Web & Screen

Typefaces on a monitor are built out of pixels. The standard resolution is 72 dpi, what is not so much. To avoid pixel edges, a technology called anti-aliasing is used (see picture to the left), smoothing the pixels. In original size, the letters are more sharp (!) and clearly and better to be read.

Technologies for showing fonts on screen developed over the time. The classic Mac OS was using QuickDraw, NeXT Adobe’s Display PostScript, while Windows uses Metro Print Path since Version Vista.

For a long time specialized fonts are in use to give a better result in small type sizes. For example Microsoft’s Verdana or Trebuchet. The next interesting step for Windows is the introduction of ClearType for better visualization of characters.