Hello folks, i didn't find any related topic to text renderer customization which is one part of desktop customization. Microsoft already provide ClearType configuration setting for Windows 7 but it's still not enough juice to look like Mac/Unix style which disabled hinting and smooth features on its text render engine. We are here to customize everything above ordinary. Anyway i find some useful link for you guys to have this featured on your windows.


GDIPP - Customizable Windows text renderers:

The gdipp (codename) project is a replacement of the Windows text render, which brings to you the effect of text like Mac OS and Linux distributions. It is easy to use with ignorable overhead, and it is fully customizable.

The project is originated as the relaunch of the suspended gdi++.dll project. Like the InkStone project, we found the source code of gdi++.dll project too complex to manage, and decide to start over a new code base. The goal of gdipp project is to continue the development of gdi++, expand functionality, improve performance, provide better compatibility for the current and future Windows versions (potentially at the cost of removing compatibility for old Windows), create detailed and formal documentation, as well as tools to help using it.

gdipp Project supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7/Vista. You can install 32-bit and 64-bit components separately. The 32-bit components only renders 32-bit applications, while the 64-bit components only renders 64-bit applications in 64-bit Windows. Both components share the same setting file. gdipp also works correctly on Windows XP and 2003. However, due to the significant difference in the system architectures, the rendering may be less stable and compatible. gdi++ or ezgdi are alternative choices of Windows text renderers.


info & tutorial: click here

download: click here

example:
*screenshot was taken from Mozilla Firefox browser and it looks the same way like Safari browser for now.


EZGDI- gdi++ ported to easyhook:


ezgdi aims to provide gdi++ alike advanced font rendering for 64-bit applications on Windows.

This project is originated from gdi++, which depends on Detours. Detours is a great library, but it is not freely available for 64bit applications, which is the reason why gdi++ can't render 64-bit application on amd64 version of Windows 7/Vista.

Similar to Detours, EasyHook also provides Windows API hooking feature, which is essential to gdi++. And more importantly, EasyHook is an opensource project that supports 64-bit application. If we replace detours related codes in gdi++ source code with Easyhook equivalent ones, we can build a gdi++ DLL for x64 platform, which supports 64-bit applications.

However, ezgdi is not the only project providing gdi++ alike font rendering for Windows. Other programs like: gdipp, and dwType also support 64-bit applications. You can also check these projects.

ezgdi project is still in alpha test. It may cause application crash occasionally, or making system unbootable. Thus should only be used for testing purpose.


info & tutorial: click here

download: click here


GDI++:

info: click here

download: click here *GDI++ is japanese based text render website, so i have to use the translator to the link to help you guys.

tutorial: click here

*only works on 32-bit applications on windows

example:






desktop screenshot:

GDI++ DISABLE



GDI++ ENABLED




IE screenshot from other source :

BEFORE




AFTER




MacType (Now comes with multi-selection language!):


Another great app font renderer based on freetype engine. This one is better than GDI++ but still it's one of GDI++ revision app, includes MacType Tuner with easier user interaction configurator that allow you to modify using wizard mode or advanced view. I prefer using this app at the moment, because there's new update on the program lately.

INFO:
click here *english google translator
click here *original language
click here *developer page
click here *developer page translate to english

DOWNLOAD:
MacTypeInstaller_2011_1019.exe <-- click to download, latest version [19/10/2011].

screenshot from other source


The latest version now have multi-selection languages which is the good news for you guys out there. Only it lacks document support in English and you can choose different mode on how the application working too!



BTW, The Update List for the latest version includes:

MacType core:

Fixed MacType new memory management problems
Support for custom shadows, shadow parameters fully updated.
Support for single process using a separate configuration
Support public exclusion list
Dual shadow
Transparency of the shadow update algorithm parameters
Caching error correction routine body and lead to confusion and other problems italics
Modify EasyHook caused a crash
Fixed a font size does not cause problems
Performance Optimization
Fixed a problem of thermal substitution led to garbled
Security can now replace the default fonts
Now disable MacType not cause some of the fonts into the System
Priority support lattice parameters
Updates to FreeType 2.4.6

MacTray:

Using the new design icon
Support for multiple languages, support for user-defined language
Now you can stop or start the process list
Support public exclusion list

MacTuner:

Support for multiple languages, support for user-defined language
Using the new design icon
Supported text shadow color set
Perfect preservation mechanism, save all available items will be written.

