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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0007713ScribusUsabilitypublic2016-04-13 03:20
Reporterpark Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeveritytweakReproducibilityalways
Status feedbackResolutionopen 
PlatformP4 HT 3GHz 3Gb Radeon x1600OSUbuntuOS Version8.10
Product Version1.3.3.12 
Summary0007713: It should always be obvious if font size, weight or variant is present in the font file or made by the program.
DescriptionWhen a user changes font size, weight or variant, the user inteface should make it clear beyond doubt if this is something intended by the publisher, or if it is a manipulation produced by Scribus.
In high quality typefaces, the designer often has adapted proportions to suit various sizes, weights and variants.
I have read about, and appreciated, the teams view on faux italics and bold, but I think it is of equal importance for the professional user to be sure that the size he/she is using is one intended by the type designer, or if the small caps are a real, specially drawn variant of the typeface or just regular capitals set in a smaller size.
Sizes are presented as a list in the menu, with the option "other", but in the properties box, you don't have the option of that fixed list.
I am not opposed to the possibility to manipulate typefaces (for instance by producing faux small caps), but the distinction between the type designers' intentions and my own manipulations has to be clear.
Tagsdiscussion, fonts, gui, menus, palette, preferences, small caps, text, typography, usability
Patch

Activities

cbradney

2009-01-09 21:12

administrator   ~0020898

That menu has gone in 1.3.5svn.

How would you propose we indicate this difference for such things as small caps?

park

2010-11-28 12:00

reporter   ~0024918

Almost two years ago. But here we go again.
- Font size.
This is still relevant in 1.3.6 SVN. My suggestion would be a drop-down menu with the standard/traditional sizes while retaining a possibility to manually input your own custom size.
- Font variant
Things like weight and italics, regular font variants. Seems to work all right with the existing drop down menu in 1.3.6 SVN. This still leaves rhe problem with real vs faux small caps.
One possible solution might be to remove the possibility for small caps, if the font in it self does not contain "real" small caps. And then add an option for faux small caps if the user wish to fake it (and hope nobody notices). A bit like the option to lean a font that does not have a italic or oblique variant in it self. I don't know anything about possible technical issues regarding this. To me it seems like primarily a UX problem, but I am a designer, not a programmer.

I think this kind of transparency ought to be stated in some sort of design guideline for a program such as Scribus:
"The differece between variants contained in a font file and local manipulations should always be obvious to the user", or something like that.

This is from a professional standpoint, the casual user propably don't care and may even be confused.

Kunda

2016-03-10 14:21

updater   ~0039105

verdict ?

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2009-01-09 18:01 park New Issue
2009-01-09 21:12 cbradney Note Added: 0020898
2010-11-28 12:00 park Note Added: 0024918
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: gui
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: interface
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: menus
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: options
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: palette
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: scribus
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: text
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: usability
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: typography
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: font size
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: fonts
2010-11-28 12:06 park Tag Attached: small caps
2014-10-08 22:37 Kunda Tag Detached: scribus
2014-10-11 18:37 Kunda Tag Renamed options => preferences
2014-10-13 15:57 Kunda Tag Detached: font size
2016-03-10 14:21 Kunda Note Added: 0039105
2016-03-10 14:21 Kunda Status new => feedback
2016-04-13 03:01 Kunda Tag Detached: interface
2016-04-13 03:20 Kunda Tag Attached: discussion