ClearType

1 and 2 depict standard renderings of a ClearType and purely anti-aliased line, respectively, while 3 and 4 are the same lines enlarged. 5 shows how the ClearType line is rendered on a subpixel level.

ClearType is Microsoft's implementation of subpixel rendering technology in rendering text in a font system. ClearType attempts to improve the appearance of text on certain types of computer display screens by sacrificing color fidelity for additional intensity variation. This trade-off is asserted to work well on LCD flat panel monitors.

ClearType was first announced at the November 1998 COMDEX exhibition. The technology was first introduced in software in January 2000[1] as an always-on feature of Microsoft Reader, which was released to the public in August 2000.

ClearType was significantly changed with the introduction of DirectWrite in Windows 7.[2]

With the increasing availability of HiDPI displays after 2012, subpixel rendering has become less necessary.

  1. ^ "First ClearType screens posted". Microsoft Typography. 2000-01-26. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  2. ^ Giannattasio, Tom (2 November 2009). "The Ails Of Typographic Anti-Aliasing". Smashing Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2015.