Ryan S.
random design tidbit…
Ryan S.
i’ve been delving in my typo/design books lately, and i learned a concept i didn’t know before
Ryan S.
the idea of type being “in phase”
Ryan S.
the idea is that for a column of type, you choose a line-height
Ryan S.
and if every line locks into that grid, the lines are “in phase”
Ryan S.
for example.. here’s a regular set of lines…
Ryan S.
12 pixels for the type and then 7 pixels between lines of type:
Ryan S. in phase
Ryan S. in phase
Jason F.
I’m not sure I understand. Wouldn’t setting the type size and line-height always put the column in phase?
Ryan S.
here are some different blocks that are in phase together:
Ryan S.
in phase
Jason F.
Ahh, phasing together. I see now.
Ryan S.
if the space between paragraphs was different, you’d get something like this:
Ryan S. in phase
Ryan S.
here’s the type correctly in phase without gridlines:
Ryan S. in phase
Ryan S.
super clean
Ryan S.
The Elements of Typographic Style explained phase like the beat in music
Ryan S.
setting a rhythm up and down the page
Ryan S.
anyway, just sharing something i thought was neat
Jason F.
I got it now. Nice thing to know about.

Related
Add and delete vertical space in measured intervals [The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web]
Compose to a Vertical Rhythm [24ways]: “The basic unit of vertical space is line height. Establishing a suitable line height that can be applied to all text on the page, be it heading, body copy or sidenote, is the key to a solid dependable vertical rhythm, which will engage and guide the reader down the page.”