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Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Is there a way to make a modern browser actually always use GDI rendering? Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) does not always use GDI rendering

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Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) is the only version that allows switching to GDI rendering with hacks. The hacks involve setting gfx.canvas.azure.backends and gfx.content.azure.backends to just cairo.

Aside from Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8 and Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003, the only browser I can think of where it's possible to use GDI rendering is Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit). But, as the user browses the Internet, that browser eventually deceives the user.

The problem with DirectWrite is that the text is rendered with way too many dark gray pixels, causing text to become unrealistically thicker and more distorted. On the other hand, GDI uses correct gamma and fully respects font hinting, meaning text renders exactly as the type designer intended.

Even then, Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) does not always use GDI rendering, even with hacks.

Highlighted the portions where Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) is not using GDI rendering:

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516864-a7ebf980-28ab-11ea-8f69-aa33b35f846d.png https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516892-c7832200-28ab-11ea-8711-1f0a097b120c.png https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516950-15982580-28ac-11ea-98fe-4b5d6ae46c4e.png

Is there a way to make a modern browser actually always use GDI rendering?

Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) is the only version that allows switching to GDI rendering with hacks. The hacks involve setting gfx.canvas.azure.backends and gfx.content.azure.backends to just cairo. Aside from Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8 and Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003, the only browser I can think of where it's possible to use GDI rendering is Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit). But, as the user browses the Internet, that browser eventually deceives the user. The problem with DirectWrite is that the text is rendered with way too many dark gray pixels, causing text to become unrealistically thicker and more distorted. On the other hand, GDI uses correct gamma and fully respects font hinting, meaning text renders exactly as the type designer intended. Even then, Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) does not always use GDI rendering, even with hacks. Highlighted the portions where Firefox ESR 52.4.1 (32-bit) is not using GDI rendering: https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516864-a7ebf980-28ab-11ea-8f69-aa33b35f846d.png https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516892-c7832200-28ab-11ea-8711-1f0a097b120c.png https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/7955653/71516950-15982580-28ac-11ea-98fe-4b5d6ae46c4e.png Is there a way to make a modern browser actually always use GDI rendering?

All Replies (4)

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I don't know whether the gfx.font_rendering.cleartype_params.rendering_mode pref still can achieve this in current Firefox releases.

See these threads about the gfx.font_rendering.cleartype_params.rendering_mode pref:

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Suggestion: Get Firefox Portable from PortableApps. Installed on a thumb drive you can test your "hacks" in the latest version of Firefox without the possibility of compromising your existing installation.

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Note that Firefox 52.9.0 was the last Firefox 52 ESR version.

All Firefox releases on the Mozilla server:

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The thing is, even if I hack GDI rendering in, it sometimes does not use GDI rendering. Have you seen the screenshots linked?