1
I'm using a Core2Duo Mac mini with the latest OS X 10.6 version. Though the option "Use LCD font smoothing when available" is selected in the System Preferences, Appearance page, when I take a screenshot and zoom-in only gray text is shown, no colored borders on the fonts.
How I can activate LCD sub-pixel antialiasing on OS X 10.6?
Mike L.
Posted 2011-06-29T12:36:22.353
Reputation: 4 539
2
OK, I've found the solution at welp's blog: just execute following command
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain AppleFontSmoothing -int 2
Mike L.
Posted 2011-06-29T12:36:22.353
Reputation: 4 539
And this changes how it looks on Screenshot? – Max Ried – 2016-10-31T17:01:53.813
1
Actually I don't see a difference neither:
With LCD smoothing turned on:
With LCD smoothing turned off:
If you look at the 'y' you clearly see that the subpixels have all the same brightness. Thus they are just shades of grey.
Max Ried
Posted 2011-06-29T12:36:22.353
Reputation: 1 521
I reached this question searching for how to take a screenshot that shows subpixels… looks like I'll have to buy a good camera to take a photo of the monitor! – ShreevatsaR – 2016-10-31T16:35:36.023
This was done using retro photography as in "Mount the lens wrong side round". – Max Ried – 2016-10-31T17:00:30.490
When I get some spare time, I might recheck that and compare it to ClearType – Max Ried – 2011-06-29T15:02:21.677
Don't need to take a photo of your monitor. Just make a screenshot of, e.g., the Preferences dialog and zoom in. If the text of controls is shown only in gray scale, it is no sub-pixel anti-aliasing, if it appears somehow colored at the borders, sub-pixel anti-aliasing is active. – Mike L. – 2011-06-29T17:16:58.727
Not necessarily! There can be a difference between the frame buffer and the screenshot rendering. And also, I understood you as if you asked about LCD subpixel antialiasing and that's what I tried to answer with that post.
Beside all that, a photography of the monitor is as good as a screenshot. Actually it is more a screenshot than a screenshot is!? – Max Ried – 2011-06-29T17:45:53.610
-1
Sub pixel anti-aliasing is a technique applied at the time of rendering, but it is not part of the original source data.
It is intended to provide a better visual approximation of the source material.
There is more information on the Wikipedia page, but you'll note especially that the non-idealized screenshots at the bottom of the article are taken using a digital camera.
horatio
Posted 2011-06-29T12:36:22.353
Reputation: 3 345
2I know what sub-pixel anti-aliasing is. I just want to know how I can activate it on OS X. – Mike L. – 2011-06-29T17:15:19.743
Do you actually have an LCD connected? Do you have subpixel anti-aliasing when zooming into the GUI by using Ctrl-Scrollwheel? – Daniel Beck – 2011-06-29T18:12:07.580
Sure, I have an LCD connected. No, subpixel anti-aliasing is not active when zooming in. – Mike L. – 2011-06-30T05:56:44.747
Strange. My is on, and it works, but if I turn it off, it is still there. Perhaps this is a setting that takes affect after you logout and back into your account? You hadn't stated so, but perhaps just logging out of your account then back in will fix it? – mkoistinen – 2011-07-02T22:32:16.697