The gdipp project is a replacement of the Windows default font render, which brings to you the effect of text like Mac OS and Linux distributions. It is easy to use, and it is customizable. The two pictures below illustrate the difference.Windows font renderer (ClearType)
gdipp
The project is originated as the relaunch of the suspended gdi++.dll project. Like the InkStone project, we found the source code of gdi++.dll project is too complex to manage, and decide to start over a new code base. The goal of gdipp project is to continue the development of gdi++, expand its functionality, improve its performance, provide better compatibility for the current and future Windows versions (potentially at the cost of removing compatibility for old Windows), create detailed and formal documentation, as well as tools to help using it.
The current release supports both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7/Vista.
The project is planned to be consisted of several components:
gdimm.dll. The main component of the gdipp project, counterpart of gdi++.dll. Most of the font management, text rendering and API simulating is taken place here. gdimm means gdi-- for emphasizing its design idea of simplicity comparing to gdi++.dll.
gdipp_loader. accept an executable file path as argument and run it, counterpart of gdi++.exe. If the process is successfully spawned, inject gdimm.dll to the running process, and the new process will render text with gdimm.dll instantly.
gdipp_svc. As a Windows service, it injects gdimm.dll to target processes, thus avoid enabling AppInit_DLLs for system-wide API hooking. It also coordinates system-wide glyph caching.
application integrator. Modify the import table of a executable to make it load gdimm.dll. The modified program can then be re-distributed to a native Windows environment while rendering with gdimm.dll.
preview. Preview rendering result with different configurations of gdimm.dll. Help discovering the best settings for every user.
Note to Windows XP and 2003 users: although the installer does not prevent you from installing gdipp, there are various problems such as explorer cannot start and many text cannot be rendered. Therefore we highly recommend you NOT choose the "Windows Service" and "Registry" load modes.ezgdi could be a better choice. gdimm.dll plans
More functions
Project-scale plans
gdipp Preview
Kernel-mode hooking (driver)
Windows Mobile systems support
Works with 64bit :)
Of course it's an acquired taste, some people find this kind of rendering blurry. The project is fairly new though as you'll see from the change logs, so even if you don't want to use it permanently just now, one to keep an eye on.
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I think some people know about gdi++ I think it's called, but it's only for 32bit and IMO is a bit poorly coded.
I came across this - http://code.google.com/p/gdipp/
Works with 64bit :)
Of course it's an acquired taste, some people find this kind of rendering blurry. The project is fairly new though as you'll see from the change logs, so even if you don't want to use it permanently just now, one to keep an eye on.
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