Clarification on Font Size and Inheritance.

[Viken Karaguesian]

Hello all,

I just need confirmation on the subject of font size and its
inheritance. Take this example:

body {
font-family: arial;
font-size: 95%;
}

p.fineprint {
font-size: 75%;
}

Is the font size in the p.fineprint set to 75% of the *value in the
body*? So in this case, it would be 75% of the 95% in the body. My
experiments seem to show that that's the case, but I just need some
confirmation.

Also, how do EM and % compare? Setting the font to 1em seems to be the
same as setting it to 100%, .90em seems the same as 90%. What are the
technical differences? In which cases should/would I use one over the
other?

Thanks everyone.

Viken K.

[Viken Karaguesian]

The current site I'm working on uses Arial font, as requested by my
"client" (I'm volunteering my time, 'cause this is fun for me). I set
the font to 100%, but they complained that it looked too big (tall).
They showed me examples of other sites that used Arial font, and said
"make it look like that". Reducing the font to 95% gave it the look
they wanted.

Actually, I think that Arial is easier to read at 95% than at 100%. The
letters don't look so tall and bunched together.

Viken K.

[Viken Karaguesian]

> Please see this page as well:

http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/

Thanks. I was wondering why I couldn't quote in Google. When I'm at
home, I use Outlook Express for my news reader but at work I'm stuck
using the Google interface.

[Andreas Prilop]

On 11 Jan 2006, Viken Karaguesian wrote:

Actually, I think that Arial is easier to read at 95% than at 100%.

This sentence is meaningless because 95% and 100% are *not*
specific font sizes. You might say, for example,

| I think that Arial is easier to read at 10 pt than at 12 pt.

Someone else might say,

| I think that Arial is easier to read at 11 pt than at 10 pt.

[Viken Karaguesian]

> Please see this page as well:

http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/

Thanks. I was wondering why I couldn't quote in Google. When I'm at
home, I use Outlook Express for my news reader but at work I'm stuck
using the Google interface.

[NoSLZZP]

Andreas Prilop Wrote:

On 11 Jan 2006, Viken Karaguesian wrote:

body {
font-size: 95%;

This is naughty! If you specify any font size for BODY, then
take 100% only.

Absolutely. For the "body" font definition, you want that to be your
"base" definition that all other font size determinations are made
from. Ask yourself this: "If you are defining the body font-size to
be 95%, it's 95% of WHAT?".

The best thing to do here is just to say:

font-size: medium;

Let the browsers interpret the rest from that point forward based on
your percentages.

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[Viken Karaguesian]

> This sentence is meaningless because 95% and 100% are *not*

specific font sizes.

Ok, I see your point. Using percentages, then, must mean that the font
size is relative, but relative to what? It must be X% of something.

Viken K.

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Viken Karaguesian wrote:

Actually, I think that Arial is easier to read at 95% than at 100%. The
letters don't look so tall and bunched together.

Then, once again, you need to adjust your own browser's default font
size. You may have really good eyes. Your visitors may not, and have set
their browsers to what they like. If you use 100%, you accomodate them.

You might also want to instruct your client on how to adjust the default
size in his/her browsers.

And ask them to read this thread.

--
-bts
-Warning: I brake for lawn deer

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Viken Karaguesian wrote:

This sentence is meaningless because 95% and 100% are *not*
specific font sizes.

Ok, I see your point. Using percentages, then, must mean that the font
size is relative, but relative to what? It must be X% of something.

X% of what each and every visitor (including yourself) has chosen as
their personal, preferred size. If you deviate from 100%, well, you are
abusing your visitors.

In Firefox, Tools > Options > General > Fonts & Colors
Adjust your own taste a bit lower than what it is now.

Not sure how we can make this any more clear...

--
-bts
-Warning: I brake for lawn deer

[Viken Karaguesian]

> X% of what each and every visitor (including yourself) has chosen as

their personal, preferred size.

OK...I see. If I use the percent value in the <body> tag, then the base
font size is derived from the user's browser settings.

Viken K.

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Viken Karaguesian wrote:

X% of what each and every visitor (including yourself) has chosen as
their personal, preferred size.

OK...I see. If I use the percent value in the <body> tag, then the base
font size is derived from the user's browser settings.

Exactly.

And since this is "Be Kind To Visitors" week, use 100%. :-)

--
-bts
-Warning: I brake for lawn deer