OT: XP only - onscreen reading clarity

[ddean]

Microsoft's ClearType add-on:
"Readability on CRT monitors
will be improved somewhat, but it will be
dramatically improved on color LCD monitors,
such as those found in laptops and high-quality flat desktop displays."

The crt display is helped well enough that
I'm leaving it activated on my daughter's computer
[the only xp machine in the house]
at first, on a crt, it might look a bit blurry
but after using it a short time I find it easier on my eyes.

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/WhatIsClearType.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeFAQ.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeInfo.mspx

web based display tuner
(again, xp only)
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/Step1.aspx



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[frogfish]

Dean,

Thanks for the info, Clear Type really does make a difference

 

[Yvsa]

Thanks Dean! I found I could cut my print size down a notch so as to get more on the screen at one time. Much, much, clearer, for me anyway and I'm running an old CRT.:thumbup:

 

[philthygeezer]

Thanks, THANKS, THANK YOU!!!!

I've been staring at this laptop for the past week with my eyes becoming prgressively more strained. I've been trying not to rub them in the last 24 hours. As soon as I turned cleartype on I felt relief.

I never knew it existed.

 

[ddean]

ANY version of windows
actually, any computer + monitor combination,
can often be helped in the display department,
by tuning the display properties
& tuning the monitor itself

....................turn off ClearType if it is turned on..................
....then turn it back on when done....

get a sample text (& picture) onscreen
then using the manual controls on the monitor
adjust the brightness & contrast for sharpness
Then adjust the horizontal & vertical size to give best sharpness
[there's an optimal size where each pixel put out by the computer
should match each physical pixel on the screen,
more or less pixels from the computer & you get some degree
of blur. I usually opt for higher pixel count with a little blurring]
Other controls on the monitor help align things in corners,
straight lines, etc.
Which is available?; depends on the monitor built-ins.

Last monitor adjustment is color temp.
For 'accurate' colors choose the lowest # temp degrees
For more contrast / brightness, choose the highest color temp
Or in between for happy eyes.

Be ready to repeat the sizing adjustments later


On the computer:

r-click on desktop;
choose -properties,
then -settings
16-bit/high-color is good enough for most people/uses
& often allows another better adjustment later.

then go into -advanced
-general - dpi settings can be helpful,
but is often problematic with programs expecting 96dpi

-adapter usually has some -properties you can change slightly or greatly
but leave it alone for now

-monitor holds the next adjustment
-refresh rate should be set as high as you can get it initially
72/75 is good enough
60 is bad - flicker-ville

Here you'll have to do a manual readjustment of the monitor again
the display size usually jumps when the refresh rate changes
but once adjusted, the monitor will/should remember those settings.

once you find the highest setting the monitor & computer will work at
try slower settings & watch the comparative screen sharpness

The bit-rate/color-level high/true 16bit/32bit
MAY affect sharpness.
Usually affects display speed

The adapter that puts out the video signal to the monitor
is usually optimized for certain range of settings
display speed away from that setting can be much slower
whether higher or lower #s
& sharpness may be affected

MANY more setting to play with
but those are the most basic/common


~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<> THEY call me 'Dean' -FYI-FWIW-IIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TIA-YW-GL-HH-HBD-IBSCUTWS-tWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links --A--T--H--D