US Patent 7444586 Inhibiting space compression or expansion in automated paragraph layouts

Programs, methods and apparatus for optimization of paragraph layouts, especially automated justified paragraph layouts. In one embodiment, the aggregate space expansion or compression necessary to achieve a particular length for a text line is first determined. In one embodiment, the length is the length of a fully justified line. Then a justification penalty is assessed to the line, the justification penalty being a function of at least a space expansion or compression and the number of inter-word spaces in the text line. Accordingly, the invention can be employed advantageously to inhibit visually unpleasant degrees of space compression or space expansion in fully justified paragraph layouts.