Category: Typography

I like the feeling of a good fresh typeface. Like design itself, type design has trends, and without being able to articulate it particularly well, I feel like I can feel a fresh type look from a stale one. That’s probably the thinking of an amateur, and I’m sure the world’s fanciest designers probably used one typeface their entire career and would scold my fickle soul. But also whatever. I’m cool with being the ever-changing Pepsi logo to the never-changing Coca-Cola logo.

Saikrishna Vanneldas did a good job of rounding up some newer fonts in the article Bored with Poppins & Inter, Here are Some New fresh Sans-Serif For 2023. They are all free / open-source, so that’s nice, not that I don’t think we all should be paying for type (we should, just not all situations call for that).

You know how a “viewport unit” in CSS (e.g. vw, dvh, vmax, etc) essentially boil down to “1% of the browser window” in the given direction? Well hopefully you know that we also have container units now (supported across the board) which are very similar but “1% of the nearest container” in the given direction.

If you’ve been interested in implementing the idea of fluid type over the years, you know that a lot of it is done with viewport units and clamp() to achieve fluid type sizing across different size screens while capping the min and max sizes against extremes.

It’s worth thinking about making container units a part of this story. It’s pretty clear to most that container queries are the best way to style an element based on its size. But that doesn’t help as directly with things like sizing type. Container units certainly do.

It might be as simple as something like this:

.card {
  container: card / inline-size;
  ...

  h2 {
    font-size: clamp(1.4rem, 1rem + 5cqi, 4rem);
  }
}

I’m using cqi here which you can think of like “container units in the inline direction” and I think it’ll be a commonly used container unit.

Stephanie Eckles has the best deep dive article on this in Container Query Units and Fluid Typography. Stephanie covers setting up a proper system for all this with fallbacks and such.

Say you were going to publish a book online as a web page. A book, implying a whole lot of text. Call it 100,000 words. You need to think about the experience of that. Are there chapters of decently small length such that each of them could be almost like a blog post with an individual URL and you can proceed through them in a linked manner? Would you make the entire thing one massive single HTML page that you just scroll through? Maybe go old-school cool and use a library like Turn.js to make epic skeuomorphic page turns??

(Naturally, there are a bunch of cool examples of page turning on CodePen.)

There is no one right answer, but I have seen some good examples recently:

1. Robin Sloan’s e-book template Perfect Edition uses horizontal scroll-snapping to create a book reading experience that is how most modern e-book readers look/work to me.
2. Mat Marquis’ JavaScript for Web Designers by A Book Apart is published online for free and has an extremely classy paginated-blog-posts look.
3. Jeremy Keith’s Resilient Web Design works offline (assuming you’ve been there once), which is a nice touch.

Elliot Jay Stocks has a new podcast called Hello, type friends! which is an easy subscribe for me. Elliot says they won’t get into visual nuance of typography on the show, because audio would suck for that, but everyone involved will be type people so sounds fun to me. I enjoyed the first one with Jessica Hische.

There is this thing called Emoji Kitchen which allows you to combine emoji together:

But in order to use it, it’s baked into Gboard, a keyboard replacement thingy with all sorts of random features (works on Android and iOS though which is cool). They do now have a page that lets you browser the combinations right from the web.

The UI was a smidge confusing to me at first. You pick one from the top, then that middle panel just shows you the combinations it can make. You don’t get to pick any two random emojis and see what happens. Still super cool.

What’s funny, though, is even though Emoji Kitchen is only a year old and they don’t really say how it works, don’t you kinda just assume it’s AI-powered? If they did these by hand, I bet they probably wouldn’t now, just a year later. Facebook is making stickers with AI which isn’t terribly different than this really, except for, ya know, it’s totally un-curated and can make questionable stuff.

Random periodic reminder that variable fonts are awesome, this time from Jason Pamental who has been tooting that horn for a lot of years. Fixel is an awfully nice new one. If by some chance you’re using a variable font, but find the file size a little worrying, know that there is an app to remove the axes you aren’t using which can have pretty big savings.

Do you want to learn how to select and use nested blocks in WordPress?

The WordPress Gutenberg nested blocks feature allows you to add multiple blocks within a parent block. Then, you can customize different block elements at the same time, organize post content efficiently, and access more design flexibility.

In this article, we will show you how to easily select and use WordPress nested blocks.

What Are WordPress Nested Blocks?

The WordPress Gutenberg nested block feature allows you to insert (or ‘nest’) one or more blocks within another block.

Nested blocks help you create more complex layouts on your WordPress website by adding multiple blocks inside each other. This allows for more flexibility when designing and formatting content for pages and posts.

For instance, you can nest multiple Image blocks within a Group block to display a set of photos from a particular event or a series of artworks created using a particular technique.

