Clear Type In Xp

[surefire]

I was reading a blog the other day and there was a reference to something called 'Clear Type'. I followed the link to the Microsoft site and read a little blurb about a neat trick to make text easier on the eyes. I have used it for the past several days and it has been so much easier to put in long hours.

 

(I apologize in advance if I'm the last person surfing the internet to discover this. But I didn't see any posts regarding this.)

 

If you have XP, you can try it in just a few steps:

 

1- Right click on desktop

2- Choose 'Properties'

3- Choose 'Appearance'

4- Click 'Effects' button in bottom right corner

5- Under 'Use the following method to smooth... yada yada', choose 'Clear Type'

 

Click Ok, ok

 

Enjoy.

 

Last thing. You web developers out there might want to remember to view your websites with Clear Type off so you are sure to see it as most will see your site. AFAIK, XP defaults to Clear Type off, so it would seem that most don't know about it.

[TweezerMan]

I've never found ClearType fonts that helpful on my PC, but I have a regular 17" monitor. The quick help on that settings screen (click the "?" then click on the drop-down box where you can select 'ClearType') shows this in the tooltip:

List the options available for improving the readability of large screen fonts.  Click Standard for desktop monitors; click ClearType for most laptop computers and other flat screen monitors.

Your mileage may vary.

[Pendragon]

I've never found ClearType fonts that helpful on my PC, but I have a regular 17" monitor.  The quick help on that settings screen (click the "?" then click on the drop-down box where you can select 'ClearType') shows this in the tooltip:

List the options available for improving the readability of large screen fonts.  Click Standard for desktop monitors; click ClearType for most laptop computers and other flat screen monitors.

Your mileage may vary.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I find the clear type fonts to be fuzzier than the normal, and I'm using LCD/notebook.

[surefire]

Hmmm... well. Another way I saved my eyes was to upgrade from old style monitor to a nice big flat screen. So, maybe that's the difference.

[Head Guru]

Ive been a fan of Clear Type for some time. Thanks for pointing this out to the family Jack.

 

Bill

[carbonize]

One of the first things I disable when installing XP. As stated above it makes the text fuzzier in an attempt to soften the harshness on LCD screens. Clear type, or anti alaising, was designed to soften the edges on LCD/TFT monitors. Makes everything look like a pdf to me.

[Miriam]

I use a program called ClearTweak on my flat panel monitor. Check it out on ioIsland.com I find it really helps alot.

[jwbowden]

I have Cleartype enabled on both my Sony Vaio laptop LCD and my Dell Axim X30 - makes a good deal of difference on both. As you can see from the mixed response the combination of monitor, video card, and eyesight make a lot of difference from user to user.

 

Those who find Cleartype "fuzzy" might want to check your monitor/video card settings and see if raising the video refresh rate helps. If your monitor and card support it that will also make a diff. (Disclaimer - Do this at your own risk - don't touch things you don't know anything about unless you're pretty confident you can get yourself outta the mess you make!)

[marie b.]

Clear Type actually hurts my eyes - I've tried it on an ooold 15" Gateway monitor, a 21" LCD flatscreen, and a 17" Notebook, and I don't like it on any of them.

[TCH-Thomas]

I had forgotten about cleartype until yesterday when I was reading about a wizard that Microsoft have. I have set it up now and while I am not sure what I like it yet, perhaps it´s a thing for others to try.

 

Link.