One of the things that shocks you when you switch from Linux or Mac to Windows is irregular representation of typographic fonts offered by the Microsoft operating system. Irregularly, literally, because neither the quality is the same in comparison, nor is it the same on the Windows desktop and the applications themselves. It’s strange that something like this is happening in the most used system in the world, also developed by one of the biggest companies in the world.

Well, at least as far as the Chrome browser is concerned, and whoever says Chrome means Chromium and all its derivatives, from Microsoft Edge itself – which got it first – to Brave, Opera, Vivaldi and others, this is about to get better thanks to the work of those from Redmond. Be starting with the next update of the base browser, Chromium 124, when Windows ClearType integration is included to improve font readability. This setting helps resolve “grey” or “blurry” text issues for some users, especially when using high contrast or gamma settings for ease of use.

Microsoft’s ClearType is a subpixel rendering technology that purports to make on-screen text look like printed text. It was developed by Microsoft’s e-book team in the late 1990s, though it was quickly integrated into Windows. It’s a classic in a desktop configuration, although not many modern applications use it. Exceptions are various elements of the operating system, including the file manager itself, legacy applications, and… yes, web browsers.

In the case of Chromium, the browser uses the Skia engine to render graphics, which will not change. Therefore, the ClearType support that is integrated into it will not be complete; but access to Skia, the component responsible for applying configuration settings, will be facilitated. ClearType text tuner users. This change is expected to improve font readability in Chrome, especially in environments with low-resolution LCD screens, high-contrast fonts, etc., although ultimately the improvement should be generalizable.

Who doesn’t remember the ClearType settings?

Microsoft Edge implemented ClearType integration on its own years ago, although it was never enabled by default. But now it will do it directly in the Chromium code, so that the improvement – or at least the possibility of using it – is extendable to the rest of the web browsers based on it, including Edge itself, it is worth repeating , since The way this change is implemented will make it easier to maintain it in the future. In any case, the matter is much more complicated.

On the one hand, it is important to emphasize this ClearType is designed specifically for LCD screens and only works properly when using a native resolution screen. On OLED monitors or TV, ClearType may not have any advantage. On the other hand, the disparity in the technologies and methods used by applications means that, with or without ClearType, features in Windows appear, as we pointed out at the beginning, to be unevenly represented. And the improvement over the past decade has been remarkable.

Step by step, in fact, Windows font rendering is approaching Mac or Linux font rendering with its ever-present inconsistencies (no system is free from these inconsistencies, they’re just much more noticeable in Windows). But if you’re wondering how things look in Windows, try comparing Firefox with Chrome, in page texts, internal browser pages, menus, etc. Differences continue to be appreciated, although they are fewer and fewer. And starting with Chrome 124, there should be fewer of them.