For my section headings, I like the look of using shorter numbers (they detract less from the section title), and get by with using the \smaller command. However, they are a smaller font size so skinnier as well, which looks a bit strange. I'm not requesting old-style numbers (hang below baseline). Any ideas on how I could achieve this? Perhaps vertically shrink text?
Edit:
Perhaps one solution is to use scalebox (top) vs. smaller (bottom)
\scalebox{1}[0.8]{1} Intro\\
{\smaller 1} Intro\\
Since you didn’t want old-style numbers, here is a solution that scales the height of the numbers to the x-height of the current font, but leaves the width unchanged. This should result in strokes the same thickness.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{cmbright}
\usepackage{xfp} % For \fpeval
\usepackage{graphicx} % For \scalebox
\providecommand\liningnums[1]{#1}
\newlength{\capsheight}
\newlength{\xheight}
\newcommand\smallnums[1]{%
\settoheight{\capsheight}{X}%
\settoheight{\xheight}{x}%
\scalebox{1.0}[\fpeval{\the\xheight / \the\capsheight}]{\liningnums{#1}}%
}
\begin{document}
\smallnums{12} Drummers Drumming *
\oldstylenums{11} Pipers Piping
10 Lords a-Leaping
\fontfamily{lmss}\itshape\selectfont
\smallnums{9} Ladies Dancing *
\oldstylenums{8} Maids a-Milking
7 Swans a-Swimming
\fontfamily{lmtt}\upshape\bfseries\selectfont
\smallnums{6} Geese a-Laying *
\oldstylenums{5} Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
\normalfont\fontfamily{lmr}\selectfont
\smallnums{3} French Hens *
\oldstylenums{2} Turtledoves
And 1 Partridge in 1 Pear Tree
\end{document}
