Design fonts: James Black, Helvetica and Arial

The first time realized that the font on the computer can have different rendering effect, is in the installation of Microsoft Ya Black and opened the ClearType, suddenly found that the edge of the past blind to the sharp text, unexpectedly can be shown so soft and delicate.

The black was originally built into Vista, it was not until 2008 to launch a special version of XP, and the first time I saw ya black, Vista has not been launched, the network spread of the YA black should belong to the "stream publishing", on the XP display is not perfect, such as some specific words will show errors, the size of some uneven and so on , but it was enough to shock me at that time.

So immediately all can set the font of all the place to Microsoft Ya Black, and then began to enjoy this does not cost a penny, but can immediately show the effect of a huge increase in the fun, and is keen to put this fun to tell each one unexpectedly has not yet installed Microsoft James Black and open ClearType people.

This fun end in the first time to see a Mac text display effect, God, this is the real text on the computer should have the appearance, no burrs and jagged, clear levels, moderate shading ... Jache in my eyes, immediately mediocre up.

Common Windows font rendering, cleartype+, Mac font rendering, the effect of these three, just like RMVB, DVD RIP, 720p HD gap between.

Later research on the iphone used fonts found that the Mac system is also the default of the famous Helvetica, Nanyi has commented on the font of a documentary, and the Microsoft System built-in Arial, Its development is intended to be a "cheaper alternative to compete with Helvetica", so the two are very much alike, with only subtle differences in detail:

Rex Chen commented on this:

"Arial gets chosen because it" s cheap, not because it "s a great typeface." For Helvetica's destiny, it's more respect for design history and design culture, for a Rial's contempt for and ridicule is more a practices and mockery of the business and the design of the traditional system. "

But I think based on the normal business logic, Microsoft chose not to carefully look at the difference is not very low price alternatives is blameless, it requires all companies in the market to choose the best materials, with the best technology to make, is not realistic.

The difference between Arial and Helvetia is precisely the subtle interpretation of the differences between Microsoft and Apple, one that is responsible for the popularization of computer technology, which allows as many people as possible to use them to complete the necessary work, while the other is responsible for making them more refined, and of course (most of the time) more expensive.