What is a drop cap?

In plain terms: a drop cap is a large decorative first letter at the start of a chapter that "drops" down across the first few lines of text.

It's one of the oldest touches in book design — it signals "a new chapter begins here" and adds a sense of craft.

Drop vs raised

• A drop initial (the true drop cap) sinks down into the paragraph, its top aligned with the first line.
• A raised initial sits on the first line and rises above it.

Both make a strong opening; raised initials can be easier to fit when a font's drop cap looks cramped.

A nice pairing

Drop caps look especially good with the first few words in small capitals — a "lead-in". Bookbndr offers this as a separate option.

→ To add one: Add a drop cap or decorative first letter.