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Author Topic:   (Solved) Font Rendering in Browser
Jon
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 9 (755233)
04-06-2015 8:09 PM


I do a lot of reading on my computer, even though I hate reading on computer screens. However, I can handle it okay if fonts are rendered simply without ClearType or its equivalents enabled. The difference is very clear in the below picture:
I prefer Sample One; Sample Two gives me a headache. My eyes get sore trying to focus on that blurry mess and before long I find myself popping pills to keep the migraine away.
I have Windows XP and have turned off ClearType system wide and in all the Office programs, which has worked well.
However, it seems some webpages are forcing Sample Two like rendering. For example, this page:... renders blurry in Firefox and Chrome. I tried the suggestions here, but they didn't help: (which, coincidentally, also renders blurry).
I'm at a loss on how to fix this problem if it is even fixable. Has anyone else solved this or does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jon
SOLUTION:
ABE: I did some more digging through about:config and adjusted gfx.font_rendering.cleartype.use_for_downloadable_fonts to FALSE. Apparently FF was defaulting to ClearType on these 'downloadable' fonts, whatever those are. I can't believe how long I let this problem persist before finally figuring it out!
Edited by Jon, : Added Solution

Love your enemies!

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Jon, posted 04-06-2015 8:29 PM Jon has not replied
 Message 3 by nwr, posted 04-07-2015 12:28 AM Jon has replied
 Message 4 by Percy, posted 04-07-2015 8:07 AM Jon has replied

  
Jon
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 9 (755234)
04-06-2015 8:29 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Jon
04-06-2015 8:09 PM


Safari's Good
Just downloaded Safari and there is no blur in the article linked to in Message 1.
I can use it for now as a work around. But the browser really sucks, so hopefully FF has an option to change the way these pages are rendered.

Love your enemies!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Jon, posted 04-06-2015 8:09 PM Jon has not replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 3 of 9 (755272)
04-07-2015 12:28 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Jon
04-06-2015 8:09 PM


I prefer Sample One; Sample Two gives me a headache.
For me, sample two is more pleasing, though I can read either.
For example, this page:... renders blurry in Firefox and Chrome.
I am seeing firefox using something like sample one, and chromium using something like sample two.
This is on linux (opensuse). But this does suggest that the way opensuse sets defaults can change firefox to what you prefer. And in that case, there's probably a way that you can change it too.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

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Percy
Member
Posts: 22388
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.2


Message 4 of 9 (755290)
04-07-2015 8:07 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Jon
04-06-2015 8:09 PM


I'm trying to understand this issue in case it turns out to be something I might need to know a little about. I displayed this page in both Chrome and Firefox:
There appeared to be a little bit of a difference in the fonts of the two browsers. The Firefox fonts appeared a little bit bolder because they were just a tiny bit thicker but that was all. Hitting Ctrl-+ several times didn't make any blurriness apparent in either browser.
After returning the zoom to normal I then in Firefox changed gfx.font_rendering.cleartype.use_for_downloadable_fonts to false and refreshed the page. There was no difference I could see. I restarted Firefox, still no difference.
I put the phrase "This thread was archived" from that webpage in both Chrome and Firefox side-by-side in an image editor, zoomed in, and then I could see the subtle pixel differences that cause the Firefox font to appear a little bolder and thicker, but I should stress "subtle."
Am I just not experiencing the problem on my computer? Or is it something I'm just not sensitive to? The difference in the fonts between "Sample One" and "Sample Two" in your image is obvious and not at all subtle. Are you seeing a difference that dramatic on affected webpages?
--Percy

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 Message 1 by Jon, posted 04-06-2015 8:09 PM Jon has replied

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Jon
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 9 (755299)
04-07-2015 9:25 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by Percy
04-07-2015 8:07 AM


Are you seeing a difference that dramatic on affected webpages?
Yes, and it might matter for you on what your system settings are. Also, I found another setting in about:config: gfx.font_rendering.cleartype.always_use_for_content. This was already set to FALSE for me, so sites with simple text such as EvC were displayed without ClearType. The sites with special formatting, such as the Atlantic article, were the ones affected by the other preference that I mentioned.
Also, I switched the above preference to TRUE, and now everything is in ClearType; you shouldn't have to restart the browser for the effects to kick in, at least I didn't have to.
There appeared to be a little bit of a difference in the fonts of the two browsers. The Firefox fonts appeared a little bit bolder because they were just a tiny bit thicker but that was all. Hitting Ctrl-+ several times didn't make any blurriness apparent in either browser.
I suppose they could be using different techniques to produce the effect. The image I posted was produced in MS Word, the first without ClearType, the second with ClearType. MS's ClearType may not be the same as either FF or Chrome.
Here's part of my samples zoomed in:
The difference should be very noticeable.

Love your enemies!

This message is a reply to:
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Jon
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 9 (755300)
04-07-2015 9:28 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by nwr
04-07-2015 12:28 AM


For me, sample two is more pleasing, though I can read either.
It does come down to preference in some way. Question: in Sample Two, do you see the different colors that surround the letters?
This is on linux (opensuse). But this does suggest that the way opensuse sets defaults can change firefox to what you prefer. And in that case, there's probably a way that you can change it too.
I posted about my trials with Linux a little while ago. It was nice, but I completely deleted it from my HDD because there was no way to turn off the font smoothing system wide like you can in XP, which meant I couldn't use it.

Love your enemies!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by nwr, posted 04-07-2015 12:28 AM nwr has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by nwr, posted 04-07-2015 12:50 PM Jon has replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 7 of 9 (755322)
04-07-2015 12:50 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Jon
04-07-2015 9:28 AM


in Sample Two, do you see the different colors that surround the letters?
Only in your zoomed-in image.
If I pull up the linked page on chromium, then look with my eye very close to the screen, I can see the coloring.

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

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 Message 6 by Jon, posted 04-07-2015 9:28 AM Jon has replied

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xongsmith
Member
Posts: 2578
From: massachusetts US
Joined: 01-01-2009
Member Rating: 6.8


Message 8 of 9 (755325)
04-07-2015 1:30 PM


I have to assume that the drop-down menu in Firefox was already tried and found wanting. If not, try this:
Across the top, pick the Tools drop down and select Options at the bottom. Then go to Content. Maybe that has something that will work?
*shrug*
OOooops, I now see that the Options option is unavailable in Ubuntu 14.10. There it is under the Edit drop-down, then the Preferences.
Doesn't look like that will help, however.
Edited by xongsmith, : drop-down menus appear to OS dependent

- xongsmith, 5.7d

  
Jon
Inactive Member


Message 9 of 9 (755347)
04-07-2015 3:52 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by nwr
04-07-2015 12:50 PM


And I think that might explain our different preferences:
quote:
Wikipedia on ClearType:
In a MSDN article, Microsoft acknowledges that "[t]ext that is rendered with ClearType can also appear significantly different when viewed by individuals with varying levels of color sensitivity. Some individuals can detect slight differences in color better than others."
When I look at Sample Two, the red and blue that surround the letters is overpowering to my eyes.
It must boil down to our eyes' different sensitives to the colors.

Love your enemies!

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