I'm amazed that with the proliferation of LCD monitors, not many people know how to set Windows to have better looking, crisp fonts simply by turning on and tuning ClearType. How can this help? Well, look at this picture:
Amazing difference isn't it? Note that you won't see any differences if you're using a CRT monitor. This applies only to LCD monitors. So how to turn this thing on? You have a few choices:
- In Vista it's turned on by default but you can't tune it
- In XP, you use the Effects button in the advanced tab of the display properties but you can't tune ClearType
- You use the ClearType Website but you'll have to install an ActiveX control
- You download and install the PowerToy Tuner but it works only in Windows XP
The simplest thing is to use the Website:
XP: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/Step1.aspx
Vista: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/tune.aspx
The XP PowerToy Tuner:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypePowerToy.mspx