: Why do html/css texts appear so "pixelated" compared to texts from photoshop or gimp? Here is an example to explain what I mean: Text created in Gimp: Text created in html/CSS code: font:

@Cooney243

In Windows XP, is the ClearType anti-aliasing (font smoothing) feature off? I hear it's not turned on by default in XP, only in later versions. There is a Microsoft help page on how to activate ClearType: www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/tuner/step1.aspx

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@Sims5801359

Your first example uses Gimp's anti-aliased font rasterization. In short, the glyphs are given a smoother appearance by using grey pixels where the outline would bisect a pixel.

It also uses hinting to keep the verticals on exact pixel boundaries and therefore crisp.

Text rendered by operating systems and browsers uses anti-aliasing to different degrees; your second example, Chrome on Windows XP isn't using any at all.

If you try a few different browsers yourself you may see different results. What your visitors will see is also dependent on the browsers and OS they are using and not really under your control; they'll see other websites' text rendered similarly.

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