If you’re like me, you spend too much time staring at a computer screen. By the end of the day, your eyes can let you know they’ve had enough. While I was reading through my feeds I came across this tip from Lifehacker. If you use XP, give it a try. I noticed a difference in a matter of minutes.
How to Switch Your Screen to Clear Type
Before you start: You need XP with a video card and a monitor that support at least 256 colors. It’s recommended that you have 24-bit or 32-bit color support for best results.
Then, go Control Panel>Display>Appearance>Effects.
Click the box that says:
Use the following method to smooth the edges of fonts.
Choose Clear Type.
Click OK. OK.
My eyes are still saying, “Thank you.”
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Permit me to suggest you the: ClearType Tuner PowerToy from Microsoft Powertoys [1].
It’s usefull too.
[1] http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
Thank you KOoLiNuS
I haven’t had a chance to try that yet. I’m not sure what it does.
Liz
It was a good tip, worth investigating. After a day’s use however, I found it quite annoying an put it back to the “standard” setting. But, keep the tips coming!
Hi Hart,
What became annoying about it? I had forgotten that I had it on.
Liz
Hi Liz .. It was hard to put my finger on trying to describe it, but while it looked less edgy at first, over time it started to seem like a hazy milky color around the text on whitespace. Then, working on the screen for about 16 hours since my eyes were going buggy and the text almost seemed to be bouncing horizontally squishing itself and back, and playing micro-tricks on my eyes, almost like .. stuff like on this page. When I changed the setting back to the ‘standard’ setting, the optical illusion effect stopped for me. It could be my monitor.. I’ve got a SyncMaster 912N by Mrs.HART has it configured for optimal Sims2 viewing pleasure. // Take care.
Interesting Hart,
I tried that tool that works with Clear Type just above you. It was like going to the eye doctor–do you like A or B? and now A or B? So maybe that’s why I’m not having the same effect. Hmmmmm
Come back and see me.
Liz
Interesting tip, Liz … I’m trying it right now – so far so good, it’s softer.
Maybe from HARTS experience it’s a case of when it gets too much in Clear Type go back to the other, and then back again and so forth …
But I think nothing much will help with 10 hours a day in front of the monitor – where’s that E-Ink that’s being mooted as the answer?
So Martin,
Does Clear Type help you read your new title in the sidebar?
I’ve not heard of E-Ink. Tell me about it.
Liz
Liz,
Hey … I just noticed – King Martin of Down Under, wow, once again: I’d like to thank my Mum and Dad for you know what, obviously God (Allah, Buddha, Jesus … take your choice), my inspirations: Ernest Hemingway, James Ellroy, The Sopranos, U2 and Motley Crue. Do I get a crown?
Waaah … this king also wants to have a SOB Directory entry – I just noticed it. Waaah (king having a hissy fit)
It’s been a long, hot week (Aussie Day yesterday ergo: bbq and beer) – so forgive me for my long acceptance speech.
E-Ink (aka electronic ink) – I’m a lazy boy at times so here’s 2 links – HERE and HERE.
Oh King Martin,
Send me your erudite and compelling description of Home Office Voice and you, too, can have a top level entry in the SOB Directory. If you really want the code, I’m happy to share it and you can have an SOB Directory all your own as well.
Goodness royalty sure is demanding these days.
I’ll check out E-Ink.
Liz
I’ll tell you what causes eyestrain for me: tiny typefaces! At home where I use Firefox, it’s easy for me to increase the font size on the screen. But I also use a computer with IE, which has a fairly involved method for increasing font size, so I don’t always do it. But besides that, I don’t really get why so many people use what looks like 8 point type on their sites! I’m including you, Liz, in this group. It’s not like you’re going to run out of room here. What’s the deal?
Hi Clair On IE go to View and Pull down the menu and choose the text size you want. The text size for this blog design is 13 point Trebuchet MS. So something is not reading.
Another place to look in IE is Tools >Internet Options > Accessiblity if those boxes are checked that can change what you see.
Hope that helps.
I’m not using 8 point type. I’ve had glasses most of my life.
Liz
Hey Liz,
I tried this the other day. It makes things so much clearer.
I couldn’t find this post to make a comment, but now I did because you finally had a link to it.
Thanks, from a not-seeing-as-well-as-I-used-to guy.
Joe
Joe,
Glad you found it. Glad it works for you too!
I always forget that there’s a search box on this blog. Hope that’s what happened to you as well.
ya it is awesome .it helps