Guest David Given Posted September 4, 2008 Posted September 4, 2008 Does anyone know if there's any way of getting more control over the way TrueType fonts are rendered using the standard (non-ClearType) font smoother? The issue is this: I use several operating systems. I use a bunch of fonts that are designed for unhinted systems like Linux and OSX. My system is dual-headed, with different monitor orientations, so I can't use ClearType (besides, one monitor is a CRT). Unfortunately, with ClearType turned off, the fonts get drawn so badly that they make my eyes hurt. Here's what it looks like on XP: http://www.cowlark.com/~dg/screenshot.png Here's what it's supposed to look like (taken on Linux): http://www.cowlark.com/~dg/screenshot-unhinted.png I'm pretty sure what the problem is, which is that the standard Windows font smoother puts way too much emphasis on the hinting, to such an extent that it distorts the shapes of the letters --- the problem isn't unique to my fonts; even the standard Microsoft fonts appear to get drawn badly (with jaggies) when using the standard font smoother. Is there any way to turn hinting off completely? Or to change the level of antialiasing? Can I replace the font renderer completely with a different one? Please help --- I'm getting very tired of rainbow fringes... -- ┌─── ｄｇ＠ｃｏｗｌａｒｋ．ｃｏｍ ───── http://www.cowlark.com ───── │ │ "All power corrupts, but we need electricity." --- Diana Wynne Jones, │ _Archer's Goon_
Guest Alec S. Posted September 5, 2008 Posted September 5, 2008 Re: More control over standard font smoothing? "David Given" <dg@cowlark.com> wrote in message news:48c06c35$0$518$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk... > Does anyone know if there's any way of getting more control over the way > TrueType fonts are rendered using the standard (non-ClearType) font > smoother? ClearType Tuner. Online version: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx Downloadable PowerToy: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypePowertoy.mspx -- Alec S. news/alec->synetech/cjb/net
Guest David Given Posted September 5, 2008 Posted September 5, 2008 Re: More control over standard font smoothing? Alec S. wrote: > "David Given" <dg@cowlark.com> wrote in message > news:48c06c35$0$518$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk... >> Does anyone know if there's any way of getting more control over the way >> TrueType fonts are rendered using the standard (non-ClearType) font >> smoother? > > ClearType Tuner. As I said, I can't use ClearType. I use two different monitors with different orientations. Does anyone know how to get more control over the *standard* font renderer? (Alternatively, disabling subpixel antialiasing on ClearType might do the trick as well.) -- David Given dg@cowlark.com
Guest Alec S. Posted September 5, 2008 Posted September 5, 2008 Re: More control over standard font smoothing? "David Given" <dg@cowlark.com> wrote in message news:48c14725$0$523$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk... > As I said, I can't use ClearType. I use two different monitors with > different orientations. Ah, didn’t see that paragraph. I hadn’t heard that ClearType can’t be used with different orientations. Is it bad on both? What about your video card driver? Does it have any functions that can help? On my system, I can prevent text from giving me a headache simply by turning the contrast down a bit (on the monitor, although turning it down at the video card can work too). -- Alec S. news/alec->synetech/cjb/net
Guest David Given Posted September 7, 2008 Posted September 7, 2008 Re: More control over standard font smoothing? Alec S. wrote: [...] > I hadn�t heard that ClearType can�t be used with different orientations. Is it > bad on both? ClearType appears to have only two configuration options that I've been able to find --- orientation (RGB or BGR) and contrast. You can't set this on a per-monitor basis, and either way it doesn't support the vertical orientation on the CRT. Currently I have it configured for the LCD screen; the CRT's natural fuzziness hides the colour banding to a certain extent. But even when configured correctly, I deeply dislike ClearType --- the coloured edges are still clearly visible. I'd much rather have traditional grey-scale antialiasing. > What about your video card driver? Does it have any functions that can help? On > my system, I can prevent text from giving me a headache simply by turning the > contrast down a bit (on the monitor, although turning it down at the video card > can work too). The LCD is a laptop screen and doesn't really have such options. -- ┌─── ｄｇ＠ｃｏｗｌａｒｋ．ｃｏｍ ───── http://www.cowlark.com ───── │ │ "All power corrupts, but we need electricity." --- Diana Wynne Jones, │ _Archer's Goon_
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