Use "Ems" When Designing a Stretchable Elastic Website
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Curt_Despres]Curt Despres
This is an addition to an article I recently wrote, titled CSS - Create a Stretchable Elastic Website with Absolute Positioning. And once again, as in the previous article, this is intended for the beginning designer.
After designing a number of elastic, or fluid websites, I have come to the conclusion that using ems for sizing text is the best way to go. If you change the size of the reference font, (the browser's default font size), the font changes proportionately. Often, viewers who are a little more savvy, will change the text size in the browser. When ems have been used to design the page, the text across the page keeps it's proper proportions.
For those who are yet unfamiliar with what ems are.
Ems are sized so that the font size is relative to the browser's default font size. Which is medium for Internet Explorer. and most modern browsers. However, some say that this can be a problem because not all browsers use the same size text for default text size. For instance, the standard is 16 pixels for IE, but Mac uses 12 pixels for their default font size. Personally, when comparing my pages between IE and Mac, I see little difference. Not enough to cause concern for me.
So based on this, 1em is 100% of the browser's default text size. Or, once again, in the case of IE, 1em is 16px. .5em is 8px, .75em is 12px, 1.5em is 24px, 2em is 32px and so on. The designer can also adjust all of the font sizes on a page by changing the font size in the body tag.
Example: BODY {font-size:75%}
This would now cause IE's default medium text to change from 16px to 12px. Because remember, in CSS, Cascading Style Sheets, the child container inherits from the parent element, which would be the body. So now, 1em is 12px, .75em is 9px, and so on.
Another important reason to use ems is the fact that IE6.0 and below will not allow you to resize text that was sized in pixels. So using ems will allow the user to resize the text and maintain relative proportions.
One last point.
Using ems allows the text within a container to grow along with the container to, once again, maintain consistency. And that point alone I feel is the most important reason for using ems!
Happy designing! It's always a work in progress!
Curt Despres is the owner and designer for a website design company, [http://www.xcelwebworks.com/ ]Xcel Webworks , located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Curt_Despres http://EzineArticles.com/?Use-Ems-When-Designing-a-Stretchable-Elastic-Website&id=820763
Related News:
4 Reasons Not To Design Your Own Website
Remember, your web site is the first thing that the online buyer will look at. Therefore, a bad quality website design would reflect on your business, giving negative perception on your products or services. The number of consumers buying online is growing rapidly and the last thing you want is to have your potential customers to shop on your competitors’ websites because they are better.
5 Things You Need To Know Before Hiring A Web Designer
Everyone loves saving money and some will even go beyond to do so. You are saving money only if you get at least the same quality web site design for less money. However, it would be considered very expensive if you are getting an insightful and error prone web site design for it. Finding a good web designer for your web site is the first step to the success of your online business.
From Good Web Design To Great Web Design
While it is relatively easy to poke fun at bad web site designs, it is a much harder task to distinguish good design from great design. A great web designer is more like a problem solver. Every web sites has its own set of functions to address one or more problems. Finding the root cause of the problem is the first step of great web site design concept. In the nutshell, web site design is a two steps process; finding the problem and then applying the right solution to address it.
10 Must See Scarilious Web sites
Hi Ghost lovers, Haunters and the haunted, are you looking for the good old scary times? Here are what you have been waiting for, The compilation of 10 of the most Scarilious Web sites. They are the best of the scariest and bloodiest web sites of them all that you'll be downright scared of your own shadow.
Sailors Build Boating Websites in Seconds with Free Website Platform Built by Sailors for Sailors
For sailors and Boating enthusiasts, it has always been a chore to keep good communication with fellow crew members to share info, pictures, and schedule events. Blue Water Media addresses this need with a newly created website platform called Telltale. Telltale allows sailors to create their own personalized boating website within minutes.
PR Leap
The Evolution of Web Designers
A growing number of web designers are learning how to code as their clients have more sophisticated requirement. This new trends will emerge to create a new breed of web designers, Web Application Designer?
Mac OS X Leopard-enhanced Freeway Web Design Software
Softpress announced that on October 26th 2007, it will release the Leopard-enabled Freeway 4.4 that is compatible with the Apple's Mac OS X Leopard’s new 'Quick Look' functionality, in which, you will be able to display an enlarged preview of a file without opening it.
Web Site Cookbook: Page Design and Navigation
Color, layout, and navigation are what usually come to mind when one thinks about web design. This paper explores some of those choices and present solutions that will help the user balance aesthetics with usability.
ZDNet
Is Man Better At Web Design?
According to a 2007 Web Design Survey by A List Apart, the average web designer is white male whose age is between 25 and 32 years old.
Event: Voices that Matter in Web Design
By David Dahlquist :: Filed Under » Events Heads up, San Franciscans—New Riders, Pearson Technology Group’s Web design imprint, is bringing it to the Bay by ...more
CMSWire, CA
First Ever Web Design Survey Results
Close to 33000 web professionals answered the survey's 37 questions, providing the first data ever collected on the business of web design and development ...more
Slashdot
Related Articles:
Clean website design.
Taste comes in many forms . What may seem poor website design to one, may be good website design to another. Website design is an expensive and extensive part of any website build Going two and Going to and fro between the client and the designer is a costly business, but it doesn't need to be. Commonly most clients are currently looking for clean web design.
Website Design Company
Whether you?ve been thinking about designing a website to host your family album or you?re more business oriented and need to create something that draws in your clientele and allows them to purchase products or services online, you may be wondering about the best way to approach the task. Choosing between a website design company and handling it yourself can be difficult? Either way, there are a few things you should know about what goes into a website when it?s designed.
SEO versus Website Design
Imagine a beauty contest final where its all come down to the two most stunning-looking contestants vying for the coveted title. Both are drop-dead gorgeous, but one has the glossier hair, the curvier figure and the more luscious lips of the two.
Web Crimes: how to avoid common website design mistakes
Thinking about designing your own website? Think again about adding any of these "features"..
CNC Incorporated - We provide website design services, hosting services, domain registration, site promotions, identity creation and print media servi
Website design services: My partner and I have built this business from the ground up; we know what it takes to make it in the cutthroat world of web-based business. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to expand into new markets, we can help you meet your goals. Contact us today and let us help you succeed.
Jacob Cane Design – Website Design and Graphic Design services have been expanded.
If you are in need of website design services for a current or upcoming project, you owe it to your self to find out what Jacob Cane Design has to offer.
"Psychology of an Internet Customer," an Online Instructor-Led Training, is being Launched by Ayo's Website Design
Ayo's Website Design is launching an online version of its class, "Psychology of an Internet Customer." The class will be taught by, Ayo Ijidakinro, a website engineer who previously designed website workflows at Microsoft Corporation. Like its classroom counterpart, this online class will teach business owners and marketing executives how an internet customer thinks while on their website.
Website Design Firm
Website design firms come in all shapes and sizes.When choosing which firm you would like to build your website, there are many factors which you need to take into consideration.