I purchased this monitor to use with my 16” MacBook Pro. It has a resolution of 3440x1440p. The graphics are fine but the text looks horrible. It looks as though no anti-aliasing is being applied. I’m using Big Sur. The monitor is attached via USB-C (also tried USB-C to DisplayPort). I’ve tried all the hacks that usually work on previous OS X versions, but it does not work on Big Sur. Am I out of luck? Would a 32” 4K ultra wide be any better?
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LG 34WN80C-B Ultra wide - Any hope for decent text?
- Thread starter HoosierInFL
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Just to make absolutely sure, I assume you did try
defaults write -g CGFontRenderingFontSmoothingDisabled -bool NO
right?
I'm on Big Sur myself, but only have Apple Retina panels around
defaults write -g CGFontRenderingFontSmoothingDisabled -bool NO
right?
I'm on Big Sur myself, but only have Apple Retina panels around
By the way, text is fine in Windows. It’s a Mac thing. I’ve seen others complain about it online, but now that the font smoothing option has been removed from the OS, I’m not sure what to do about it.
It is a Mac thing indeed. Tried numerous ways found on the web but text just looks worse on macOS compared to Windows on non-HiDPI screens
I use QHD displays, but they are a good bit smaller and have a somewhat higher pixel density. I am happy with the way text looks though. Have you tried increasing the amount of font smoothing?
Heavy
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 3
Medium
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
I use -2 on my displays. Text is not as sharp as the retina displays, but I consider it to be very good. The pixel density of my display is about 120 PPI.
Going to a 32-inch UHD would help but you still would not achieve the same level of crisp/sharpness/clarity as good as what your 16-inch can display because 32-inch 4K is not a retina display.
Heavy
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 3
Medium
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
I use -2 on my displays. Text is not as sharp as the retina displays, but I consider it to be very good. The pixel density of my display is about 120 PPI.
Going to a 32-inch UHD would help but you still would not achieve the same level of crisp/sharpness/clarity as good as what your 16-inch can display because 32-inch 4K is not a retina display.
These terminal commands became available back around "Mojave", but as far as I know, they're still relevant:
RE-enable subpixel antialiasing for non-retina displays:
defaults write -g CGFontRenderingFontSmoothingDisabled -bool NO
Then log out and log back in.
Enable subpixel antialiasing smoothing:
Light font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 1
Medium font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
Heavy font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 3
NO font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 0
Source article:
www.howtogeek.com
You want to try ALL FOUR settings, to ascertain which works best for you:
1, 2, 3, and 0.
Also remember that you MUST log out and log back in to see each change after you make it.
Hmmmm....
There's also a tool called "Font Smoothing Adjuster", that works without terminal.
See here:
www.fontsmoothingadjuster.com
RE-enable subpixel antialiasing for non-retina displays:
defaults write -g CGFontRenderingFontSmoothingDisabled -bool NO
Then log out and log back in.
Enable subpixel antialiasing smoothing:
Light font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 1
Medium font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
Heavy font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 3
NO font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 0
Source article:
How to Fix Blurry Fonts on macOS Mojave (With Subpixel Antialiasing)
Apple's macOS Mojave disables subpixel antialiasing, also known as font smoothing, by default.
www.howtogeek.com
You want to try ALL FOUR settings, to ascertain which works best for you:
1, 2, 3, and 0.
Also remember that you MUST log out and log back in to see each change after you make it.
Hmmmm....
There's also a tool called "Font Smoothing Adjuster", that works without terminal.
See here:
Font Smoothing Adjuster | macOS App
Download the free and open source Font Smoothing Adjuster app to disable or customise font smoothing on macOS Big Sur.
www.fontsmoothingadjuster.com
Hello @Fishrrman ,
thanks for your suggestions,
anyway I tried all the commands, and my fonts are still blurry with latest Monterey 12.4 :/
I logged in/out after each command execution.
On a windows laptop, text is perfectly sharp with same monitor.
Tried USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, no changes.
thanks for your suggestions,
anyway I tried all the commands, and my fonts are still blurry with latest Monterey 12.4 :/
I logged in/out after each command execution.
On a windows laptop, text is perfectly sharp with same monitor.
Tried USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, no changes.
These terminal commands became available back around "Mojave", but as far as I know, they're still relevant:
RE-enable subpixel antialiasing for non-retina displays:
defaults write -g CGFontRenderingFontSmoothingDisabled -bool NO
Then log out and log back in.
Enable subpixel antialiasing smoothing:
Light font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 1
Medium font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
Heavy font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 3
NO font smoothing:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 0
Source article:
How to Fix Blurry Fonts on macOS Mojave (With Subpixel Antialiasing)
Apple's macOS Mojave disables subpixel antialiasing, also known as font smoothing, by default.
You want to try ALL FOUR settings, to ascertain which works best for you:
1, 2, 3, and 0.
Also remember that you MUST log out and log back in to see each change after you make it.
Hmmmm....
There's also a tool called "Font Smoothing Adjuster", that works without terminal.
See here:
Font Smoothing Adjuster | macOS App
Download the free and open source Font Smoothing Adjuster app to disable or customise font smoothing on macOS Big Sur.
In Monterey AppleFontSmoothing only changes on and off now. There are no levels. Off still does grayscale antialiasing. AppleFontSmoothing on just makes fonts slightly thicker. It doesn't really change smoothness. There is no way to turn off antialiasing. There is no way to enable subpixel antialiasing.
Yes, there are no settings in Monterey to change the amount of blurriness of text.
Just saw a new (?) option in displays settings (Monterey 12.4 ?), with 1720 x 720 (HiDPI) option.
And yes, when checking this option, text is now perfectly clear, but totally unusable as apps / text take the full screen
How to get proper crisp 3440 x 1440 ?
And yes, when checking this option, text is now perfectly clear, but totally unusable as apps / text take the full screen
How to get proper crisp 3440 x 1440 ?
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