[css3-images] Resolving on gradient issues

I've finished the CSS3 Images edits that came from f2f decisions
today.  In particular, I've made the following substantive changes:

1. Changed the handling of too-small repeating gradients to render as
the average color.

2. Marked the element() function and object-* properties as at-risk.

3. Kicked the image() and cross-fade() functions, the image-*
properties, and the serialization and interpolation sections to a
placeholder Level 4 document.

4. Switched the linear gradient keywords to upward, etc.

1-3 are covered by WG resolutions (or at least WG agreement).  4 was
not, because we wanted to close out the discussion instead of
resolving on it immediately.  Related to #4 is the only remaining
substantive issue in the draft, revolving around how to specify
repeating gradients.

Can we resolve on these issues, so I can finish some editorial cleanup
and publish an LC draft?

My preferred outcome for the linear-gradient keywords is to have them
remain as they are.  There is more possibility-space to explore here
in the realm of linear gradients, as recently pointed out by Behnam
Esfahbod in the "Gradient Magic" thread, and I would like to address
that in Image Values 4 with more time to put proper thought into the
matter.  The current angle-based syntax is sufficient for a large
majority of linear gradients, and I have left space open for us to
extend linear-gradient in the future.

My preferred outcome for the method to obtain repeating gradients is
also to have them remain as they are.  The method proposed for
triggering repeating behavior (namely, making the repeat* values of
background-repeat imply a repeating gradient) is bad in my opinion.
The repeat keywords currently work by directly repeating the rectangle
that the image is sized in, and I don't think it's a good idea to
change them to activating image-format-specific alternate modes of
repeating.

~TJ

Received on Wednesday, 3 August 2011 02:01:18 UTC