If you are reading this, probably you like the way that the Apple OS renders the font, as you can see in this image:
And how Windows renders all fonts (ClearType):
Can you see the diference? :)
So, let me teach you how you can do this in your Windows 2000/XP or Vista:
2- Extract this ZIP file in any directory, for example:
C:\gdi
3- Doubleclick the file:
gditray.exe
4- Now, your task bar you can note a “G”, like the image:
5 – Click with the mouse right button and select the option:
Enable
6- Now, the “G” icon in your task bar must be like this:
7- Enjoy this beautiful font-smoothing.
Nice, but how does this do what it does? What does running it do to my system?
It just change the way that Windows renders the font! The Windows system use the GDI to render fonts, colors and graphical items in Windows, so this program modify (when it is running) the font-rendering config (replacing the ClearType) and restoring the config after you close it.
You can see more about GDI here. :)
Ohhhhhh, that’s nice! I’m loving this little proggie! THANKIES! Could you make a silent version that simply runs in the background of Windows without appearing in the tray though? …Jeez this is awesome, I used to use Safari instead of Firefox just because of how it rendered text.
Thanks Nikki!
I’ll search about this, I think that its possible. :D
Also it’d be nice if the rendering happened when the program starts as opposed to having to click the icon then choose to enable it, that way you can have it run at startup with and have it immediately take effect.
Just wanted to say, this also work in the latest build of the Windows 7 beta (beta 7000)
Thanks for the info Nikki, I’ll add to the tutorial. ;)
The program has been kinda acting strange lately, sometimes only a few programs will use the new engine and sometimes nothing uses it whenever when I try redrawing the desktop, disable then re-applying the engine and restarting the program. Then there’s another flaw I get sometimes where text looks like it’s using the Windows engine then when I mouse-over the text item it uses the OS X engine.
I hope you can make the program a little more stable, cuz I really love how smooth the text is when it works correctly.
Some programs have their own rendering engine, so the GDI have no effect in these programs!
Here is the page of the developer:
http://drwatson.nobody.jp/gdi++/index-en.html
I found a way to make the GDI++ start with Windows and run automatically, soon I’ll post this HOWTO. ;)
Thanks Nikki!
Thank your very much! I was looking for something to see web pages on Firefox like on Safari on Windows.
It helps me a lot!
Be welcome dani!
;)
now find a way to make a plugin that will display OS-X font-smoothing as an option along with Cleartype and None in the Effects window. i hate extra icons in my notification area.
“Could not load gdi++.dll” – Not missing any files, I’ve tried re-dl’ing it several times, and I’m unzipping it with 7z (to c:\gdi\). Win XP Home, no other font-smoothing apps installed.
What am I doing wrong?
@Erik – That’s strange, but did you try extract with WinRar? Here works well.
@erich – Thats bad but I think it’s the better and easy way to change the rendering engine in WinXP/Vista.
Thanks Estevão, but that didn’t do it either.
I’ve now tried 7zip, the built in zip handler in XP, and WinRAR. Same issue.
Btw is there a difference between the file gdi.zip (648kB) and gdi0870.zip (405kB) I found here: http://vladg.com/2009/03/make-windows-fonts-look-as-smooth-as-mac-os-x-fonts ) ? Just a heads up…
Hmm, I don’t know, but did you try to download the gdi0870.zip file? Maybe it can work. :)
I have tried GDI++ before but all the versions i came across left my screen a bit blurry EXCEPT this one. Thank you so much
Very highly recommended
i am still waiting for the auto STartup version of this application.. but this app simply rocks..
@Sankaranand
Just create a shortcut of GDI tray and drag it into the startup folder.
Hey Estevão Mascarenhas,
The program doesn’t seem to render the Windows start menu and the start bar. Any ideas on how to get it to do it?
Thanks
Hmm, I’ll see, maybe some incompatibility with explorer. :(
Just use the ClearType tuner, you can make it look *exactly* like the Mac, using ClearType – no extra apps needed. Sheesh. http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypePowerToy.mspx
No, Cleartype tuner *does not* make your Windows font rendering resemble anything like OS X, simply because it *cannot* turn off font hinting. Sheesh.
You sir could use a lesson in font hinting.
http://www.d-type.com/about/comparison.htm
Font hinting is the method preferred by Microsoft. Unhinted font is used on OS X and Linux.
HShin is right, ClearType tuner is very different from GDI++. Use GDI++ if you want a close Mac OSX rendering font in Windows.
thank youuu! :D
Thanks so much for posting this, I’ve been looking for something like this for literally years. Not sure why more people haven’t heard about it.
If anyone is interested, I made a custom DLL that translates the settings dialogue and other parts into English. To use, just replace the gditray.dll that comes with the package.
http://pxlt.net/files/gditray.dll
Ahh this program is excellent. I’m running it in Windows 7 RC. I really do wish I could turn it off for the titlebar fonts tho. Makes ‘em look weird.
This made my day ! Congrats for finding this tool !
This program rocks!!! I absolutely love it!
Absolutely perfect. Thank you very much.
Estevão, do you have an MSN so I can contact you?
I’m using GDI++ with Windows Vista x64. It seems that this program is compiled in 32 bits algorythm and it DOESN’T CHANGE FONTS OF 64BITS PROCESSES. Every 32bits apps have fonts changed by GDI++ (Firefox, IE 32bits, WinWord 2007, Live Messenger, Steam etc), but 64bits apps don’t (explorer.exe). The consequence is that Windows menus will continue showing cleartype fonts (and every other 64bit app).
Wow.. thanks for this!
But i hope you still provide the version where it runs on the system tray. Sometimes, when I provide webdesign mockup to my clients I like to take screenshots of the original (no anti-alias) bodytext fonts as it looks more realistic to what they will see in their computer. That’s why I hope GDI can be turned on and off easily.
But this is really cool, nevertheless!
You can get the latest version with the titlebar problems fixed from here.
http://free.flop.jp/gdi++/src/
Just download the largest file.
Thanks for collaborating Jaywin! :)
Nice! Looking forward for the auto-start howto!
[...] original author- http://estevaomascarenhas.com/blog/2009/01/howto-1-mac-osx-font-smoothing-in-windows/ [...]
I think font smooting on mac and windows both look bad and are harder to read. Harder to read means its bad for your eyes if you do a lot of monitor work.
I always have them off as i don’t want to loose my eye sight.
@Nuuro
I’ll post soon!
@Martin
I agreed, I prefer the ClearType by the way. :)
This is great but I’m on Windows 7 x64 and the native 64bit apps including Chrome won’t render using GDI as David above mentioned. Is there any chance of a 64bit version?
Yes I’d love to see a 64-bit capable version. This app should be standard on all installations. Thanks so much!
just because of that sick-ugly windows fonts, i had to use ubuntu for a year..now, i can use xp gladly
Is there any solution for Win7 64bit?
I agree with Martin that font smoothing of both types, Windows and Mac actually hurts my eyes. I like to use no smoothing at all and find it much more comfortable to read.
I like to use Opera web browser as well, it has a simple zooming feature that makes browsing more comfortable, no longer headache enducing, like i’ve found the font smoothing to be after switching it off.
Good luck, you might also like to try experimenting with the font size “DPI” as well to the level you desire and see how it feels. I find the biggest to be most comfortable on my eyes.