Strange font settings on www.boost.org
Hi, I noticed that headlines look very strange on the new website. I think the problem is #content h1, #content h2, #content h3, #content h4, #content h5, #content h6 { margin: 0em; color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-variant: small-caps; clear: both; } in http://www.boost.org/style/css_0/content.css. Why is a special font used? I do not have such a font and I would also prefer if the browser would be able to use a default. As far as I know it is save to use a few standard font aliases such as sans-serif or similar in HTML but "Times New Roman" is probably not one of these, right? Jens
Jens Seidel wrote:
Hi,
I noticed that headlines look very strange on the new website. I think the problem is
#content h1, #content h2, #content h3, #content h4, #content h5, #content h6 { margin: 0em; color: #000000; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-variant: small-caps; clear: both; }
in http://www.boost.org/style/css_0/content.css.
Why is a special font used? I do not have such a font and I would also prefer if the browser would be able to use a default. As far as I know it is save to use a few standard font aliases such as sans-serif or similar in HTML but "Times New Roman" is probably not one of these, right?
The standard specifies that the font-family is a preference list. Hence the first font found is used. In the above the "Times New Roman" is a Windows font. On other platforms it should select whatever your preferred "serif" font is. The font choice is intentional in that first the times-new-roman is the best displaying built-in serif font on Windows, hence it will show nicely on peoples screens. Second serif is used in the heading since they are easier to read, and the larger size makes them possible, without going overboard with bold or other enhancements. -- -- Grafik - Don't Assume Anything -- Redshift Software, Inc. - http://redshift-software.com -- rrivera/acm.org (msn) - grafik/redshift-software.com -- 102708583/icq - grafikrobot/aim,yahoo,skype,efnet,gmail
On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 12:47 PM, Rene Rivera <grafikrobot@gmail.com> wrote:
The standard specifies that the font-family is a preference list. Hence the first font found is used. In the above the "Times New Roman" is a Windows font. On other platforms it should select whatever your preferred "serif" font is. The font choice is intentional in that first the times-new-roman is the best displaying built-in serif font on Windows, hence it will show nicely on peoples screens. Second serif is used in the heading since they are easier to read, and the larger size makes them possible, without going overboard with bold or other enhancements.
Honestly the serif fonts are hard to read at smaller resolutions and IMHO visually unappealing at any resolution, except when printed. A quick Google search shows that web style guides pretty uniformly recommend: Web pages: sans-serif font for headlines sans-serif or serif font for body text Web pages meant to be printed (e.g. recipes): sans-serif font for headlines serif font for body text --Michael Fawcett
on Tue Apr 01 2008, "Michael Fawcett" <michael.fawcett-AT-gmail.com> wrote:
On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 12:47 PM, Rene Rivera <grafikrobot@gmail.com> wrote:
The standard specifies that the font-family is a preference list. Hence the first font found is used. In the above the "Times New Roman" is a Windows font. On other platforms it should select whatever your preferred "serif" font is. The font choice is intentional in that first the times-new-roman is the best displaying built-in serif font on Windows, hence it will show nicely on peoples screens. Second serif is used in the heading since they are easier to read, and the larger size makes them possible, without going overboard with bold or other enhancements.
Honestly the serif fonts are hard to read at smaller resolutions and IMHO visually unappealing at any resolution, except when printed. A quick Google search shows that web style guides pretty uniformly recommend:
Web pages: sans-serif font for headlines sans-serif or serif font for body text
Web pages meant to be printed (e.g. recipes): sans-serif font for headlines serif font for body text
I agree with you about serif fonts on webpages (and I have other misgivings about the current web style), but I'm pretty sure that's a battle that has been fought and lost already. There was extensive wrangling before the web style was chosen. -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting http://boost-consulting.com
participants (4)
-
David Abrahams -
Jens Seidel -
Michael Fawcett -
Rene Rivera