Windows users: you may be painfully missing out when it comes to the quality of on-screen text. Does text on your screen look like the screenshot below?
The type shown above features ugly, jagged edges. Who wants to look at that all day long? Through the use of a Windows feature called ClearType, you can take advantage of smooth fonts. These fonts have smooth edges that blend into the background, creating much more attractive, readable characters.
ClearType is a free download from Microsoft.
- Using Internet Explorer, visit the ClearType page on Microsoft’s site.
- Check the box to turn on ClearType
- Follow the on-screen directions to fine-tune your font settings.
Here is a sample of typography rendered with ClearType on Windows XP:
When you first enable ClearType, it will take a while for your eyes to adjust to the new font settings. Give yourself a while to get settled, and you’ll realize what an advantage it is to use font smoothing.
10 responses
December 3rd, 2007
Claus Madsen says:
It hurts my eyes and looks fuzzy and blurred. And no, I don’t need glasses.
December 3rd, 2007
az says:
this is great! thanks
December 3rd, 2007
musti says:
welcome to 2001.
December 3rd, 2007
ingenious says:
Well, I don’t agree completely. I live ClearType but only since I’ve switched to Vista. IT DEPENDS ON THE FONT whether the readability is improved or not. For instance, Tahoma and Courier New with ClearType look awful - blurry and very annoying. The new fonts in Vista - the Segoe family and Consolas, are designed for ClearType and look best when it’s on.
There is no need to “improve readability” on XP without switching the fonts.
December 3rd, 2007
Of Zen and Computing says:
ingenious: I’m sure some fonts look better than others, but ultimately I suppose it is a matter of taste. I use XP every day, and OS X every night, and consider my web browsing experience much-improved with the aid of ClearType.
musti: par-tay!
December 3rd, 2007
Amazing improvement in text clarity « Later On says:
[…] life, Software, Technology tagged ClearType at 9:30 am by LeisureGuy I used the information from this post (via Lifehacker) to adjust the text clarity on my (Windows) screen by using Microsoft’s […]
December 3rd, 2007
U Tech Tips » Blog Archive » Utecht’s Daily Links 12/05/2007 says:
[…] Improve the Readability of On-Screen Text with ClearType Annotated […]
December 3rd, 2007
dizablo says:
Thanks for this tip. I also am a XP by Day, OS X by night person and the difference was driving me to distraction. It makes for a kinder, gentler Windows experience.
December 3rd, 2007
Quikboy says:
Nice tip.
Funny, how I’m the exact opposite - OS X by day, XP by night.
December 3rd, 2007
AH says:
Use ClearTweak so you can enable ClearType and futz with contrast of the fonts to make them more readable
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