PURPOSE: To provide a method for regulating the length of a character column which can efficiently automatically bring the length of the character column into coincidence with that of a row while considering an interval between character surfaces.

CONSTITUTION: A kerning regulating functional calculator 10 calculates a kerning regulating function at each character to be kerned, and a kerning regulating function storage unit 11 stores it. A controller 1 calculates the sum of the kerning regulating function of each character to be kerned, and total kerning regulating function storage unit 12 stores it. A layout character interval data storage unit 17 calculates a layout character interval data common for the character based on the difference character column length and the total kerning regulating function, and a layout kerning amount calculator 18 calculates the kerning amount of each character based on the layout character interval data and the kerning regulating function of each character to be kerned, and a layout kerning amount storage unit 19 stores it. The controller 1 kerns to lay out the characters based on the layout kerning amount.