Technical / Part 1

Part 1 — Label Format

The visual grammar of a DBNF label: geometry, typography, print production, and the compact form for tiny stickers.

DBNF deliberately reuses the visual grammar of the FDA Nutrition Facts panel (21 CFR 101.9, 2016 format). Fifty years of packaged-goods labeling taught every consumer to parse this layout at a glance; DBNF spends that literacy rather than inventing a new one. Two additions are normative: the Caffeine row (voluntary under FDA rules, mandatory here) and the DBNF mark identifying the label as computed for the as-ordered drink.

1.1Reference geometry

All dimensions are specified at the reference width of 300 CSS px and scale linearly (§1.4). Print equivalents assume the recommended 2×3 in sticker.

1.2Element stack

Top to bottom. Rules ("bars") are horizontal separators; their relative weights are load-bearing — the heavy bar is what makes the calories block scannable.

1.2.1 Nutrient row order

Total Fat                Xg     ▸ bold, %DV
  Saturated Fat          Xg     ▸ indent 1, %DV
  Trans Fat              Xg     ▸ indent 1, "Trans" italic, no %DV
Cholesterol              Xmg    ▸ bold, %DV
Sodium                   Xmg    ▸ bold, %DV
Total Carbohydrate       Xg     ▸ bold, %DV
  Dietary Fiber          Xg     ▸ indent 1, %DV
  Total Sugars           Xg     ▸ indent 1, no %DV
    Includes Xg Added Sugars    ▸ indent 2, %DV, sub-hairline inset 18 px
Protein                  Xg     ▸ bold, no %DV

1.3Typography

1.4Scaling rules

Given a target width W in px, the scale factor is k = W / 300. All type sizes, rules, paddings, and indents multiply by k. Two constraints override linear scaling:

1. Floor: if any element would fall below the §1.3 minimum legible size, the tabular format MUST NOT be used — switch to §1.5.
2. Rule integrity: after rounding to device pixels, the heavy bar MUST remain ≥ 2× the medium bar, and the medium bar ≥ 3× the hairline. Rounding MUST NOT collapse the hierarchy.

1.5Compact linear format

For receipt printers, narrow thermal stock, and wrap-around cup strips under 38 mm, DBNF defines a linear form modeled on FDA's small-package linear display. Fields appear in the §1.2.1 order, comma-separated, with %DV in parentheses:

DBNF · CARAMEL LATTE · 16 fl oz (473 mL)
Calories 320, Total Fat 7g (9% DV), Sat Fat 4.5g (23% DV), Trans Fat 0g,
Cholest. 25mg (8% DV), Sodium 170mg (7% DV), Total Carb 50g (18% DV),
Fiber 0g (0% DV), Total Sugars 48g (Incl. 43g Added Sugars, 86% DV),
Protein 10g, Caffeine 300mg. CUP #A92F · DEPOSIT $1.00
GDV based on a 2,000 calorie diet · [QR]

1.6Print production

1.6.1 Direct thermal (recommended for counters)

1.6.2 Laser / inkjet sheets

Standard 2×3 in label sheets. Print at 100% (no fit-to-page). Toner black only — composite CMY "black" MUST NOT be used for body text below 10 px reference size (registration blur).

1.6.3 Placement

The label SHOULD sit on the upper third of the cup, opposite the seam, not under the sleeve. On lidded cold cups, never on the lid (lids are swapped). The QR quiet zone (Part 6) MUST NOT wrap around cup curvature by more than 15°.

1.7On-screen rendering

Order screens, kiosks, and confirmation pages rendering a DBNF panel MUST keep the label region white-on-black-ink regardless of surrounding app theme (the reference implementation renders the label as a fixed white card inside a themed page). The label MUST be shown at or before order confirmation — after payment is nonconforming for L2+ (Part 7). Kiosks SHOULD re-render live as modifiers change; the reference implementation demonstrates sub-frame recompute cost (the entire pipeline is arithmetic on a 12-tuple).

1.8Accessibility & internationalization