Hey! New to Dorico here.
I do engraving for musical theatre, and occasionally I need to add significant space between two systems for dialogue breaks, etc. When I go to Engrave Mode and use the Staff Spacing tool, I’m able to reposition a single staff, but the staves afterwards don’t move down at all causing staff collisions:
I’ve scoured the forum, but any search for “Staff Spacing” just turns up results telling you about the handles on the left hand side, which aren’t doing what I need them to do.
There is a system spacing handle:
If that’s not what you need, I wonder if another approach might be to resize the vertical size of the music frame with the system(s) you need to be followed by a gap, then add another music frame that “flows in” (can’t remember the exact term) from the previous one.
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Hello - hoping this post might still be read! Similarly to ddmateo’s post - I’m looking to add space at the end of a shortened system for dialogue. I’ll post a screenshot and hoping someone can point me in this direction. I’ve shortened an ending system - but not sure how to do this on individual systems when needed within a tune. Thank you in advance.
In Engrave, the Note Spacing Tool will also move the end of a system.
Gif below where I click on the handle at the end of the system and use Ctrl+Alt+Arrow to move it back (not the mouse):
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For the sake of completeness, I’ve been copying this kind of music, and instead of using Engrave mode sub-modes tools, I really prefer using different page templates. Such as the same as default, but with a new music frame (to keep the original as is) where it starts after a gap, or where it stops leaving a gap at the bottom. Those are very easy to manage, move, etc. and they do not create overrides. Of course, you can add text frames to those templates if needed. You’ll see there is no problem in having twenty different page templates!
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Thank you! I think this is how my old Finale brain thinks – and for this tune I’m working on, I have been doing more overrides (I think) - meaning I’ve been moving systems manually as well as moving the space between staves to create more room for dialogue. Also, in this case it’s not the end system for me. It’s one system in the middle of the page. Then on the next page a similar thing. Does this method work on any system, leaving the following system alone?
Hi - yes, I had a feeling Dorico would prefer I use a method like this instead of clicking and dragging around (which I mentioned I’ve been doing some of in Fred’s post above…) and while I THINK I understand what you’re saying - I don’t know how to do that. Can you point me towards a tutorial that might show me what you’re suggesting? Thank you.
Oops I thought I replied to each response - but it looks like I just created two separate responses. In my defense, I haven’t had coffee yet.
Yes, it works on any system. I end up using this a lot for class handouts and analysis assignments.
