Re: [ft-devel] ft-smooth for 2.1.10?

[bulia byak]

On 11/15/05, Turner, David <address@hidden> wrote:
> I think there is a misunderstanding. We have integrated
> David Chester's patch within FT2 for a long time (2.1.7
> or 2.1.8 if I remember correctly).

This does not match my experience at all, see below.

> Could you produce screenshots that detail striking differences
> you'd like to see removed ? Please give also complete information
> regarding the font files being used, the character size, etc...

OK, here's a screenshot of 4 Firefox windows using stock 2.1.10. The
Microsoft fonts are installed, URLs are visible in the windows, you
can visit them yourself (if you want any more detailed info let me
know and I'll try to find out). I've annotated the screenshot pointing
out the worst issues with character shape and kerning.

http://www5.rapidupload.com/d.php?file=dl&filepath=4013

For comparison, here's the shot of the same pages on the same system,
but with FT 2.1.9 with the ft-smooth patch applied (from
http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~dchest/xfthack/ft-smooth-cvs.diff). As you
can easily see, this one has none of the problems of 2.1.10.

http://www5.rapidupload.com/d.php?file=dl&filepath=4014

Overall, stock 2.1.10 gives much more unevenly kerned and distorted
characters, this is obvious in almost every character. For me, reading
text with 2.1.10 is a pain. Obviously, the problem is the autohinter,
and all I ask for is to give an option to turn it off altogether
(which, as I understand, is what the ft-smooth patch does).

I am aware of the argument that "no autohinting makes it blurry". Yes,
it's less crisp. So what? I still MUCH prefer the blurry but even and
natural characters to the crisp and broken ones. I'm sure I'm not
alone with that. Why can't we have it as an option? Please?

Thanks for your consideration.

--
bulia byak
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