Forum Discussion
Improve font rendering to be on par with Firefox or at least original Edge
Deleted Much appreciated for acknowledging this sincere request: Chromium fonts rendering adds too light/similar-to-the-background-color pixels https://superuser.com/a/1314353, making the text appear too thin, too light, and thus harder to read versus other browsers, notable EdgeHTML.
I think you will find a few people who prefer Chromium's thinner font (which may be pure preference or simply expecting what you've always had), but I think most typical users prefer the sharper, darker style (like EdgeHTML, Firefox, IE, and even other Chromium browsers have used).
Some more thoughts: all links below include cropped, zoomed text views to illustrate the root cause:
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=534732
- https://community.brave.com/t/font-rendering-like-in-firefox-and-edge-on-windows/73273
- https://www.tenforums.com/browsers-email/75876-why-google-chrome-looks-blurry-compared-firefox.html
- https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/8u86kw/just_switched_to_firefox_need_some_help_with_font/ (the other side of the debate)
- https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/aoh50f/why_is_text_rendering_on_firefox_just_generally/ (both sides debated in the comments)
There are various solutions (like SK_GAMMA_CONTRAST suggested above). Of course, the ideal is everyone getting the font rendering they want, but--maybe I'm biased--but I think the text is more readable for far more users with the sharper edges. Even as a webdev, clean minimalist design should still be inviting & painless to read. Chromium's default rendering doesn't fit that bill.
ikjadoon "I think the text is more readable for far more users with the sharper edges."
First, thank you for taking the time to locate and link references for Deleted and the Microsoft team.
Second, I agree with you about sharper edges. I don't have any hard evidence, but my guess, too, is that most people, given a comparison and a choice, would pick the font that is more readable.
Third, for Deleted to consider, the "wimpy font" issue is an accessibility issue for older people. I am the volunteer IT director for a small railroad museum, and I've become familiar with the needs of older volunteers, whose vision isn't as sharp as it once was, even with bionic cataracts and good, clear distance vision. A font should be easily readable for 90% of users on a 24" 1920x1080 reasonable-quality (e.g. $250-$300, non-glare non-touch) monitor, and Chrome/Chromium's font rendering is marginal, at best. Of the dozen or so 65+ member-volunteers I serve, I have four that won't be able to work with EdgeChromium's font rendering without eyestrain, and that's not a good situation.
Fourth, if Microsoft decides to follow Googe's lead rather than the lead of other Chromium-based browser developers who have made the font more readable, perhaps Microsoft would consider putting a toggle into Settings, or build a Microsoft extension that will allow users to increase the darkness and crispness of the font as rendered.
It's hard to believe that MS developers did nothing about improving the font rendering. I am speechless!
msibille Deleted
I agree completely, and the name of this discussion thread says it all...it should be on par with Firefox or at least the original Edge. This greatly impacts most people I know (I provide computer support to them), because they are older and don't see that well. I'm 47 and have a hard time seeing thin fonts, or low-contrast faint-colored text, BUT...I've had difficulty reading in Chrome for many years, not just now that I'm older.
The simple key to this is: if Firefox can have sharp, dark-colored text in its menus/toolbars, etc., then the new Edge can too.
Deleted
The discussion of blurry fonts in Chromium based Edge has apparently been going on for over 6 months. WHEN will MS do something about it?
I had been avoiding the new Edge as long as possible -then the Windows update on 21 June installed it without asking. Now I'm struggling to read webpages (and the mic is muted each and every day when I join a TEAMS meeting, until I run the device manager sounds Troubleshooter. I cannot even fix it directly from device manager but have to let Troubleshooter reactivate the mic). I have a week and a half of standards conference meetings and the performance of the MS products is abysmal right now.
Given that the new Edge was forced upon users, I have not seen such a poor roll out from MS since Windows ME. Please poke someone to FIX this. I don't want to switch browsers but this is untenable.
Thanks, craig10x, I passed that on to the team.
Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft EdgeI happened to run across this...I am using the font rendering enhancer extension on my released version of Edge w/Chrome base. I find it does make the difference and gives it the quality that firefox has (darker and sharper)... The chrome developers seem to have no interest in doing anything about it...but it would be great if you could make the modification in Edge w/Chrome so it would not be necessary to use the extension and would actually give you a big advantage over the standard chrome....
I found this brief post which seems to explain what the extension does...sounds like it could be a simple fix and boy would Edge users really appreciate it (like myself)....see link:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/683880/font-rendering-enhancer-a-chrome-extension-which-enables-font-anti-aliasing/
I read (and participated) in this community thread about this, which i know you followed....Thanks....Craig
Deleted
So glad to see there is a discussion with the developers about this important issue... I am using the new MS Edge/w Chrome base and it is outstanding except that it shares this same font rendering issue that has been discussed here...
My work around has been to use that "font rendering enhancer" extension from the Chrome extension store...and it makes the difference! The extension has been around many years and if it were to disappear, i'd be forced to go back to using Firefox for my main browser. Google doesn't seem to care, so it's really up to you ms edge developers to try to correct this issue...i shouldn't need to use the extension to solve the problem...
I'm so hoping your team can correct this as i really REALLY want to continue to use MS Edge (w/chrome) as my main browser!
salvino Of course! I'm happy to help whenever possible.
And to let y'all know: I've confirmed with the product team that this is on their radar and part of their considerations. Thanks again for all the input.
Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge- Glad to see this has finally gotten attention. Thanks to everyone on the thread for providing so much leg work and detailed examples. And thank you Deleted for your empathy and open mindedness in hearing us out.
I think the problem is easier to see if you checking with Chinese characters. I have several screenshots in https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/font-too-thin/m-p/1060974#M18918
Hope it to be fixed soon.
- This is amazing news that this issue has been discussed by the team. Thank you! 🙂
tomscharbach Thanks for telling us more about some real-world usage and why this is an important feature. Accessibility across Microsoft products is one of our top priorities -- I had actually already mentioned it when I surfaced this font rendering discussion to our team, so we're right there with you. 😉
Fawkes (they/them)
Project & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge
