 3 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: line ink width = 180 mm +/-0.5 mm (outline bbox); size multiple of 0.5 pt; tracking in range; horizontal scale 100%; alignment not full-justify. InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
50% width fit; 25% allowed controls only; 25% single line, no scaling.
R06.01.01.02-T19 Typeset a magazine feature spread from a manuscript
Original instruction
In InDesign, typeset input/feature.docx into the spread template input/feature_template.indd: headline (kerned), deck, byline, body in 3 columns on the baseline grid, 2 subheads, a pull quote, 4 captions, and endnotes; apply the template's styles, avoid widows and overset, and match the layout in input/layout_sketch.pdf.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign · Word
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & formsvis· Visual judgmentdrag· Drag & drop- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro applong· Long-horizon- Proposed difficulty
- 5 / 5
Proposed verifier
IDML/PDF checks: all manuscript text placed (diff), styles per element, body on grid, no overset/widows, pull quote and captions in frames matching sketch positions (IoU >= 0.7), endnotes generated. InDesign scripting is disabled, Word macros are blocked and the VM has no shell, so the layout must be built in InDesign.
Proposed partial credit
20% text placed; 25% styles; 20% grid and widows; 35% layout match and endnotes.
R06.01.01.02-T20 Build a book interior with running heads and a generated TOC
Original instruction
In InDesign, typeset input/book_ms/ (6 chapters) into a 24-page 5.5x8.5 in interior: parent pages with folios and running heads from section markers/text variables (chapter title verso, section recto), chapter openers on recto, consistent H&J settings, and a generated TOC from heading styles. Export output/book.pdf and IDML.
- Platforms
mac· macOSwin· Windows- Applications
- InDesign
- Interfaces
desk· Desktop GUI- GUI need · task setting
G2· GUI-essential- GUI need · ordinary access
G2· GUI-essential- Interaction primitives
click· Point & clicktype· Text & formsnav· Pan/zoom/scroll- Work product
WP03· Visual layout- Conditions
licensed· Licensed pro applong· Long-horizon- Proposed difficulty
- 5 / 5
Proposed verifier
PDF: page size, folios correct on every page; running heads equal current chapter/section text; chapter openers on odd pages; TOC entries and page numbers match; IDML shows text variables (not typed heads). InDesign scripting (ExtendScript/UXP) is disabled and the VM has no shell or scripting runtime, so settings must be made in the InDesign UI.
Proposed partial credit
35% page setup and recto openers; 25% running heads via variables; 20% folios; 20% TOC.
Mapped research references
Existing benchmark-to-class links from the research catalog. They are not record-level annotations, executions or product endorsements.