All the settings are default currently (except crotchet space is down to 3).
What change can I make to which preference to avoid the spacing issues marked below? I would rather not force a system onto the next page manually if that can be avoided…
I look at that and just think the overall staff size is too big. So I’d use a smaller space size first and only then start looking at other spacing settings.
(Others may have better ideas)
Please show the whole page with signposts on.
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That page is way overfull. Switch to Engrave mode and look at the percentage in the bottom left corner. It will be well over 100%. You need to either reduce the rastral size or bump a few systems to the following page.
Sorry I forgot to say please show the page in Engrave Mode to see the fullness of the page.
And is there a frame break at the beginning of the next page?
That is because of manual constraints that you have imposed, and not a consequence of any options you have set.
I would first follow Janus’ recommendation to reduce the rastral size to see if that takes care of the issue. If the systems remain too close, maybe reduce the rastral size one more step. If the notes become uncomfortably small, change back to a slightly larger rastral size and adjust the minimum spacing between systems.
While changing rastral size may be the first line of defense against overly full pages, we must also remember our target audience. If the music is to be read by older folks and others who may be somewhat visually impaired, the minimum distance between systems might be the better first adjustment in order to keep a larger note size. Likewise, casting off fewer measures per system would also likely be in order in this scenario.
Right, lowering the rastral size is not a good option, this is the right size for solo piano music.
@Janus I don’t think I put any manual constraints on the file:
I usually aim for rastral 3 on letter size paper (looks like you have A4), and 5 systems per page. You might consider increasing the inter-system gap (Layout Options > Vertical Spacing > Minimum Gaps) so that Dorico naturally will fit 5 systems per page, with more space in between.
It might also work for you to decrease the braced staff to braced staff setting you highlighted above, so that Dorico can conserve space as needed (in the third and fifth systems on the first page, for example, and maybe the first four systems on the second page).
If you want more specific recommendations for your situation, please upload your Dorico file, so that we can see exactly what settings you have in place.