MacType user guide:

Support for multiple languages, support for user-defined language
Using the new design icon
Correct the environment variables


You can find more information related to the new update via here (translate to english). If you can read chinese language, you can take a look over here.


Screenshot:


Latest MacType 7 pro effect on Google Chrome browser:






Compared to Apple Safari browser with strong font-smoothing enabled (any hardware-accelerated browser cannot works with mactype thus Apple Safari using their own font-smoothing engine)





More to come soon, anyway if you guys have the info or got different program to customize the text render, feel free to post. Thank you..


This post has been edited by kInOzAwA: Nov 7 2011, 12:36 PM

you can pick-up either one of the name above. I have tried gdipp and gdi++ so far, ezgdi never tried before. gdi++ got many bugs but works fine, only need to add gditray shortcut in the startup by yourself, then you can customize the fonts effect by configuring the *.ini file. While, gdipp is auto install program. I'm using it right now. To configure, you need to edit *.xml file provided. They're using *.dll file to hook-up in windows system and if you found that some program got font effect bugs or error, you can exclude them on the list.

Anyway, i found another program MacType font renderer in chinese based forum can support X64-bit application on windows too. But it doesn't have details in english and lack of documentation too. But the wide response by the community inside that forum is huge. I'll try to contact the developer later if it's better than all i've posted above.

This post has been edited by kInOzAwA: Feb 18 2011, 08:51 AM

yer rite about that..
i think the developer was a bit busy with studying.. he joined a chinese based xtheme forum there and i saw another one renderer software called mactype with not much documentation around but with good feedback. Gdipp comes with easier method to install and operate. we can change the *.xml file easier, but with less option like font substitute and font individual selection. GDI++, mactype and ezgdi can handle this. I'm using v0.9.1 too. The previous stable 0.74 still can choose either to install as system hook-up or just let it sit on system tray. But with v0.91 it can't. I prefer if they can offer multi-selection instead

Btw, can you share your custom *.xml setting then let's see which suit our text better... BTW, this software kicks-ass since we can customize either to look like Mac OSX style, Linux, Unix or our own preference text style. It's much convenience than MS default cleartype engine 'coz it does apply on our browser and application too! That's the cool part.

yeahh i saw that L missing thingy on VLC rite? but no big deal i just put 'em on exclude list.
about MacType yes, i did tried on 'em... on my virtual win xp SP3. MacType is the best amongst all. But if you understand chinese, it would great for you... comes with MacType tuner, user interaction make it easier to use and to set everything you want. But unluckily they didn't release english version yet

i recommend gdipp for easier installation. To configure, just go to C:\Program Files\gdipp\*.xml. Edit the *.xml file there. You can check out wiki section on their website which includes settings guide etc.

no problem for that


anyway, if you found bugs happen anywhere on any app you can just exclude 'em on the list like this:

go to c:\program files\gdipp\gdipp_setting.xml. right click, Edit.

search for <exclude>

add like this example <process> file\.exe <\process>

*file = any *.exe file that you want to exclude. Hope this help.

This post has been edited by kInOzAwA: Feb 20 2011, 03:38 AM

np

maybe u need to address the problem to the developer himself since this version is made for non-IE9 i guess and there's bugs on VLC player too. Maybe he can fix some of the problem. I noticed about that, but i've to wait until the latest version come out soon

np problem for that.. I've noticed about few bugs here and there too, hope that they will fix for the next release.. We should support 'em to improved in the upcoming version

BTW if you found serious bugs in some of your program, just exclude 'em from *.ini list

feel free to comment and share the latest bugs if you found any..

So guys, have to look on the MacType update on the startpage. I've includes the new version which is the best of all so far. With different types of mode to choose from and better font smoothing etc.. Enjoy~!

the GDIPP stable one should work fine with Chrome.. BTW if you found missing *.dll popup in any application you can copy that file from the beta version and put it on the windows\system32 folder. Anyway, try the new MacType with 7 pro effect on the setup and through registry . It looks great with thick shadow and effect.. The new freetype engine feel better than the previous one

anyway, previous version only available in chinese language. Have you download the latest version and select english language on the first setup? You can translate the page easily if you're using Google Chrome browser 'coz it will ask to translate automatically. Another option to translate by using http://translate.google.com (google translator), just copy the url and paste it there on the input box.

it's simple, just go to MacType Wizard, then select preferred mode (i'm using registry load), finally select your preferred profile to Win7 Opt. That's all