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Posted by 1001 Webs on 11/11/07 18:14
On Nov 11, 6:59 pm, "Jonathan N. Little" <lws4...@centralva.net>
wrote:
> 1001 Webs wrote:
> > On Nov 10, 11:33 pm, "Jonathan N. Little" <lws4...@centralva.net>
> > wrote:
> > Then, the way I see it, percentages are the only parameters that
> > should be ever used, at least from a graphic designer's point of view.
>
> No I wouldn't say that. I would say it depends on the design criteria.
>
> If th block is containing a fixed element, i.e. an image then I would
> tend to use "px" and make the adjacent block fill the space. If it must
> also contain text, then I would make sure that the text wrap will work
> okay. Usually it is not friendly to scaling the text, but should
> accommodate some range without breaking.
>
> If the block is a menu, or a pull quote with limited text and the
> words-per-line is part of the design then "em" would be my choice. That
> way the block will scale with the text, and since this this type of
> situations the block is also floated, I let the regular body text fill
> the available space.
>
> If the design has visual regions, like a 2/3 to 1/3 side bar column then
> "%" may be my choice. Some folks like to use "%" for headers with logos
> and footers, but personally I prefer em's and link the height to the
> text scale unless the logo is a fixed graphic.
I have to say that this has to be the most illustrating explanation I
have read so far on how to use the different parameters.
Thank you.
> I guess my point is there is no "written in stone" rule which to use.
> But, and this is a big one, web design is a flexible no fixed canvas and
> your design should take that into consideration. Too many sites are
> "designs in denial" and unnecessarily fail with accessibility.
>
> If you find yourself stuck with a fixed design element, I say stop and
> think. Is there another way to approach the design that would no
> required the box. Many, many times the answer is yes,
>
>
>
> > Since you are a Graphic Designer I assume you know about basic
> > principles of Graphic Design, such as Balance, Rhythm, Proportion,
> > Unity, etc.
> > I assume that you also know how to apply the Rule of Thirds by which
> > you divide the working area with a grid of nine sections with two
> > evenly spaced vertical lines and two evenly spaced horizontal lines.
> > The only way to do that in a flexible way, would be using percentages.
> > And since percentages are also the only measurement that works well
> > for other tags, such as font-sizing, that's the only attribute should
> > be used under any circumstances.
>
> > No one tells you about this, you know, not even w3.org. If you have a
> > look at their very own style sheet,http://www.w3.org/StyleSheets/home-import.css,
> > you'll see things like:
> > font-size: small;
> > margin-bottom: 0.3em;
> > margin-top: -6px;
> > etc.
>
> Yes you will for minor topical text like: p.hpmt-testimonial. You do not
> see: body { font-size: small; }. No one here is suggestion that you
> *never* use small font sizes, the crime is using it for your base font
> size!
>
>
>
> > And that's precisely my point, that CSS is confusing, hard to learn
> > for the wrong reasons, frustrating and badly implemented.
> > And that's NOT the designer's fault
>
> Actually the bulk of it is not. Floats are the sticking point, and
> having to deal with the badly broken IE browser is not helping. Also it
> is a developing technology and will change. Bbut I can say this, if you
> properly separate your presentation with CSS from your markup HTML then
> when the changes come and IE begrudgingly follows you should *only* have
> to change your stylesheet to transform a whole website. This is NOT the
> case with table-layouts and embedded presentational attributes and
> elements within the design. Ask anyone who has had to update vintage
> DHTML 90's website!
>
> --
> Take care,
>
> Jonathan
> -------------------
> LITTLE WORKS STUDIOhttp://www.LittleWorksStudio.com
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