Re: [css3-images] Linear gradients feedback

Brad Kemper

On Sep 3, 2010, at 8:59 AM, "Tab Atkins Jr." <jackalmage@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 7:59 AM, Simon Fraser <smfr@me.com> wrote:
>> Glazou reminded me in a tweet of another good reason that we should
>> strive to keep the different-behaving functions separate: the CSS OM.
>> We need to design gradients such that the properties exposed in the OM
>> are sensible, and behave predictably under modification.
> 
> That's convincing.  We just need a name, then.  I'm hoping I can do
> this without resorting to "linear2-gradient()"...
> 
> 
>>> Using a combination of two positions and an angle is awkward,
>>>> because one of the points may no longer lie on the gradient
>>>> axis. That's why the point/angle/length combination seems more
>>>> natural here.
>>> 
>>> Hmm, maybe.  If, as you say, we make percentages in the <length> refer
>>> to the distance from the starting-point to the "line intersecting the
>>> corner" point, and make it default to 100%, I think that could be
>>> okay.
>>> 
>>> I'd still want the starting-point to use the "corner in the opposite
>>> direction of the angle" smarts if left out, though.
>> 
>> I'm ok with both of those.
> 
> Cool.  Brad, what do you think?

I think there is a way to ditch background position notation from gradients altogether, and make it simpler and more familiar to designers, who are accustomed to gradient directions as degrees when written textually. I have started writing up a fuller explanation if how this would work (in particular, to cover all common use cases, including corner-to-corner) and why, but haven't posted it yet. For me, if you want to have angle-direction-based gradients in one property, and bg-position-based gradients in another, the naming of the two would be something like "linear-gradient-simple" and "linear-gradient-overly-complex". I don't say this to denigrate the thought and work put into the spec so far, but I think it would be much better to find a way to just use angles (which should also help with the CSS OM issue), and I think I have that way. Will send fuller explanation soon.

Received on Friday, 3 September 2010 19:39:10 UTC