Web Fonts
Microsoft's fonts for the Web:
- Andale Mono (formerly Monotype.com)
- Arial
- Arial Black
- Comic Sans MS
- Courier New
- Georgia
- Impact
- Times New Roman
- Trebuchet MS
- Verdana
- Webdings
- Adobe Minion Web
[ Read
More ]
|
|
FONT TIPS AND TRICKS
Anti-Aliasing for Great-Looking Text
Graphics
by Granny's Mettle
Macromedia has a wonderful software application that helps
users create great-looking text graphics by using anti-aliasing
capabilities. In Fireworks MX 2004, artists and designers
can create readable and attractive text graphics by substituting
shades of the font color around the lines and curves which
otherwise can be broken and craggy in appearance.
Fireworks Anti-Aliasing Capabilities
Anti-aliasing capabilities have been with Fireworks for
quite some time now. With the new edition, Fireworks MX
2004 enhanced further its four anti-aliasing options and
added two more features.
Its anti-aliasing options include: None Anti-Alias, which
disables text smoothing; Crisp Anti-Alias that allows
the creation of a sharp transition between the edges of
the text and the background; Strong Anti-Alias for a very
abrupt transition of the text edges into the background,
while preserving the shapes of the text characters and
improving on the detailed areas of the characters; and
Smooth Anti-Alias that lets the users create a soft transition
between the text edges and the background.
On the other hand, the new anti-alias options are the
System Anti-Alias that uses the text smoothing method
which can be found in Windows XP or Mac OS X; and Custom
Anti-Alias, which provides expert level controls (such
as oversampling, sharpness, and strength) over the anti-aliasing.
The enhanced features from Fireworks allow the users to
have a complete toolbox of "sandpaper" for anti-aliasing
of text graphics. Users can quickly and efficiently smooth
the edges of any working text using the Fireworks application.
To utilize the anti-aliasing options, simply apply any
text object through the Property inspector ot the Text
Editor.
Anti-Aliasing Options
To help you further maximize the capabilities of Fireworks
and its anti-aliasing features, the following is suggested:
1. For anti-aliasing to be useful and maximized, it is
best to use it on larger font sizes.
2. Do not apply anti-aliasing features on a bitmapped
font.
3. Do not export anti-aliased text as a GIF with the Web
216 palette. The reason for this is that the Web 216 palette
does not have the colors that you will be using to properly
anti-alias your text.
4. Anti-aliased text which is exported as a transparent
GIF then placed in a web page with a background color
will appear more aliased. This means that the text would
appear to have jagged distortions in its curves and diagonal
lines. It is better to just alias the text at the beginning
since you will have the same result anyway.
And,
5. Always try one of the pre-set anti-aliasing options
first before developing your final output. This is to
help you achieve your desired appearance. Try out the
Non, Crisp, Strong, Smooth or System options. If you still
do not achieve your desired requirements, then use the
Custom Anti-Aliasing option.
About Color Printing Wholesale
Color Printing Wholesale is a company that offers a wide
range of quality digital printing services from brochures,
flyers, business cards, postcards and posters, to digital,
inkjet and web solutions, as well as laminating services.
For further information, for comments and inquiries about
the article visit the website at http://www.colorprintingwholesale.com/category/POSTCARD/Postcard-Printing-Services.html
About the Author
Granny's Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content
writer. She has created various web content on a diverse
range of topics, which includes digital printing topics,
medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are
composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the
printing and designing industry. |
