← All UI styles

Ink Only

Black, white, and the space between. Color has been removed as a tool.

RuledminimalReading toolsPrint-adjacent productsFocus modes

Construction · Ruled

There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.

Every style renders this same screen, so the only thing changing between two of them is the style. The component above is the file below, running.

Prompt

Design this interface in the Ink Only style. Pure black on pure white with no chromatic color anywhere, including for status. Emphasis is weight and size, and nothing else is available.

Build every surface the Ruled way: There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.

Use exactly these values: background #ffffff, surfaces #ffffff, text #000000, secondary text #4a4a4a, accent #000000 with #ffffff on it; corner radius 0/0/0px; 2px solid borders; no shadows of any kind; Helvetica Neue for body at 15px, line height 1.6; 8px spacing grid, generous breathing room.

Never: any hue, including for status; grey backgrounds; shadows; rounded corners.

Dark mode uses background #000000, surfaces #0a0a0a, text #ffffff, accent #ffffff — the same style, not an inverted one.

The numbers in this prompt are printed from the tokens below, so it cannot drift from what the specimen renders.

What carries the look

  • pure black on pure white
  • no chromatic color at all
  • weight as emphasis
  • square corners

What this style refuses

  • any hue, including for status
  • grey backgrounds
  • shadows
  • rounded corners

The refusals are the half that keeps generated interfaces from converging — a prompt that only says what to add gets the default look.

Tokens

Palette

RoleLightDark
Background#ffffff#000000
Surface#ffffff#0a0a0a
Border#111111#f0f0f0
Text#000000#ffffff
Muted text#4a4a4a#b4b4b4
Accent#000000#ffffff
On accent#ffffff#000000

Shape and type

Radius0 / 0 / 0 px
Border2px solid
Shadownone
DisplayHelvetica Neue
BodyHelvetica Neue
Monoui-monospace
Type scale11 · 12 · 15 · 17 · 22 · 32 px
Weights400 / 700 / 700
Line height1.6
Tracking0em
Spacing8px grid · roomy
Surfaceflat
Accentunderline
Separatorrule
Labelssentence case
Blurnone

Measured contrast — body 21:1 light, 21:1 dark; secondary text 8.86:1 and 10.13:1. Every pair clears WCAG AA in both themes, checked on each build.

Specimen · Specimen.tsx

import type { CSSProperties } from "react";

/**
 * Vibary · Ink Only
 *
 * Black, white, and the space between. Color has been removed as a tool.
 *
 * One complete product screen, rendered from the token object below —
 * the same screen every other Vibary specimen renders, so the style
 * is the only variable. Self-contained: React only, no CSS file, no
 * assets, no chart library.
 *
 * `theme` defaults to following the system setting; pass "light" or
 * "dark" to pin one.
 */

export const TOKENS = {
  "material": "ruled",
  "color": {
    "light": {
      "bg": "#ffffff",
      "surface": "#ffffff",
      "border": "#111111",
      "text": "#000000",
      "muted": "#4a4a4a",
      "accent": "#000000",
      "accentText": "#ffffff"
    },
    "dark": {
      "bg": "#000000",
      "surface": "#0a0a0a",
      "border": "#f0f0f0",
      "text": "#ffffff",
      "muted": "#b4b4b4",
      "accent": "#ffffff",
      "accentText": "#000000"
    }
  },
  "radius": {
    "sm": 0,
    "md": 0,
    "lg": 0,
    "pill": 999
  },
  "border": {
    "width": 2,
    "style": "solid"
  },
  "shadow": {
    "level": "none",
    "value": "none"
  },
  "type": {
    "family": {
      "display": "\"Helvetica Neue\", Helvetica, Arial, \"Liberation Sans\", sans-serif",
      "body": "\"Helvetica Neue\", Helvetica, Arial, \"Liberation Sans\", sans-serif",
      "mono": "ui-monospace, \"SF Mono\", Menlo, Consolas, \"Liberation Mono\", monospace"
    },
    "scale": [
      11,
      12,
      15,
      17,
      22,
      32
    ],
    "weight": {
      "body": 400,
      "strong": 700,
      "display": 700
    },
    "lineHeight": 1.6,
    "tracking": 0
  },
  "space": {
    "unit": 8,
    "density": "roomy"
  },
  "effects": {
    "surface": "flat",
    "accentStyle": "underline",
    "separator": "rule",
    "labelCase": "none",
    "blur": 0
  }
};

