PURPOSE: To automatically perform kerning by a method whereby the data of the shortest distance between a side vertical to the kerning direction of a frame of the character and the position of the face of the character is obtained for every plurality of slits parallel to the kerning direction, on the basis of which the data of the face of the character is formed.

CONSTITUTION: The distance data determined by the shortest distance between a vertical side in the kerning direction of a frame of the character and the approximate position of the outline of the character pattern is obtained for every plurality of slits VS, HS dividing the frame of the character. Based on the distance data, kerning by a desired amount is achieved for all kinds of character arrangements. The face data 15 also prepared for the arranged characters. The face data of the vertical sides between adjacent character frames is added for every slit, and the space between the adjacent characters is determined on the basis of the minimum value of the adding values. Therefore, kerning is performed automatically through a series of operations. This method is applicable both to Japanese characters and English characters, making it possible to perform automatic kerning by a simple apparatus.