Typeset

Is there a way to “typeset” html, as in a how copy looks in magazines, books etc stretching to reach each side of the copy?


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Are you talking about a “body” tag? This tag sets the default font, font-size, color, etc…for the entire document.


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No. I am talking about the actual characters, or space between. adjusting so they are lined up at each side of the html area. Like in a paperback book. Here is a random site where it is happening http://www.carseek.com/


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On 23 Sep 2008, at 17:58, Chris Francis wrote:

Is there a way to “typeset” html, as in a how copy looks in
magazines, books etc stretching to reach each side of the copy?

What you’re referring to is ‘Justified’ text, where each side of the
text is aligned. It’s possible in print, where applications like
inDesign and Quark have sophisticated controls for hyphenation and
micro-spacing of letters and words to make it look nice, but on the
Web it’s a bit of a non-starter as those controls don’t exist in HTML.
Don’t misunderstand me, it’s quite possible on the Web but, unless
you’re really lucky with line-lengths and word lengths, it’ll look
awful. Sure, the left and right edges will be straight, but the actual
page itself will be so full of unsightly gaps that it’ll look like
someone with half their teeth knocked out. Big spaces where there
shouldn’t be any, which form white ‘rivers’ that run down your page.
If you try it, then words will be spaced out JUST so the left and
right margins are straight. I belong to another forum where folks are
always asking to do this because they say it it looks ‘neater’. But
all they see is the nice straight edges, they don’t seem to see what a
mess it makes of the look of the page overall. Avoid if possible!

best wishes,

Paul Bradforth

http://www.paulbradforth.com


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Sometime around 23/9/08 (at 18:39 +0100) Paul Bradforth said:

Big spaces where there shouldn’t be any, which form
white ‘rivers’ that run down your page.

True, and good advice. But it shouldn’t be quite as bad if you make
sure your column widths are fairly generous.

k


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On 23 Sep 2008, at 21:23, Keith Martin wrote:

True, and good advice. But it shouldn’t be quite as bad if you make
sure your column widths are fairly generous.

Granted, but if you look at the site that Chris put forward as an
example, particularly the second car down, “2009 Saturn Aura Hybrid”,
it’s pretty awful already, and I wouldn’t want many more characters in
a line than that for readability reasons …

best wishes,

Paul Bradforth

http://www.paulbradforth.com


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Thanks for the advice.


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