---
title: RFC — The `scaling` axis (global zoom), separate from density
type: rfc
audience: human + agent
status: implemented
source: migrated from src/uix/eidos/SCALING_RFC.md (2026-07-02, docs-book F7.4)
---

# RFC — The `scaling` axis (global zoom), separate from density

> **Status: ✅ IMPLEMENTED.** (designed 2026-06-01 · implemented 2026-06-02)
> Born from P1-2: density-driven typography (`content-scale`) was wrongly framed.
> Density and zoom are different things; this RFC introduces zoom as its own axis.
>
> **Code**: `lib/config-types.ts` (`SCALING_KEYS` / `ScalingKey` / `DEFAULT_SCALING` /
> **`ScalingParticipationMap`** — the axis definition, added 2026-07-06),
> `lib/primitives/static.ts` (`STATIC_SCALING` + **`STATIC_SCALING_PARTICIPATION`**,
> the canonical per-family defaults), `lib/render-css.ts`
> (`appendScalingDeclarations` / `appendScaledMetricDeclarations` / `renderScalingBlocks`
> — the emitters consume the map, they never decide participation),
> `active-eidos.svelte.ts` (`scaling` / `scalingSource` / `getScaling()` / `data-scaling`).
> Doc consolidated in [`theming/reference.md`](../theming/reference.md) §23.
> `--density-scale` and `--density-content-scale` were removed in this sprint.
>
> **2026-07-06 — participation became model data.** Which families the zoom
> multiplies is now DECLARED per element (`primitives.scaling`, partial maps
> merge over the canonical defaults) instead of hardcoded in the emitters.
> This also reconciles an unrecorded drift: commit `845d6579` (2026-06-22)
> had made radius "scaling-responsive" against this RFC without updating any
> doc — radius participation is now canonically `false` (chrome family), and
> the original "as in Radix" justification below was corrected (Radix DOES
> scale its radius; crispness is our own rationale).

## 0. Motivation

`scaling` in Radix Themes (90/95/100/105/110%) is a **global zoom** that scales
space, typography, heights and line-box with ONE factor — accessibility/zoom, not
density. Eidos had a dead `--density-content-scale` (±4%) that tried to scale
typography under the density axis, which **conflates density with zoom**:

- **Density** (`compact` / `comfortable` / `spacious`): tightens layout (space +
  control height), **text stays stable** (legibility — Material/Carbon). Already done.
- **Scaling** (this RFC): zoom — scales the px metrics **including typography**.

The two axes are **orthogonal** and **compose** (you can have `compact` + `110%`).

## 1. Decisions

- **Discrete**, Radix-class axis: `90 / 95 / 100 / 105 / 110` (%). Default `100`.
  Projected as `[data-scaling='90']` (blocks, cacheable) + `--scaling`.
- **The axis is DEFINED by a per-element participation map** (user decision
  2026-07-06): every orthogonal scale family declares whether the zoom
  multiplies it — `ScalingParticipationMap` (`config-types.ts`), canonical
  defaults in `STATIC_SCALING_PARTICIPATION` (`primitives/static.ts`). The
  generator derives ALL emission from the map; participation is model data
  (introspectable, guarded), never an emitter side effect. Canonical taxonomy:
  - **METRIC families scale** (what things occupy): `space`,
    `control-height`, `font-size`, `icon-size`, `blur` (blur joined
    2026-06-15, §29).
  - **CHROME families stay crisp** (what draws the edges): `radius`,
    `border-width`, `shadow` — design-integer px under zoom.
  - Excluded outright: `line-height` (a **unitless ratio**; it already
    scales via font-size — multiplying it would **double** the effect),
    `z-index`, `opacity`, `motion` (durations/eases; `motion-distance`
    declares `false` in the map).
  - **Corrected reference note**: Radix Themes DOES scale its radius
    (`calc(base × scaling × radius-factor)`). Keeping radius crisp is OUR
    decision on our own rationale (chrome crispness + canonical axis
    semantics), not Radix parity. Radius keeps its own magnitude knob
    (`--radius-factor`) — roundness is themeable; zoom participation is a
    system-definition decision (config → regeneration), not a runtime theme
    knob.
  - Map boundaries: it governs DIRECT multiplication of raw px only — a
    value referencing a participating token (a gap on `var(--space-*)`)
    scales through the reference; `shadow` is declared for completeness but
    is structurally fixed (composite values can't wrap in one `calc()`).
- **Composition with density** (multiplicative) on the 2 shared metrics:
  `--space-N: calc(base × var(--density-space-scale) × var(--scaling))`,
  `--control-height-N: calc(base × var(--density-control-scale) × var(--scaling))`.
- **Prune** `--density-scale` (master) + `--density-content-scale`: they were the
  half-baked attempt at what this axis does properly. Reconciles §20.1 (density =
  stable text; scaling = zoom includes text).

