Does it just take some time to get used to it? To me, the text on my screen isn't as clear as it was on my PC. Am I doing something wrong or is there just a curve? Graphics look fine, but text isn't nearly as clear and sharp as it should be. I have an almost new Sony xBrite 17" monitor so it shouldn't be the monitor. Help, please?
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Text on mac mini
- Thread starter twomiracles
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There's some font settings under the Appearance Preference pane you can play with.
Thanks for the suggestion. I tried that with no real difference that I can see, even with it turned all the way up to strong. Any other thoughts?
What version of Windows were you using? Did you have ClearType turned on in Windows? A lot of people are disoriented by font smoothing in OS X. Give it a little time before you pass judgment. It was odd to me at first, but now I find text on my Macs to look much more natural, and when I get to a Windows computer, I'm like... erm... what is this all about? 
The font smoothing on OS X is not easily completely turned off -- it can be done with hacks, I think. But really, give it a chance first.
The font smoothing on OS X is not easily completely turned off -- it can be done with hacks, I think. But really, give it a chance first.
When I go to display under system preferences, it shows the correct display...so does that mean that I'm okay there, pianoman?
mkrishnan, I'm sure I did have ClearTypem on and I was using XP Professional. Maybe it's my resolution, I set it at 1280 x 1024 and that does make the fonts pretty small, but that's what I'm used to looking at. I'll try to give it a bit to get used to it.
Thanks!
mkrishnan, I'm sure I did have ClearTypem on and I was using XP Professional. Maybe it's my resolution, I set it at 1280 x 1024 and that does make the fonts pretty small, but that's what I'm used to looking at. I'll try to give it a bit to get used to it.
Thanks!
Well, first thing is that ClearType and OS X's font smoothing are very different. Most of the artist types consider the Apple solution much better. The effect is stronger, in any event, and takes more getting used to. I really do think you should give it a chance. As another example, most breeds of Linux also use very strong smoothing compared to XP. When you dual boot a computer with XP into Linux and launch Gnome, it can be very disorienting. But in the long run, most people end up happier with the strong font smoothing. So really, do give your eyes a chance to adjust. (I don't always say that, for instance, they've been pushing "smooth scrolling" for years now, and I hate it and I always turn it off... but with smoothing, I initially didn't like it, and then became very used to it.)
Second, though. You're using a 17" LCD, right? You should really ONLY EVER be using it at its native resolution, whatever that is. Don't be changing the resolution. Make the fonts larger in your app if that's what you need. LCDs (aside from TVs to a very limited extent) really aren't designed for being used below their native res.
Okay, I did just double check and the 1280 x 1024 is the native resolution for the monitor. So, I guess I just need to give it some time. The worst part is, I use a PC at work and for school, so I'll be constantly going back and forth, but even so, perhaps with a little use, I'll still become accustomed to it.
Thank you so much! I'm sure this is only the first of many questions I'll have as a newbie!
Thank you so much! I'm sure this is only the first of many questions I'll have as a newbie!
If you're curious, there's a detailed discussion on this page:
http://www.xvsxp.com/system/fonts_view.php
Scroll down to the very bottom and look at the picture to get sort of a high-level understanding of how OS X and Windows do this differently.
Also that site overall has a lot of "comparisons" and shoot-outs, but the strong second purpose is that it will teach you how to do most equivalent operations between OS X and Windows. So it's very handy. (I switched in 2003).
Now that you have your display running at native resolution, one more thing you should do right away is calibrate it. It's strictly optional, but it's magical. Once you do this you will actually get colors right on screen. And it's so easy in OS X. System Preferences -> Display -> Color -> Calibrate. Follow the prompts. Most people can understand the "advanced" features, but you can do it without turning them on if you want. It explains each step as you go. It's really amazing if you work with photos and so on. I think it was one of the first things that blew me away about OS X's innards.
Good luck, and welcome to the family!
http://www.xvsxp.com/system/fonts_view.php
Scroll down to the very bottom and look at the picture to get sort of a high-level understanding of how OS X and Windows do this differently.
Also that site overall has a lot of "comparisons" and shoot-outs, but the strong second purpose is that it will teach you how to do most equivalent operations between OS X and Windows. So it's very handy. (I switched in 2003).
Now that you have your display running at native resolution, one more thing you should do right away is calibrate it. It's strictly optional, but it's magical. Once you do this you will actually get colors right on screen. And it's so easy in OS X. System Preferences -> Display -> Color -> Calibrate. Follow the prompts. Most people can understand the "advanced" features, but you can do it without turning them on if you want. It explains each step as you go. It's really amazing if you work with photos and so on. I think it was one of the first things that blew me away about OS X's innards.
Good luck, and welcome to the family!
Oh, yes, that was like the second thing I did! I am a digital scrapbook designer and I've heard so many great things from fellow digiscrappers that I couldn't wait to see how things looked on a Mac! I am very impressed so far. The bad news is, I am running CS instead of CS2 so I can't get a free download for a Mac so I'll be waiting until CS3 comes out and buying it again. I can download a trial, so I'll have it for a month and then be without for a while. Oh, well, I still have it on the PCs, but I'm really excited to see how it does on this machine.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!