I see lacks in the CSS specification regarding size which I believe should
be discussed for CSS3:
<- a ->
Absolute sizes of generated content are defined as the generated content's
size itself whereas relative sizes are interpreted as being relative to the
containing block's calculated size. With the current specification it's not
possible to scale images in DHTML by applying CSS attributes (given you
don't/can't use DOM properties to retrieve the original size of generated
content).
A new rule should be introduced for generated content to determine relative
sizes as being relative to the generated content's intrinsic size.
<- b ->
There is no way to scale a document, e. g. for printing.
What is rendered on screen always varies depending on the screen resolution.
Units like "pt" are never displayed in their correct sizes. Similar for
printing: "px" unit rules are never printed in the printer's resolution.
I suggest to introduce a scaling rule to CSS to be able to determine the
scaling of elements. Given this rule all the intrinsic quirks currently
implemented into browsers can be replaced by corresponding rules and unveil
the computing. It would also be possible to give separate rules for
printing.
The new "scaling" rule should only allow percentage values. Descending
scaling rules should recognize existing scaling factors to determine a
computed scaling:
<html>
<body style="scaling: 50%;">
<p>
This paragraph is rendered with a scaling of 50 %.
The following image is rendered with 50 % of the browser's
intrinsic scaling:<img href="..."/>
</p>
<p style="scaling: 70%;">
This paragraph is rendered with a scaling of 35 %.
The following image is rendered with 35 % of the browser's
intrinsic scaling:<img href="..."/>
</p>
<p style="scaling: 200%;">
This paragraph is rendered with a scaling of 100 %.
The following image is rendered with 100 % of the browser's
intrinsic scaling:<img href="..."/>
</p>
</body>
</html>
RFC,
Axel Dahmen
