Typography
Tentative Guidelines
Cantarell
Cantarell is the user interface typeface for GNOME. It was originally designed and developed by David Crossland during his studies of typeface design at the University of Reading in 2009.
Variants, Sizes, & Weights
Different text weights and colours can be used to distinguish different kinds of information. However, too many variants, sizes, and weights can make text harder to read and isn't an efficient or elegant way to convey information. Effort should be made to minimize the range of font variants, sizes, and weights that are used.
- Strive for clarity and grace
- Avoid the use of italic and oblique faces
- Do not use graphical backdrops or "watermarks" behind text. These interfere with the contrast between the text and its background.
- Use:
- User interface body text: 11pt Regular
- User interface heading text: 11pt Bold
- Body text: 11pt Regular
Internationalization
Take Advantage of Unicode
See Initiatives/GnomeGoals/UnicodeUsage for more information and examples.
Usage |
Incorrect |
Correct |
Unicode to use |
C octal escaped UTF-8 |
Key sequence |
Notes |
Quotation |
"quote" |
“quote” |
U+201C LEFT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK, U+201D RIGHT DOUBLE QUOTATION MARK |
\342\200\234, \342\200\235 |
Level3 + V, Level3 + B, Compose + < + ", Compose + > + " |
Whether to use single or double quotes is still under discussion. |
Time |
4:20 |
4∶20 |
U+2236 RATIO |
\342\210\266 |
C-S-u 2 2 3 6 |
|
Multiplication |
1024x768 |
1024×768 |
U+00D7 MULTIPLICATION SIGN |
\303\227 |
Compose + X + X |
|
Ellipsis |
Introducing... |
Introducing… |
U+2026 HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS |
\342\200\246 |
Compose + . + . |
|
Apostrophe |
The user's preferences |
The user’s preferences |
U+2019 RIGHT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK |
\342\200\231 |
Level3 + Shift + B, Compose + ' + ' |
|
Bullet list |
- One\n- Two\n- Three |
• One\n • Two\n • Three |
U+2022 BULLET |
\342\200\242 |
Compose + . + = |
|
Ranges |
June-July 1967 |
June–July 1967 |
U+2013 EN DASH |
\342\200\223 |
Compose + - + - + . |
If the dash could be confused with subtraction, ‘to’ should be used instead. |
Percentages |
99% |
99 % |
U+2009 THIN SPACE |
\342\200\211 |
C-S-u 2 0 0 9 |
|
Still under discussion:
Usage |
Incorrect |
Correct |
Unicode to use |
C octal escaped UTF-8 |
Key sequence |
Notes |
Conclusive em-dash |
hyphens should not be used - they are too narrow |
hyphens should not be used — they are too narrow |
U+2014 EM DASH |
\342\200\224 |
Compose + - + - + - |
Should be used similarly to a colon — to mark an abrupt change or conclusion to a sentence. |
Summary
- Use the recommended fonts
- Minimize the use of different sizes and weights
- Plan for internationalization
- Take advantage of Unicode