The <FONT> Tag

The <FONT> tag allows the HTML author to change the appearance of any text on their web page. All text between the <FONT> and </FONT> tags will be affected with the parameters given in the leading <FONT> tag. The parameters for the <FONT> tag are as follows:

SIZE="+/-fontsize"

This parameter affects the displayed size of the enclosed characters. SIZE can be an absolute value between 1 and 7, or a relative one between -6 and +6. When a +/- symbol is placed in front of the number the value is considered to be relative, otherwise its assumed to be absolute. The absolute fontsize sets the fontsize to the explicit value whereas a relative fontsize is added to the current BASEFONT value to give you the resulting value. The default value of BASEFONT is always 3 and indicates the size of all fonts where no fontsize attribute is provided. By increasing or decreasing the BASEFONT value with the <BASEFONT SIZE="fontsize"> you will respectively modify the sizes of all fonts on the screen which use a relative fontsize parameter. Note that when a relative fontsize is calculated its resultant value cannot be less than 1 or greater than 7.

FACE="fontname"

Displays affected text in the custom font indicated. If the fontname references one that is not installed on the current system a suitable replacement will be used or the parameter will be ignored completely. Note that this tag only works on newer versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, all other browsers will ignore it.

COLOR="colorname | #rrggbb"

Will render the font in a color given by name or a set of hexadecimal values representing the red, green and blue values of the color.

Some Examples...

<FONT SIZE="-2">an itsy-bitsy font</FONT>
<FONT SIZE="3">Normal Sized Font</FONT>
<FONT SIZE="+1">A Little Bigger Font</FONT>
<FONT SIZE="+3">A Much Bigger Font</FONT>

<FONT SIZE="-1" COLOR="Blue">Little Boy Blue</FONT>
<FONT SIZE="+3" COLOR="Red">BIG Red!</FONT>
<FONT COLOR="Yellow">Mellow Yellow</FONT>