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Context: this sub-skill is one lens of the broader
skill. If the
skill is also installed, read its SKILL.md first for Discovery + Anti-Slop + Craft Test, then apply the specific lens below.
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Font inventory — what's loaded? If Inter is the default choice with no reason, ask before accepting it (Inter is the #1 AI-tell). Good alternatives: Geist, DM Sans, Plus Jakarta Sans, system stack. One body font, optionally one display font. Never three.
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Scale — is there a scale or are sizes ad hoc? Anchor to a modular scale (1.125 / 1.2 / 1.25). Sizes: 12 / 14 / 16 / 20 / 24 / 32 / 48 / 64 / 72. No 13px / 15px / 17px one-offs unless optical.
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Tracking (letter-spacing):
- ≥ 24px → () or tighter for 40px+
- 14-20px body → default
- 11-13px category labels → () + uppercase IS allowed here (the one exception)
- Never ALL CAPS on headings, nav, buttons, tables
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Leading (line-height):
- Headings: 1.05-1.15
- Body: 1.5-1.65
- UI (buttons, labels): 1.2-1.3
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Weight hierarchy — pick 2-3 weights max. Common: 400 body, 500 UI/labels, 600-700 headings. Never load 9 weights "just in case".
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Micro-typography (the compound details):
- on every number you align (tables, stats, timestamps, prices)
- on headlines, on body
- Curly quotes ( / ), em dashes (), en dashes (), no double hyphens
- in brand names, between number + unit, and before final short words in headlines
- Real apostrophes in contractions
- or for opt-in features (ligatures, ss01, fractions)
- Straight prime marks (, ) for units, not quotes
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Hierarchy check — can you tell primary / secondary / tertiary at a glance? If every line has the same weight or size, collapse or amplify.
If the UI is technically correct but forgettable, use typography as the weapon. Pick ONE element to carry signature (never two); boldness is typography, not color or decoration:
Pre-check: if an accent is already overused or hierarchy is already loud, you don't have a tameness problem — you have a noise problem. Route to
(cut) or
(reduce accents) instead.
Next step: — micro-details land best right after the type system is set (rung 1).