type Palette = typeof TOKENS.color.light;

export type InkOnlySpecimenProps = {
  theme?: "system" | "light" | "dark";
  /** Scopes the custom properties; only matters if you render two. */
  scope?: string;
};

function vars(palette: Palette): string {
  return [
    `--sp-bg: ${palette.bg}`,
    `--sp-surface: ${palette.surface}`,
    `--sp-border: ${palette.border}`,
    `--sp-text: ${palette.text}`,
    `--sp-muted: ${palette.muted}`,
    `--sp-accent: ${palette.accent}`,
    `--sp-accent-text: ${palette.accentText}`,
  ].join("; ");
}

/** Fixed content: identical in every specimen, on purpose. */
const NAV: readonly { label: string; path: string }[] = [
  { label: "Overview", path: "M3 9.5 9 4.5l6 5V15a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-2.5v-4h-5v4H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1z" },
  { label: "Orders", path: "M4 5h10l-1 9H5zM7 5V3.5h4V5" },
  { label: "Customers", path: "M9 9a2.6 2.6 0 1 0 0-5.2A2.6 2.6 0 0 0 9 9M3.6 15.4c0-2.4 2.4-3.8 5.4-3.8s5.4 1.4 5.4 3.8" },
  { label: "Reports", path: "M4.5 15V8M9 15V4.5M13.5 15v-4.5" },
  { label: "Settings", path: "M9 11.4A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 9 6.6a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 0 4.8M9 2.6v1.4M9 14v1.4M15.4 9H14M4 9H2.6M13.5 4.5l-1 1M5.5 12.5l-1 1M13.5 13.5l-1-1M5.5 5.5l-1-1" },
];

const STATS: readonly { label: string; value: string; delta: string; up: boolean }[] = [
  { label: "Revenue", value: "$48,290", delta: "+12.4%", up: true },
  { label: "Orders", value: "1,284", delta: "+3.1%", up: true },
  { label: "Refunds", value: "42", delta: "-1.8%", up: false },
];

const BARS: readonly { day: string; value: number }[] = [
  { day: "M", value: 0.42 },
  { day: "T", value: 0.61 },
  { day: "W", value: 0.38 },
  { day: "T", value: 0.74 },
  { day: "F", value: 0.93 },
  { day: "S", value: 0.55 },
  { day: "S", value: 0.29 },
];

const ROWS: readonly { name: string; meta: string; state: string; amount: string }[] = [
  { name: "Kyoto Print Co.", meta: "Invoice 2841", state: "Paid", amount: "420.00" },
  { name: "Aurora Supply", meta: "Invoice 2839", state: "Pending", amount: "186.50" },
  { name: "Northwind Studio", meta: "Invoice 2836", state: "Overdue", amount: "678.00" },
];

const SWITCHES: readonly { label: string; on: boolean }[] = [
  { label: "Auto-pay invoices", on: true },
  { label: "Email receipts", on: false },
];

/**
 * The material: how this style paints an element, as opposed to what
 * color it paints it. This is the part that makes Ruled
 * a different design language rather than a different theme —
 * There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.
 */
const MATERIAL = {
  "surface": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 0 0 var(--sp-text)",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "button": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "color": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "none",
    "border": "none",
    "borderBottom": "2px solid var(--sp-accent)"
  },
  "switchOn": {
    "background": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "none",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "switchOff": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 0 0 0 1px var(--sp-border)",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "knob": {
    "background": "var(--sp-surface)",
    "boxShadow": "none"
  },
  "navActive": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 2px 0 0 0 var(--sp-accent)"
  },
  "bar": {
    "background": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "none",
    "border": "none"
  }
};

const SURFACE_BORDER = `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`;
const ROW_SEPARATOR = "2px solid var(--sp-text)";
const RING = 0.68;

export function InkOnlySpecimen({ theme = "system", scope = "sp-ink-only" }: InkOnlySpecimenProps) {
  const css =
    theme === "light"
      ? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}`
      : theme === "dark"
        ? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}`
        : `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}}`;

