2½/ It’s not that the type is bigger, and it’s not that the kerning or tracking is different: it’s that the actual outlines are different. That image, again: →
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But the tracking *is* different: 0.25px tracking is applied when using the system font (0 if you switch to Inter).
@esb.lol I'm curious about what's driven this design decision. Would you mind providing some insight?
3/ Both use Apple’s San Francisco typeface, which smartly includes a continuum of drawings from small to large sizes, designed to introduce subtle adjustments in the service of legibility. Most dramatically, the small size versions have a larger relative x-height. →
3½/ Which means that as you nudge the typeface down in size, its lowercase becomes relatively larger. Below, as used by Bluesky (left) and Threads (right): Bluesky’s *outlines* are taller, because a smaller optical size is being invoked. →
4/ In addition to morphological changes, like a larger lowercase and clearer gestures (which are often wider), typefaces designed for smaller optical sizes have a more generous fit — more horizontal space between characters… →
5/ Of course this has a compounding effect, making entire lines run longer. Here’s the same text on both platforms, again with Bluesky on top, and Threads below. Threads manages to fit a whole extra word on the line, and this really does add up: →
6/ Also, the leading used on Bluesky (left) is a pixel shorter than what’s used on Threads (right). The combination of these effects on Bluesky — a larger lowercase, a more generous fit, and tighter leading — all serve to invert the natural relationship one wants…
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@esb.lol I'm curious about what's driven this design decision. Would you mind providing some insight?