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View Full Version : The poor clarity of text on Mac vs. Windows



AnthonyPour
Nov 30, 2007, 02:10 PM
Always going for the looks, I have just switched to Mac. But can someone explain to me why does text on Mac look so blurry in comparison with text in Windows - using the same 1680x1050 this year monitor. The Windows font outlines are so much sharper both in regular and max. magnification.
Thanks,
Anthony


zblaxberg
Nov 30, 2007, 02:20 PM
Always going for the looks, I have just switched to Mac. But can someone explain to me why does text on Mac look so blurry in comparison with text in Windows - using the same 1680x1050 this year monitor. The Windows font outlines are so much sharper both in regular and max. magnification.
Thanks,
Anthony

I don't know but are you looking at them with two different monitors?
roger6106
Nov 30, 2007, 02:21 PM
This article (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/06/12.html) explains the difference.


Apple generally believes that the goal of the algorithm should be to preserve the design of the typeface as much as possible, even at the cost of a little bit of blurriness.
Microsoft generally believes that the shape of each letter should be hammered into pixel boundaries to prevent blur and improve readability, even at the cost of not being true to the typeface.
MacRumorUser
Dec 1, 2007, 05:59 AM
It could also be a simple case that you have applied clear type for your mac.

system preferences / appearance
font smoothing style =

normally I just put it to strong.
wiz7dome
Dec 4, 2007, 04:10 PM
I agree with the previous 2 posters. BTW I LOVE the way text looks on OS X. Its a subtly that mac addicts forget about after awhile.
daze
Dec 4, 2007, 04:29 PM
This article (http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2007/06/12.html) explains the difference.


Apple generally believes that the goal of the algorithm should be to preserve the design of the typeface as much as possible, even at the cost of a little bit of blurriness.
Microsoft generally believes that the shape of each letter should be hammered into pixel boundaries to prevent blur and improve readability, even at the cost of not being true to the typeface.


Very good article. Enjoyed the read.