After writing about my desire to add a second line in my ID Plate in Lightroom I received a suggestion from blog reader Andy Klafter. He wondered if I had tried pressing Option-Return to get a new line of text in the edit box. The truth is that I hadn’t but as soon as I got back to my Mac I quickly fired up Lightroom and pulled up the edit window for the Identity Plate and then tried Andy’s suggestion. To my surprise and delight, the cursor moved underneath the current line of text and allowed me to type another line. I just love learning new stuff!
ID Plate with one line of text
The ID Plate Editor
After moving the text to a 2nd line with Option-Return
After moving the text to a 2nd line
Sadly though, my delight turned to a bit of disappointment when I found that I really wasn’t any better off than before for the following reason. Although I was able to add the second line, there is no way to format the text beyond changing the size and font style of the second line. The big problem is that Adobe has not included any way to actually edit the attributes of the text. There is no way to center justify the text or adjust the spacing between the lines of text or the kerning (the space between the letters).
The lack of these controls really makes having the ability to add the second line of text a little anticlimactic. I’m sure I will find a use for it but it won’t truly be useful as an ID plate until I can exert a little more control over the actual styling of the text used for the plate. I still want to give props to Andy though for dropping the Option-Return nugget on me and giving me another option to play with in Lightroom. Of course if someone knows a way to solve my kerning or justify problem I would love to hear about it. 
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