4 ms·

I keep hoping to see "font rendering looks better on Windows" in one of these releases. I don't think it'll ever happen though.

by olah_1 6y ago

theandrewbailey 6y ago
Is there some API or technique that you're wanting implemented? Or is ClearType misconfigured on your machine? Edit: the Control Panel has a Cleartype wizard that works like an optometrist exam: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/80598-turn-off-cleartype-windows-10-a.html https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/80598-turn-off-cleartype...
- runxel 6y ago
  I think he refers to the slightly "biggening" of fonts. Which is a great thing, btw! because it helps with all that nonsense-designers-bs of suuuuper thin fonts nobody can actually read.
  - olah_1 6y ago
    They're not "biggened". They're bolder and more blocky. Which from a design perspective appears louder, more brash, and not calm.
- WorldMaker 6y ago
  DirectWrite does have some improvements over GDI only ClearType. Although a lot of DirectWrite's real improvements people notice are interestingly in the other direction. (ClearType is designed to optimize sub-pixel rendering on LCDs when rendering fonts at small sizes; a bunch of DirectWrite improvements are in multi-pixel aliasing and smoothing when rendering higher font sizes on higher DPI devices.)
- ZeroCool2u 6y ago
  That wizard is amazing, thank you!
TonyTrapp 6y ago
And I hope it stays the way it is. I always found Firefox font rendering to be much more readable and easy on the eyes than Chrome's, to a point that most Electron software felt terribly blurry to me until they slightly improved it.
SloopJon 6y ago
I spend most of my time on the following computers: * "retina" Macs at 16" and 27" * Windows laptop at 13"-ish and 3000x2000 * Mac and Windows at 24" and 1920x1200 All of these look fine to me, except for Windows at 1920x1200. I don't know if Firefox is especially bad, but that's my primary browser. I wish I could better articulate what's wrong with it, but I don't think it's fixable with the ClearType tuner. It may just come down to preference--I use Macs more, so I prefer their font rendering.
- olah_1 6y ago
  > I wish I could better articulate what's wrong with it, but I don't think it's fixable with the ClearType tuner. This is the frustration. Quite simply, I don't think anyone at Mozilla uses Windows. I've tried to go to Firefox from Chromium, but the psychological impact that font rendering has on me is too much. I mean, we spend a lot of time reading text in a browser. I want that to be delightful and easy on the eyes.
dblohm7 6y ago
Chromium-based browsers are actually the odd ones out here.
- olah_1 6y ago
  Maybe they're odd, but they look much better to me. Firefox text feels loud and anxious in comparison.

I keep hoping to see "font rendering looks better on Windows" in one of these releases. I don't think it'll ever happen though.

by olah_1 6y ago

I keep hoping to see "font rendering looks better on Windows" in one of these releases. I don't think it'll ever happen though.

theandrewbailey 6y ago

Is there some API or technique that you're wanting implemented? Or is ClearType misconfigured on your machine? Edit: the Control Panel has a Cleartype wizard that works like an optometrist exam: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/80598-turn-off-cleartype-windows-10-a.html https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/80598-turn-off-cleartype...

runxel 6y ago
I think he refers to the slightly "biggening" of fonts. Which is a great thing, btw! because it helps with all that nonsense-designers-bs of suuuuper thin fonts nobody can actually read.
- olah_1 6y ago
  They're not "biggened". They're bolder and more blocky. Which from a design perspective appears louder, more brash, and not calm.
WorldMaker 6y ago
DirectWrite does have some improvements over GDI only ClearType. Although a lot of DirectWrite's real improvements people notice are interestingly in the other direction. (ClearType is designed to optimize sub-pixel rendering on LCDs when rendering fonts at small sizes; a bunch of DirectWrite improvements are in multi-pixel aliasing and smoothing when rendering higher font sizes on higher DPI devices.)
ZeroCool2u 6y ago
That wizard is amazing, thank you!

TonyTrapp 6y ago

And I hope it stays the way it is. I always found Firefox font rendering to be much more readable and easy on the eyes than Chrome's, to a point that most Electron software felt terribly blurry to me until they slightly improved it.

SloopJon 6y ago

I spend most of my time on the following computers: * "retina" Macs at 16" and 27" * Windows laptop at 13"-ish and 3000x2000 * Mac and Windows at 24" and 1920x1200 All of these look fine to me, except for Windows at 1920x1200. I don't know if Firefox is especially bad, but that's my primary browser. I wish I could better articulate what's wrong with it, but I don't think it's fixable with the ClearType tuner. It may just come down to preference--I use Macs more, so I prefer their font rendering.

olah_1 6y ago
> I wish I could better articulate what's wrong with it, but I don't think it's fixable with the ClearType tuner. This is the frustration. Quite simply, I don't think anyone at Mozilla uses Windows. I've tried to go to Firefox from Chromium, but the psychological impact that font rendering has on me is too much. I mean, we spend a lot of time reading text in a browser. I want that to be delightful and easy on the eyes.

dblohm7 6y ago

Chromium-based browsers are actually the odd ones out here.

olah_1 6y ago
Maybe they're odd, but they look much better to me. Firefox text feels loud and anxious in comparison.