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Thin Font in Windows XP with ClearType switched off

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  • Last reply by eXalted

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This is a problem which began with some of the newer versions of Firefox ( I don't remember which one exactly ). The fonts of some of the pages are rendered too thin. However they are rendered as they would in Chrome. I noticed that the problem is happening when I have the Windows XP ClearType font option is switched off. However I can't stand using the ClearType option in Windows - it makes text harder to read for me. Is there a way to fix this problem for Firefox. It wasn't present in the older versions, why has it appeared now?

Here's a screenshot of the problem: http://oi42.tinypic.com/104rkpk.jpg

I tried these solutions:

1. Starting Firefox in Safe Mode.

2. Disabling Hardware Acceleration in Firefox.

3. Toggling gfx.direct2d.disabled and gfx.direct2d.force-enabled to true.

And still the problem remains. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

This is a problem which began with some of the newer versions of Firefox ( I don't remember which one exactly ). The fonts of some of the pages are rendered too thin. However they are rendered as they would in Chrome. I noticed that the problem is happening when I have the Windows XP <b>ClearType</b> font option is switched off. However I can't stand using the ClearType option in Windows - it makes text harder to read for me. Is there a way to fix this problem for Firefox. It wasn't present in the older versions, why has it appeared now? Here's a screenshot of the problem: http://oi42.tinypic.com/104rkpk.jpg I tried these solutions: 1. Starting Firefox in <b>Safe Mode</b>. 2. Disabling <b>Hardware Acceleration</b> in Firefox. 3. Toggling <b>gfx.direct2d.disabled</b> and <b>gfx.direct2d.force-enabled</b> to <i>true</i>. And still the problem remains. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Modified by eXalted

All Replies (6)

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Hello eXalted, you said : ClearType font option is switched off

you mean you have select the "Standard" option ? in the box Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts

if yes, try to uncheck the Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts [ ] (leave it without selection), and check firefox again.


thank you

Modified by ideato

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Thanks for the reply. Yes, I selected Standard, but when I unchecked the option completely, it made them worse.

Here's a screenshot: http://oi40.tinypic.com/348q2bq.jpg

Chrome on the other hand is continuing to display them normally.

I would really appreciate any further help :(

Modified by eXalted

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Try to tune ClearType with the Windows ClearType Tuner to see if you can have it switched on:

Do you have an LCD screen or a CRT type display?

ClearType usually doesn't work well with CRT type displays, but should work with LCD displays.

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Yeah, I installed it and tried different settings but I just can't get my eyes around it.

It just seems strange that Firefox stopped supporting normal font visualization on systems without ClearType..

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Hello,

It just seems strange that Firefox stopped supporting normal font visualization on systems without ClearType..

in my xp with uncheck Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts [ ] it is perfect, i have no problem, the problem is somewhere else, but where ?

check if you have in Display > Settings > color quality > Highest 32-bit


thanks again

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Nope, the problem is still here. I'm on 32-bit, always were.

Very strange, how this problem suddenly appeared after some update.