"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Safari for Windows

Change Font Smoothing

SUMMARY: Change the amount of smoothing Safari performs on text to increase legibility.

Similar to some other web browsers, Safari for Windows includes technology to smooth the display of on-screen fonts to help increase text legibility.

However, Safari takes font smoothing a step further and lets you adjust the amount of smoothing you wish to perform. Depending on your monitor type and preferences, experimenting with these settings may create pleasing results, as seen in the below screenshots:

"Standard" (top) versus "Strong" (bottom) font smoothing in Safari

1. Choose "Edit" - "Preferences".

2. When the preferences dialog box opens click the "Apperance" button.

3. Click on the up-down arrow next to "Font smoothing".

4. Select your desired font smoothing amount from the list provided - standard, light, medium, or strong:

Selecting medium font smoothing

5. Click the "X" at the top-right of the preferences window to close it.

This tip was written for Safari 3.1.2. Information and screenshots are subject to change.