Moreover, the nested block feature allows you to edit individual blocks separately. This means that you can customize each block according to your needs without affecting the other blocks. In turn, this results in better content organization, makes your content more attractive, and streamlines your content creation process.

That being said, let’s see how you can easily select and use WordPress Gutenberg nested blocks.

How to Use WordPress Nested Blocks

You can easily nest multiple blocks together using the Group or Columns block in the Gutenberg block editor.

First, you need to open up an existing or new post in the block editor from the WordPress admin sidebar.

From here, simply click on the ‘+’ button in the top left corner of the screen and find the ‘Group’ block. Upon clicking it and adding it to the page, you will need to select a layout for the blocks that you will nest together.

For this tutorial, we will be selecting the ‘Group’ layout.

Next, simply click on the ‘+’ button on the screen to start adding content within the parent block.

For the sake of this tutorial, we will be adding an Image block.

Upon adding the Image block, just click the ‘Group’ button in the block toolbar at the top to select the parent block.

Next, you need to click the ‘+’ button to open up the block menu, from where you can choose other blocks to add.

How to Configure WordPress Nested Block Settings

Once you have nested multiple blocks, you can configure their individual settings by clicking on each block. This will open up the block settings in the right column on the screen.

From here, you can adjust the background color, text color, and size of the individual blocks without affecting the other blocks that are nested within it.

To configure the settings of all the nested blocks together, you will have to click the ‘Group’ button in the block toolbar at the top. This will open up the parent block settings in the right column.

You can now configure the justification, orientation, background color, text color, and typography of all the nested blocks.

Keep in mind that these settings will affect all the blocks nested within the parent block.

You can also convert an existing individual block into nested blocks by clicking the ‘Options’ button in the top toolbar of any block.

This will open up a menu prompt, where you need to select the ‘Create Reusable block’ option.

Once you have done that, a new reusable block will be created where you can add multiple blocks.

After you are done, don’t forget to click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button to save your changes.

In our example, we have nested a Title, Image, and Paragraph block within a Group block. This is how the nested blocks looked on our demo website.

Bonus: Use the Wayfinder Plugin to Easily Select Nested Blocks

Sometimes, it can be difficult to select an individual block and configure it when there are multiple blocks nested together.

Luckily, the Wayfinder plugin makes it super easy to select nested blocks from a parent block and even tells you the type and class of the blocks.

First, you will need to install and activate the Wayfinder plugin. For more instructions, you may want to see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, head over to the Settings » Wayfinder page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

Once you are there, all the settings will already be activated. You simply need to uncheck the box next to the settings that you don’t want to use.

For example, if you want Wayfinder to display block types for all the blocks in the editor, then keep the box checked next to the ‘Display block type’ option.

However, if you don’t want the plugin to display block classes, simply uncheck the box next to that option.

After configuring the settings, don’t forget to click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Next, you need to open up an existing or new post from the WordPress admin sidebar.

Once you are there, hovering your mouse over any block will show an outline with its name. You will also be able to see the outline and name of any nested blocks within the parent block.

This will help you identify all the different blocks that are nested within a Group or Columns block.

From here, you can easily select an individual block from the parent block to configure its settings.

You can also select all the nested blocks at the same time by simply clicking on the ‘Columns’ or ‘Group’ heading. This will open up the parent block settings in the right column.

Once you have configured the block settings, simply click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

We hope this article helped you learn how to select and use WordPress nested blocks. You may also want to see our tutorial on how to change block height and width in WordPress and our top picks for the must-have WordPress plugins to help grow your site.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Select and Use Nested Blocks in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

Yuan Chuan with a funny blog post opener commenting about how much they liked their friend’s photos:

I was attracted by their slight blur and the subtle glowing effects, and wondered what kind of filter function was used. But then she told me it’s just because the camera lens wasn’t wiped clean.

Turns out you can get that same kind of “dreamy” effect with some fancy dancing with filters.

Semantic HTML? Pffffft. Why bother? Unicode is all you really need.

Terence Eden says he is very sorry for this.

I probably should have just copied the unicode above into this email rather than screenshotting it, but it made me too nervous for some reason. Partially because I’d worry it looks like spam to some email servers.

Here’s a nice walkthrough of 3D in CSS by Brad Woods.

One of the demos has you grabbing the corner of an element with regular text in it, and as you drag it folds back in space, with, you guessed it 3D in CSS.

Seeing text in 3D is somehow extra satisfying for me, perhaps because it’s more rare to see. And hey, that reminds me of Codrops recent On-Scroll Typography Animations which are very very cool. Make sure to scroll far enough to see the “Unfolding” one which is my favorite.

I always though that the math behind calculating the perfect nested border-radius would be complex somehow. But Paul Hebert has it figured out for us:

outerRadius - gap = innerRadius

Gotta get this right folks! See how awkward it can be on the left vs. fixed on the right.

