font difference on different WinXP computers

I noticed that the fonts on wxStaticText do not look the same given
the same wxPython application running on different laptops, both of
which are running Windows XP. I made a small test application and
packaged it up with py2exe and ran that .exe on both of two laptops.
The differences are shown in the attached images. In particular, the
smallest font (the first line) looks unpleasantly jaggy on the
Thinkpad but good on the Gateway. (This might be harder to discern
with the attached jpgs, but I think it is clear enough to make the
point. Particularly notice the "y" in "lazy"). There are other much
more minor (negligible) differences on the larger fonts.

wxRichTextCtrl's text also looks appreciably worse on the Thinkpad.
(didn't bother to demo that here though).

What accounts for this and is there anything to insure that fonts look
good on all computers, at least all of the same platform/version?

Thanks,
Che

fonts from thinkpad.jpg

fonts from gateway.jpg

C M wrote:

I noticed that the fonts on wxStaticText do not look the same given
the same wxPython application running on different laptops, both of
which are running Windows XP. I made a small test application and
packaged it up with py2exe and ran that .exe on both of two laptops.
The differences are shown in the attached images. In particular, the
smallest font (the first line) looks unpleasantly jaggy on the
Thinkpad but good on the Gateway.

It looks like the Thinkpad has ClearType turned off, and the Gateway has
it turned on. This is a personal preference, not under application
control. In the Display control panel, in Appearence, in Effects, check
the method to smooth font edges.

What accounts for this and is there anything to insure that fonts look
good on all computers, at least all of the same platform/version?

It's an individual preference. ClearType smooths font edges, but some
people think it makes letters look too fuzzy. You just keep doing what
you are doing.

···

--
Tim Roberts, timr@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

Thanks, Tim, that's great to know.

Che

···

On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 3:22 PM, Tim Roberts <timr@probo.com> wrote:

C M wrote:

I noticed that the fonts on wxStaticText do not look the same given
the same wxPython application running on different laptops, both of
which are running Windows XP. I made a small test application and
packaged it up with py2exe and ran that .exe on both of two laptops.
The differences are shown in the attached images. In particular, the
smallest font (the first line) looks unpleasantly jaggy on the
Thinkpad but good on the Gateway.

It looks like the Thinkpad has ClearType turned off, and the Gateway has
it turned on. This is a personal preference, not under application
control. In the Display control panel, in Appearence, in Effects, check
the method to smooth font edges.

What accounts for this and is there anything to insure that fonts look
good on all computers, at least all of the same platform/version?

It's an individual preference. ClearType smooths font edges, but some
people think it makes letters look too fuzzy. You just keep doing what
you are doing.

--
Tim Roberts, timr@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.