             
             // calculate margins
             self.padding = self.charWidth
-            self.tickLength = ceil(self.charWidth)
+            self.tickLength = ceil(fontSize / 3)
         }
         
     }

                        
                        // calculate base position
                        let basePosition: CGPoint = isVerticalText
                            ? CGPoint(x: ceil(y + drawingInfo.charWidth * CGFloat(digit) / 2), y: 2 * drawingInfo.tickLength)
                            : CGPoint(x: -drawingInfo.padding, y: y)
                        
                        // get glyphs and positions

                    return max(ceil(thickness), self.minVerticalThickness)
                
                case .vertical:
                    let thickness = drawingInfo.fontSize + 4 * drawingInfo.tickLength
                    return max(ceil(thickness), self.minHorizontalThickness)
                
                @unknown default: fatalError()
