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FreeType Plus
Last updated at 9:30 pm UTC on 28 April 2007
FreeType Plus is available for 3.9, and 3.10 images.
The packages can be installed from SqueakMap, and from the Package Universe of a Squeak-dev image.

Here is a screenshot showing a developer squeak image after installing the packages, and setting the System Fonts to some suitable fonts from the host operating system (in this case Windows 2000).


A 3.10 image with the FreeType Plus packages installed...
world2.png


There are three hinting modes that control how the FreeType library changes glyph shapes to make text more readable.
The following screenshot shows the same image, but with HintingNone (i.e. there is no hinting; glyphs shapes are not modified).
This gives the best kerning, and 'WYSIWYG' layout; but the glyphs may appear 'fuzzier', especially at small point sizes).
Sub-pixel positioning of glyphs is also used - different glyphs are rendered depending upon where, within a whole pixel, a character should be positioned. So, for example, a character that is displayed at x coordinate 3.3 will render slightly differently to the same character displayed at 3.7.

A 3.10 image with the FreeType Plus packages installed (no hinting)...
world.png


Sub-pixel anti-aliasing can be turned-off. Indeed, the sub-pixel anti-aliasing package is separate from the main FreeType Plus package due to licensing/patent concerns. The screenshot below shows the same image, but with sub-pixel anti-aliasing turned-off.

A 3.10 image with the FreeType Plus packages installed (sub-pixel anti-aliasing disabled, no hinting)...
world3.png


And here is a screenshot showing the same image once again, but this time with sub-pixel anti-aliasing disabled, and with light hinting.

A 3.10 image with the FreeType Plus packages installed (sub-pixel anti-aliasing disabled, no hinting)...
world4.png