This post is originally published on Designmodo: Typography: Anatomy of a Letterform

Typography has deeply ingrained in our lives: it is on our phones, in books, on websites, in instruction booklets, and even on shop displays and walls on the street. Not only does it deliver the message, but it also expresses …

For more information please contact Designmodo

This post is originally published on Designmodo: Top Web Design Trends 2023

Some say trends in web design come and go: there is no point in following them. It is just a waste of precious time, money, and resources. One day big, bold typography makes a considerable impact, whereas another day, small …

For more information please contact Designmodo

When it comes to typography, there’s a seemingly infinite number of styles to choose from. But which one is the right one for your next design?

That is the ultimate question when it comes to typography. And, unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on the specific project you’re working on and what kind of message you’re trying to communicate.

However, we can narrow it down to a few general categories.

Here are 11 popular typography styles to consider for your next project.

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1. Serif

Serif fonts are the ones with the little feet (serifs) on the end of each letter. They are classic and elegant, and they have been around for centuries. Think of Times New Roman or Garamond – these are both serif fonts.

Serif fonts are generally seen as being more formal and traditional than other types of fonts. They are often used for headlines, logos, and other high-impact pieces.

2. Sans Serif

Sans serif fonts are the exact opposite of serif fonts. They have no little feet on the end of the letters, hence the name “sans serif.”

Sans serif fonts are generally seen as being more modern and clean than serif fonts. They are often used for body copy, menus, and other pieces where readability is key.

3. Script

Script fonts are designed to look like they were written by hand. They are usually very flowing and cursive, and they can be difficult to read if they are used for large blocks of text.

Script fonts are best used for small pieces, such as headlines or logos. They can also be used for body copy, but only if the design is very simple and easy to read. A good example would be the Adelia Font.

4. Display

Display fonts are any type of font that is designed to be used at large sizes. They are often very bold and eye-catching, and they can be difficult to read at smaller sizes.

Display fonts are best used for headlines, logos, and other short pieces of text. They should not be used for body copy or any other type of long-form text. A good example that shows how bold these fonts can be is Arbutus.

5. Decorative

Decorative fonts are just what they sound like – they are designed to be used for decorative purposes only. They are often very ornate and can be difficult to read.

Decorative fonts should only be used sparingly, if at all. They can be used for headlines or logos, but they should never be used for body copy. They are a lot of fun though. Just check out the Space Time font.

6. Blackletter

Blackletter fonts are a type of serif font that is designed to look like it was written in the Middle Ages. They are very ornate and can be difficult to read. It also goes by the name of gothic script or Old English.

Cloister Black is a great example of a blackletter font that encapsulates this old-fashioned style.

7. Handwritten

Handwritten fonts are designed to look like they were written by hand. They can be either serif or sans serif, but they usually have a more organic feel than other types of fonts.

Handwritten fonts are best used for small pieces, such as headlines or logos. The Autography Font illustrates this typography style well.

8. Slab Serif

Slab serif fonts are a type of serif font that is designed to be used at large sizes. They are often very bold and eye-catching, and they can be difficult to read at smaller sizes.

Slab serif fonts are ideal for headlines, logos, and titles. They should not be used for body copy or any other type of long-form text though as the line weight is too thick for the confined spaces of paragraphs. The Rosette Font has a chunky look that serves as a good example of a slab serif.

9. Geometric

Geometric fonts are designed to be very clean and simple. They often have straight lines and angles and rely on a geometric construction to achieve their letter shapes.

This kind of font is best used for headlines or logos, or any other spot where just a few words are needed. They can also be used for body copy, but only if the design is very simple, large, and easy to read.

10. Grotesque

Grotesque fonts are a type of sans serif font that is designed to be used at large sizes. Historically, they’re known for looking a bit awkward and unusual.

It is advisable to only use grotesque fonts for headlines, logos, and other brief pieces of text. They are not meant to be used for paragraphs or long stretches of text. Work Sans is a great example of a neo-grotesque style.

11. Humanistic

Humanistic fonts are sans serif fonts as well that are designed to look very natural and organic. They often have curved lines and softened edges.

Humanistic fonts are most successful when used for titles, headlines, or logos. They can also be readable if used sparingly in body copy with a simple design layout. You can look to the Centaur Font as a good example of this classic font style.

Let Typography Style Options Inspire You

There you have it! These are the 11 most common types of fonts that you’ll see used in graphic design. As you can see, each one has its own unique purpose and should be used accordingly.

When it comes to choosing the right font for your project, it’s important to think about the overall style you’re going for. Do you want something clean and modern? Or are you going for a more vintage or retro feel?

Once you have a general idea of the style you’re after, you can start browsing through different font options until you find one that fits your vision. Good luck!