FaithType

Modify fonts to remove bitmap and disable gridfit for Windows font rendering.

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Description

Since Windows 10 version 1703 (Creators Update), its built-in TrueType renderer now supports vertical anti-aliasing. Although the new anti-aliasing mode is actually 16× SSAA, (still remarkably inferior than FreeType’s integration-based anti-aliasing,) it is much better than before, and dramatically improves text rendering, especially for CJK languages. Sadly, it is only enabled for selected fonts at selected sizes.

By using this tool, you can enable vertical anti-aliasing for almost any TrueType outline font, also removing the embedded bitmap, to make the text look much better on Hi-DPI displays.

Comparison

The image below must be viewed at 100% zoom. If you are on PC, click Readme.md to open a wider view.

Before FaithType: Fresh installation of Windows 10 version 21H1.

After FaithType: Font patched with FaithType. Also, LCD filter is disabled.

FreeType (reference): Fedora Linux 34, hinting and LCD filter disabled.

Usage (the automatic way)

1. Download the latest release.

2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.

3. Right click Auto-Patch-Then-Install.ps1 and select “Run with PowerShell”.

4. Wait for the script to automatically install patched fonts to C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType.

5. When it finishes, you will see “Press Enter to exit” at the bottom of the window. Please check whether there are any error messages.

6. Restart the system.

If you want to uninstall, right click Auto-Uninstall.ps1, select “Run with PowerShell”, then restart the system. Always uninstall before re-installing.

Usage (the manual way)

1. Download the latest release.

2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.

3. Open a terminal (either Command Prompt or PowerShell):

   cd path_to_FaithType\

4. Read how to use the tool:

   .\faithtype.exe --help

5. Process the fonts:

   mkdir "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msgothic.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msgothic.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msjh.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjh.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msjhbd.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjhbd.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msjhl.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjhl.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msyh.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyh.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msyhbd.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyhbd.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\msyhl.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyhl.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\simsun.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\simsun.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\YuGothB.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothB.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\YuGothL.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothL.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\YuGothM.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothM.ttc"
   .\faithtype.exe "C:\Windows\Fonts\YuGothR.ttc" -o "C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothR.ttc"

6. Optional: If you want to regenerate hinting instructions, use ttfautohint at this step.

7. Make sure Windows can open and preview the modified font file.

8. Change the registry:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
   "Microsoft JhengHei & Microsoft JhengHei UI (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjh.ttc"
   "Microsoft JhengHei Bold & Microsoft JhengHei UI Bold (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjhbd.ttc"
   "Microsoft JhengHei Light & Microsoft JhengHei UI Light (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msjhl.ttc"
   "Microsoft YaHei & Microsoft YaHei UI (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyh.ttc"
   "Microsoft YaHei Bold & Microsoft YaHei UI Bold (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyhbd.ttc"
   "Microsoft YaHei Light & Microsoft YaHei UI Light (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msyhl.ttc"
   "MS Gothic & MS UI Gothic & MS PGothic (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\msgothic.ttc"
   "SimSun & NSimSun (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\simsun.ttc"
   "Yu Gothic Bold & Yu Gothic UI Semibold & Yu Gothic UI Bold (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothB.ttc"
   "Yu Gothic Light & Yu Gothic UI Light (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothL.ttc"
   "Yu Gothic Medium & Yu Gothic UI Regular (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothM.ttc"
   "Yu Gothic Regular & Yu Gothic UI Semilight (TrueType)"="C:\Windows\Fonts\FaithType\YuGothR.ttc"

9. Restart the system.

FAQs

• Why remove bitmap?

  Although OpenType supports grayscale bitmap, all Windows built-in bitmap fonts only contain black-and-white version. This happens even on Hi-DPI displays, where the number of pixels are already enough to produce legible anti-aliased text.

  Also, some bitmap fonts only load when ClearType is off. Normally we don't care about them. But since current ClearType is broken (see below), we now need to remove these bitmaps.

• Why disable gridfit?

  Windows built-in fonts tend to use TrueType hinting to heavily gridfit the outlines, rendering the text blocky and pixelated even on Hi-DPI screens. Some people, who may be using an old VGA connector or an uncalibrated display, claims this style maintains color contrast and sharpness. But to me, heavily gridfitted text gives me headache after reading for a few minutes.

• Why patch the gasp table?

  Because ClearType is now broken somewhere between Windows 10 version 1703 and 1903. The LCD filter can no longer be turned off through the “ClearType Text Tuner”. [ Investigations ]

  LCD filter is originally designed for LCD screens with 1:1 viewing scale. Meaning you should not use LCD filter on projectors, televisions, PenTile displays, rotatable displays, video recordings, screenshots, remote meetings, slideshows, DPI-scaled applications, etc. But now, even the Text Tool in “Microsoft Paint” can only draw LCD-filtered text.

  If you turn ClearType off altogether, you also get bugs and lose legibility with certain built-in fonts. One solution is to process those fonts with FaithType, which patches the gasp table to request bidirectional anti-aliasing while you can keep ClearType turned off.

Strokes look too thin!

On older versions of (Mac) OS X, the TrueType renderer widens the strokes to maintain a stable contrast on Low-DPI displays. Windows can't do stroke widening. My personal experience with graphics indicates 1.3px is the minimum width for legible font rendering, but most built-in fonts in Windows are way too thin.

1. Changing the gamma level from 0x00000898 to 0x00000708 may help:

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Avalon.Graphics\DISPLAY1]
   "GammaLevel"=dword:00000708

2. Another way is to use ttfautohint to generate TrueType hinting to widen the strokes.

3. The ultimate solution is to buy a Hi-DPI display.

Text in some applications renders even worse

Depending on the GUI framework the application is developed on, there may be technical limitations with FaithType.

• Java: Does not load fonts installed at a custom path.
• Qt: Pixels at the border of each letter may be missing. A wrong gamma value may be chosen, causing text to appear less dark than intended.
• WPF (e.g., Visual Studio): Does not support bidirectional anti-aliasing.

Common issues

• Microsoft Yahei (微软雅黑), Microsoft Jhenghei (微軟正黑體), and Meiryo (メイリオ):

  Their hinting instructions have issues with vertical anti-aliasing. You need to remove hinting.

• Monotype Courier New:

  The Monotype Courier New is designed according to the metal letter used in IBM typewriters, instead of the real appearance on a paper, where the ink spreads and emboldens the strokes. Therefore, this Monotype font is garbage, replace it with “Bitstream Courier 10 Pitch”.

• DynaLab MingLiU (華康細明體) before version 4.55, DynaLab BiauKai (華康標楷體):

  The font rendering requires TrueType hinting. Don't remove hinting.

License and warranty

This software is released under the GPL license, version 3 or later.

This software may cause instability to your operating system due to bugs on my side, or on Microsoft's side, or on any third-paty application's side. This software is released free-of-charge only under the hope that it may be helpful, thus comes with no warranty in case anything happens during your usage of this software.

Acknowledgement

• RemoveBitmapFont
• ttfautohint