  const label: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
    textTransform: "none",
    color: "var(--sp-muted)",
  };

  const meta: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    color: "var(--sp-muted)",
  };

  const card: CSSProperties = {
    ...MATERIAL.surface,
    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.md,
    padding: 19,
  };

  const heading: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
    textTransform: "none",
    letterSpacing: "0",
  };

  const primary: CSSProperties = { ...MATERIAL.button, borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm };

  const pill = (active: boolean): CSSProperties => ({
    padding: "2px 8px",
    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
    background: active
      ? "var(--sp-accent)"
      : "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 10%, transparent)",
    color: active ? "var(--sp-accent-text)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    textTransform: "none",
    letterSpacing: "0",
  });

  return (
    <div
      className={scope}
      style={{
        width: 760,
        display: "flex",
        background: "var(--sp-bg)",
        color: "var(--sp-text)",
        font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px/${TOKENS.type.lineHeight} ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
        letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
        overflow: "hidden",
        position: "relative",
      }}
    >
      <style>{css}</style>

      {/* Sidebar */}
      <div
        style={{
          width: 176,
          flex: "none",
          display: "flex",
          flexDirection: "column",
          gap: 4,
          padding: 24,
          borderRight: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
          background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-surface) 70%, transparent)",
        }}
      >
        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8, marginBottom: 18 }}>
          <span
            style={{
              width: 22,
              height: 22,
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              background: "var(--sp-accent)",
              display: "grid",
              placeItems: "center",
              color: "var(--sp-accent-text)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
            }}
          >
            N
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            Northwind
          </span>
        </div>

        {NAV.map((item, index) => (
          <span
            key={item.label}
            style={{
              display: "flex",
              alignItems: "center",
              gap: 9,
              height: 40,
              padding: "0 9px",
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              ...(index === 0 ? MATERIAL.navActive : null),
              color: index === 0 ? "var(--sp-accent)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
              font: `${index === 0 ? TOKENS.type.weight.strong : TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            <svg width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
              <path
                d={item.path}
                stroke="currentColor"
                strokeWidth={index === 0 ? 1.7 : 1.3}
                strokeLinecap="round"
                strokeLinejoin="round"
              />
            </svg>
            {item.label}
          </span>
        ))}

        <span style={{ flex: 1 }} />

        <span
          style={{
            display: "flex",
            alignItems: "center",
            gap: 8,
            paddingTop: 18,
            borderTop: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
          }}
        >
          <span
            style={{
              width: 26,
              height: 26,
              flex: "none",
              display: "grid",
              placeItems: "center",
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
              background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
            }}
          >
            MK
          </span>
          <span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
            <span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
              Mika Ito
            </span>
            <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Finance</span>
          </span>
        </span>
      </div>

      {/* Main */}
      <div
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          minWidth: 0,
          display: "flex",
          flexDirection: "column",
          gap: 18,
          padding: 24,
        }}
      >
        {/* Header */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
          <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
            <span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>March 2026</span>
            <span
              style={{
                display: "block",
                font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
                textTransform: "none",
                letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
              }}
            >
              Overview
            </span>
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              display: "flex",
              alignItems: "center",
              gap: 7,
              padding: "7px 11px",
              background: "var(--sp-surface)",
              border: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              color: "var(--sp-muted)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
            }}
          >
            <svg width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
              <circle cx="8" cy="8" r="5.4" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
              <path d="M12.4 12.4 16 16" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" strokeLinecap="round" />
            </svg>
            Search
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              ...primary,
              padding: "8px 13px",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            New report
          </span>
        </div>

        {/* Stats */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          {STATS.map((stat) => (
            <div key={stat.label} style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
              <span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>{stat.label}</span>
              <span
                style={{
                  display: "block",
                  marginTop: 3,
                  fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                  font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
                }}
              >
                {stat.value}
              </span>
              <span style={{ display: "inline-flex", marginTop: 6, ...pill(stat.up) }}>
                {stat.delta}
              </span>
            </div>
          ))}
        </div>

