Do you use ClearType or not?

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jamess · #1 Post by **jamess** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:47 am

I am wondering how many use clear type. It seems so blurry with ClearType enabled, but it's supposed to be causing less eye-strain? Is that true in your experience?

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:27 am

Have you tuned your ClearType settings? It can make a big difference ...
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cle ... /tune.aspx

jamess · #3 Post by **jamess** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:36 am

I did tune it now, thanks to you and your URL.

However, it still looks blurry compared to standard font aliasing. Neverthenless, I might have to wait a bit to get used to it. I've read about it on Wiki and is says it much relieves eyestrain. Since I am a bit short-sighted and have a little sensitive eyes, this might actually work fine with me.

Thanks for the provided link.

pianowizard · #4 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:24 am

jamess wrote:I did tune it now.....However, it still looks blurry compared to standard font aliasing.

Same here.

#5 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:50 am

ClearType uses sub-pixel anti-aliasing in an attempt to improve the sharpness of the text. In my experience this works well for most people, but others find it worse than the standard anti-aliasing.

If it still doesn't work for you after a few days, just use the standard method.

And, PW, with QXGA, I don't think you need ClearType!

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:56 am

I use Clear Type on my T41 laptop and on my NetVista A30 desktop with a NEC LCD monitor.

Initially (some years back, there was some blurriness - actually a red shadow to the left of most characters). Even then, it was still better than no clear type - I tried both ways.

Now (I think with the advent of newer video drivers and certainly with the advent of IE7), the text on both computers is remarkably crisp, clear, accurately focused, and wonderfully easy to read with Clear Type. I would not be without it.

I just set up an old (1999) IBM PC300GL in my basement with a standard CRT and with XP Pro. This setup does not permit Clear Type and I really notice.

I knew of the tuner and have been using that since it came out in 2003. Without the tuner on the desktop with LCD, the text was very blurry. So the tuner also assisted in large measure.
... JDH

bhtooefr · #7 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:16 pm

I ALWAYS use ClearType on LCDs. I think the fonts look cleaner and easier to read with ClearType on.

On CRTs, attempting subpixel rendering just makes things fuzzy, though.

#8 Post by **rkawakami** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:45 pm

I don't use it. The 14.1" SXGA+ on my T23 looks better (to me) without ClearType. With it on, the type seems slightly "bolder" but also less distinct along the transition line between the black text and the normally white background. In addition, one program I use (DS Clock) does some weird things to the type and I've never tried to figure out how to fix it.

snessiram · #9 Post by **snessiram** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:09 pm

I use it too. I didn't at first and when I turned it on after a tip from a friend I found it to be blurry too. However, I now find it annoying not having it. However, if you want really small fonts (8px or less), non-cleartype is clearer (but it doesn't look so nice if it's next to cleartyped text that has bigger size).

gunston · #10 Post by **gunston** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:40 pm

clear type does help to clarify the reading words for SXGA+ screen

Puppy · #11 Post by **Puppy** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:15 pm

I can't stand it on any LCD display. I'm unable to focus on text with those blurry edges.

BTW is possible to swtich it completely off in Vista ?

bhtooefr · #12 Post by **bhtooefr** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:33 pm

In Vista, you can turn it off everywhere but Internet Explorer here:

Right click desktop > Personalize > Window Color and Appearance > Effects, then go to the box where ClearType is selected and set that to Standard. (It at least does CRT-friendly anti-aliasing of 18-point and larger stuff, IIRC. If you don't want that, just clear the checkbox above that.)

For IE:

Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Multimedia > uncheck Always use ClearType for HTML.

sugo · #13 Post by **sugo** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:14 pm

I don't use cleartype as I prefer sharp fonts.

milstein · #14 Post by **milstein** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:44 am

I use ClearType, but on larger (12/14+ sizes) fonts only

ClearType will mess up a lot smaller fonts, and for small fonts I really prefer sharper fonts

jamess · #15 Post by **jamess** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:50 am

It's funny thing though... I've had ClearType enabled for a few days now, and I actually got used to it!

When I tested and turned it on a while ago, it was actually much harder to read text for me (i'm a bit shortsighted, but use glasses).

However, I am guessing that on a new computer, 12" and SXGA+, i will have to turn it off again, otherwise it will be too small/blurry. What do you think? Anyone has it enabled on 12" SXGA+ ?

pianowizard · #16 Post by **pianowizard** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:53 am

milstein wrote:ClearType will mess up a lot smaller fonts, and for small fonts I really prefer sharper fonts

No wonder I don't like ClearType! Most of the laptops I've tried ClearType on have had very high pixel density (= small fonts).

bhtooefr · #17 Post by **bhtooefr** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:49 pm

jamess wrote:Anyone has it enabled on 12" SXGA+ ?

Yes. and I like it.

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Do you use ClearType or not?

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