If you use a fixed font size, it won’t change. If the font size is not fixed, it may change depending on the page reduction percentage vs. that of the staff.

There are 3 different scalings in Finale:

- Page Scaling

- System Scaling

- Staff Scaling (= when you need a specific staff to be smaller than the other staves)

The resulting size is the product of all 3 scaling percentages.

If e. g. the Page Scaling is 90 %, the System Scaling is 80 %, and the Staff Scaling is 75 %, then the resulting size is 90 % * 80 % * 75 % = 54 %.

Do you really need to use all 3 scalings?

An idea:

Keep It Simple, and use only Page Scaling, i. e. set both System Scaling and Staff Scaling to 100 %.

To experiment with the scaling percentages, use the Resize Tool (icon: %), and context-click the item you need to resize.

The context menu is your friend since it lets you know, exactly what item you are resizing.

When you have found the scaling you need, remember the percentage, and go to

Document menu > Page Format > …

When you enter the desired scaling in the Page Format dialog, you will not see any immediate change in already existing pages/systems, but all new pages/systems will get the new scaling.

To update already existing pages, switch to the Page Layout Tool, and use the command

Page Layout menu > Redefine Pages > …

I think this is it. In the "Page Format for Score" menu, it says:

Scale Page to 100%

Staff Height 0.28472

And Scale System to 100%

Resulting System Scaling: 85%

I presume this to be the default setting.

This, of course, is confusing. what number do I put in the staff height box to have a "Resulting System Scaling" of 100%? I'll experiment.

Looks like one needs to make the staff height 0.33507.

… what number do I put in the staff height box to have a "Resulting System Scaling" of 100%? …

From your description I assume that you have selected Inches as Measurement Units in Finale, right?

For layout calculations it might be easier if you select small units, like Points or EVPUs.

At 100 % size the staff height is 24pt.

Note that the Default Music Font usually has the same size of 24 Points.

By The Way: This means that the height of a scale step is 3pt. And the distance between the staff-lines is 6pt.

Win 10, Fin 2012, laptop

Hey, Peter,

  Does this go the same for Finale 10?  (If this post is still active...)

I believe so. I don’t think there have been changes to the default sizes.

Thanks!