        {/* Chart + ring */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0 }}>
            <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "baseline", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
              <span style={heading}>Revenue by day</span>
              <span style={meta}>7 days</span>
            </div>
            <div
              style={{
                display: "flex",
                alignItems: "flex-end",
                gap: 7,
                height: 104,
                marginTop: 10,
              }}
            >
              {BARS.map((bar, index) => (
                <span key={index} style={{ flex: 1, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", alignItems: "center", gap: 5 }}>
                  <span
                    style={{
                      width: "100%",
                      height: bar.value * 86,
                      borderRadius: `${TOKENS.radius.sm}px ${TOKENS.radius.sm}px 0 0`,
                      ...(index === 4
                        ? MATERIAL.bar
                        : {
                            background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-accent) 32%, var(--sp-surface))",
                            border: SURFACE_BORDER,
                          }),
                    }}
                  />
                  <span style={meta}>{bar.day}</span>
                </span>
              ))}
            </div>
          </div>

          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 12 }}>
            <span
              style={{
                width: 74,
                height: 74,
                flex: "none",
                borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                display: "grid",
                placeItems: "center",
                background: `conic-gradient(var(--sp-accent) 0turn ${RING}turn, color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent) ${RING}turn 1turn)`,
              }}
            >
              <span
                style={{
                  width: 52,
                  height: 52,
                  borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                  background: "var(--sp-surface)",
                  display: "grid",
                  placeItems: "center",
                  fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                  font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                }}
              >
                68%
              </span>
            </span>
            <span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
              <span style={{ ...heading, display: "block" }}>Budget</span>
              <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block", marginTop: 4 }}>Spent $34,120</span>
              <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Left $16,170</span>
            </span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Table + controls */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0, padding: 0, overflow: "hidden" }}>
            <div
              style={{
                display: "flex",
                alignItems: "center",
                justifyContent: "space-between",
                padding: `${19}px ${19}px 8px`,
              }}
            >
              <span style={heading}>Recent orders</span>
              <span style={{ color: "var(--sp-accent)", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                View all
              </span>
            </div>
            {ROWS.map((row, index) => (
              <div
                key={row.name}
                style={{
                  display: "flex",
                  alignItems: "center",
                  gap: 10,
                  height: 52,
                  padding: `0 ${19}px`,
                  borderTop: ROW_SEPARATOR,
                }}
              >
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 24,
                    height: 24,
                    flex: "none",
                    display: "grid",
                    placeItems: "center",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
                    background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 9%, transparent)",
                    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                  }}
                >
                  {row.name.slice(0, 1)}
                </span>
                <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
                  <span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                    {row.name}
                  </span>
                  <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>{row.meta}</span>
                </span>
                <span style={pill(index === 0)}>{row.state}</span>
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 66,
                    textAlign: "right",
                    fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                  }}
                >
                  {row.amount}
                </span>
              </div>
            ))}
          </div>

          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 10 }}>
            <span style={heading}>Preferences</span>
            {SWITCHES.map((item) => (
              <span key={item.label} style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
                <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0, font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                  {item.label}
                </span>
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 34,
                    height: 20,
                    flex: "none",
                    position: "relative",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    ...(item.on ? MATERIAL.switchOn : MATERIAL.switchOff),
                  }}
                >
                  <span
                    style={{
                      position: "absolute",
                      top: 3,
                      left: item.on ? 17 : 3,
                      width: 14,
                      height: 14,
                      borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                      ...MATERIAL.knob,
                    }}
                  />
                </span>
              </span>
            ))}
            <span style={{ marginTop: 2 }}>
              <span style={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
                <span style={meta}>Alert threshold</span>
                <span style={{ ...meta, fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums" }}>62%</span>
              </span>
              <span
                style={{
                  display: "block",
                  position: "relative",
                  height: 5,
                  marginTop: 7,
                  borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                  background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 14%, transparent)",
                }}
              >
                <span
                  style={{
                    position: "absolute",
                    inset: "0 38% 0 0",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    background: "var(--sp-accent)",
                  }}
                />
                <span
                  style={{
                    position: "absolute",
                    top: -5,
                    left: "62%",
                    width: 15,
                    height: 15,
                    marginLeft: -7,
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    background: "var(--sp-surface)",
                    border: `2px solid var(--sp-accent)`,
                  }}
                />
              </span>
            </span>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

export default InkOnlySpecimen;

Nearby styles