Responsive typography with Modular Scale

https://bugsnag.com/blog/responsive-typography-with-modular-scale

by loopj • 12 years ago

21 8 12 years ago

adam-f• 12 years ago

is it

    $ms-ratio: $golden;

    $ms-ratio: golden;

?

tixzdk• 12 years ago

    $ms-ratio: $golden

See: https://github.com/Team-Sass/modular-scale#usage

max_luster• 12 years ago

It's $ms-ratio: $golden;

When you bring Modular Scale into your project it will include a number of global variables including $golden with commonly used ratios in design. They're useful to try out when you're experimenting with different $ms-ratios. Check out the list here https://github.com/Team-Sass/modular-scale#ratios

Rumudiez• 12 years ago

Well, it's a good idea, but in typography sizing and spacing is entirely based on a slightly more abstracted approach: the baseline grid. The baseline is the imaginary line which runs across the bottom of type, and the grid's vertical spacing is equal to the leading, or line-height. Therefore, body type set at 10pt/14pt will always align with a 14pt baseline grid so that elements on opposite sides of the page will always align and various type sizes will flow more naturally into the design.

Logically, type sizes from there (and this harkens back to manually setting type) should only be whole or half increments of the base type size (from my earlier example, this is 10pt), meaning appropriate sizes are 10pt, 15pt, 20pt, 30pt, etc, with agreeable modifications when necessary. However, good proportions would dictate that 10, 15, and 20 are too close together and as such designers would not use each, but probably restrict their designs to the highest and lowest point values.

I think it's important to remember that just because there are six included hX elements doesn't mean they should each be a different size. To create hierarchy, try changing capitalization, tracking (spacing between letters), weight, and other available styles in the type family you're working with.

harlanlewis• 12 years ago

Awesome, this is almost exactly the same approach I've adopted, right down to the double-stranded scale and breakpoint adjustments to font size. Looking forward to article 3.

The only notable differences in my approach have been using Compass's Vertical Rhythm (http://compass-style.org/reference/compass/typography/vertic...) and some mixins to opt out entirely or re-initialize scale for individual components. As a side benefit, using a preprocessor allows for a rem-like approach for all browsers.

jjgreen• 12 years ago

The default ms-ratio used here (the golden ratio) has been criticized in recent years for being little more than wishful thinking -- see http://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/devlin_05_07.html for example. May be worthwhile playing with other values when looking for the best typographic results.

baddox• 12 years ago

We designed the Bugsnag dashboard with a $ms-base of 1rem and a $ms-ratio of $major-third or 1.25

Nice music reference. Does it make your page feel sad if you use 1.2?

ommunist• 12 years ago

Thank you very much. Actually web typography and its automation with SASS deserve a book, even small one will have big impact. Funny thing canonical proportion. India have a different one, as far as I read some buddhist scripts on architecture.

Responsive typography with Modular Scale

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