## 2. Design

**Primitive** (`lib/primitives/static.ts`):
```ts
export const STATIC_SCALING = { '90': 0.9, '95': 0.95, '100': 1, '105': 1.05, '110': 1.1 }
```
Active default: `100`.

**Types** (`config-types.ts`): `SCALING_KEYS = ['90','95','100','105','110']`,
`ScalingKey`. The density primitive loses `scale` + `contentScale`.

**Emission** (`render-css.ts`):
- `:root` declares `--scaling-90: 0.9 … --scaling-110: 1.1` (constants) and
  `--scaling: var(--scaling-100)` (active).
- Blocks `[data-scaling='90'] { --scaling: var(--scaling-90); }` … (the ≠100 ones).
- `font-size` + `icon-size` move from verbatim to `calc(value × var(--scaling))`.
- `space` + `control-height` add `× var(--scaling)` to the `calc` they already have.
- `line-height`, `radius`, `border`, `shadow`, etc.: **unchanged**.

**Runtime** (`active-eidos.svelte.ts`): new `scalingSource` (get/onChange,
mirror of `densitySource`); `apply()` writes `data-scaling` on the host (next to
`data-mode` / `data-density`); `dispose()` cleans it up. `EIDOS_SCALING_ATTR`.

**Contract** (`contract.ts`): emits `--scaling` + the constants as knobs.

## 3. Conflicts (resolved)

| Point | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Density × scaling on space/control-height | Multiplicative composition in the `calc`. Orthogonal in intent. |
| line-height (ratio) | Do NOT scale — scales via font-size. |
| radius/border/shadow/z/opacity/motion | Do NOT scale — chrome/structural families per the participation map. (The original "Radix parity" claim was wrong: Radix scales its radius; this is our own crispness decision.) |
| Dead `--density-scale` + `content-scale` | Pruned — superseded by this axis. |
| `size` prop | Orthogonal — `size` picks the tier, scaling multiplies the tier's value. Composes. |
| Browser zoom | Composes multiplicatively (both px). App-level, distinct. |
| §20.1 (typography doesn't scale with density) | Still true — density doesn't scale it; **scaling does**. Two axes. |

## 4. Implementation plan

1. `STATIC_SCALING` + remove `scale`/`contentScale` from `STATIC_DENSITY`.
2. Types (`SCALING_KEYS`/`ScalingKey`; adjust `DensityPrimitiveSet`).
3. `render-css`: scaling emission + blocks + `× var(--scaling)` on the 4 families;
   prune density scale/content-scale emission.
4. `ActiveEidos`: `scalingSource` + `data-scaling` + cleanup.
5. `contract`: scaling tokens; remove density scale/content-scale.
6. Regenerate `generated/base.css`.
7. Tests: update the shape of `--space-4`/`--control-height` (× scaling); scaled
   font-size test; `[data-scaling]` block; `scalingSource` test.
8. Verify (`check` + `vitest src/uix/eidos` + browser) + doc in theming reference.