Type Rendering
A short while ago, Paul Irish suggested that he, Zoltan Hawryluk, Ethan Dunham, and I share notes and begin talking about cross-platform/browser type rendering (that lasagna of complexity), in order to clarify the entire process for ourselves and others and find ways to make web type look better.
Now we’ve set some goals and would like to open up the dialogue. We’ll need your participation, and lots of expert advice, to fulfill these intentions. Follow Type Rendering on Twitter.
First stop: font smoothing detection
Check out How to Detect Font-Smoothing Using JavaScript to learn about an algorithm Zoltan has developed for determining whether a visitor’s web browser uses font smoothing technology when rendering type.
We think this might be a useful support detail. And in fact, details like OS/browser are a critical and necessary part of any discussion about the way type looks on screens, in web browsers.
So comment on Zoltan’s post and let us know what you think. And tell folks you care about how type looks on the web.
It’s a really interesting project and I hope it gains ground because at the moment the inconsistencies are driving me nuts :(
Anyway, good luck with the project and if there’s anything we can do, just let us know :) At least I’ll be glad to help :)