CSS, meet kerning. Kerning, meet CSS. Kern, style, transform, and scale your web type with real CSS rules, automatically.
Kerning.js is a single script, small, and has no dependencies. Add it to your page, add some CSS rules, and your text will be beautified.
This project is very much an early work-in-progress. While it is usable, there are no guarantees that it will not break or cause unintended effects.
The current version is 0.2.
Include this file anywhere in your HTML
<script src="kerning.js"></script>
Then, add any of the attributes following to your CSS, under any selectors you want modified:
-letter-kern, -letter-size, -letter-weight, -letter-color, -letter-transform
-word-kern, -word-size, -word-weight, -word-color, -word-transform
To use pairings (e.g., modify 'a' if 'ab' is paired):
-letter-pairs('xy': [value], …)
-word-pairs('cat mouse': [value], …)
To use multiple transforms, you need to use transform "groups":
-transform-group([transform] [transform] …)
To add rules for a particular rendering engine, use a prefix on any of the attributes:
- Gecko engine (Firefox):
-moz - Webkit (Chrome, Safari):
-webkit - Opera:
-o - Microsoft:
-ms
To add rules for a particular operating system, use a prefix on any of the attributes:
- Windows:
-win - Mac:
-mac - Linux:
-lin
Note: Do not use a prefix on the attribute values (i.e., -letter-pairs does not need a prefix).
That's it! Attributes will be applied automagically.
Alter first 3 letters:
-letter-size: 100px 20px 30px;
Modify letter pairs:
-letter-kern: -letter-pairs('ab': 1px,
'bc': 300px,
's ': 100px);
Transform the first two letters:
-letter-transform: -transform-group(rotate3d(0,0,1,10deg) translate3d(0,10px,0))
-transform-group(translate3d(0,-10px,0) rotate3d(0,0,1,-10deg));
Modify word pairs:
-word-size: -word-pairs('this is': 10em);
Modify the first 3 words:
-word-size: 10em 0.1em 0.2em;
WebKit-only:
-webkit-letter-kern: 0 1px 0;
Using repeat rules:
-letter-color: -letter-repeats(even: #f0f0f0, odd: #cccccc);
-letter-color: -letter-repeats(2n+1: #f0f0f0);
Using conditionals:
-letter-kern: if-font('Helvetica Neue': 0 1px 1px, 'Helvetica': 0 -1px 0);
Using conditionals on existing properties for weight or size:
font-size: 9.5em;
font-size: if-font('Helvetica Neue': 10em, 'Helvetica': 9em);
Right now, Kerning.js supports kerning, color, size, weight, and transforms per-letter, per-word, and per-font. In the future, it will include:
- More compact and refined CSS rules
- Visual kerning tool with automatic rule generation
Copyright 2011 Joshua Gross
MIT license
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.