This is the entire basis of the article. Use the word "mathematical" where convenient to sound smart, but never come close to defining the word. Sprinkle in a whole bunch more of these opinions-masquerading-as-facts, and there you have it.
Same thing with the "too bright". Too bright based on what? Too bright for whom? Doesn't matter. Just follow these opin- I mean rules.
? Not only is there a very specific meaning to 'mathematical' the article is in fact dead-on example of good design rules.
'Mathematical' alignment would mean centering on the basis of width or height, whereaas 'optical' aligment would adjust for the 'visual weight' of the item, which often 'feels' different.
For example, a 100px wide container with a 50px wide image within it, may not be appropriate to sit at the 25px->75px range. It may need to be slightly adjusted depending on the visual mass of the images.
Honestly these are excellent rules for design, and it's a bit funny in fact to see all the comments from people unable to process ostensible ambiguity in the rules, as though they are looking for a 'precision algorithm'.
I would say to anyone having difficulty processing why these are helpful rules, that it would be worth looking into design principless overall, it'll be a fun experience.
A better wording than “mathematical” would have been “simple integer ratios”. Taking √sin(e) would also be “mathematical”, but probably not what the author meant.
"Mathematical" and "optical" alignment is not the best wording I think. It seems that "align by weight, not by width" would be a better way to summarize the author's advice.
But apart from that, it is good advice, and I think the post gives a few more good rules of thumb too.
“Mathematical" and "optical“ stems from design lingo and is AFAICS not an invention by the author. One can find these terms in most of design related software packages. “Mathematical” is also often described as “metrics”.
Indeed. That's how my brain reacts to it - it keeps nagging me that thing is not properly balanced and will tear everything apart when rotating, like a washing machine does when you throw a brick inside it.
Same thing with the "too bright". Too bright based on what? Too bright for whom? Doesn't matter. Just follow these opin- I mean rules.