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

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyPour

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 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

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger6106

This article 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.

Nov 30, 2007, 02:10 PM	#1
AnthonyPour macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2007	The poor clarity of text on Mac vs. Windows 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

Nov 30, 2007, 02:21 PM	#3
roger6106 macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2007	This article 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.

Dec 1, 2007, 05:59 AM	#4
MacRumorUser macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: tickling a leprechaun's naughty bits	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. __________________ “Hell is a place, a time, a consciousness, in which there is no love.” MacRumor:User mac community contributor

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Dec 4, 2007, 04:10 PM	#5
wiz7dome macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2003	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.