asked on

Font Sharpness with Java Graphics Class

Hello,

I'm writing some text on top of an image and the font isn't very sharp. Is there some settings either with the Graphics or Font classes that help make fonts look nicer when writing text on top of images? The Dante font doesn't come out as dante when I write it. See attached two images. I need to create both a large and thumbnail.

public class ImageCreator{

public void createImage(String text){
     Graphics g = img.createGraphics(); //img is a BufferedImage read in from file system
     [b]Font fnt=new Font("Dante",1,20);
     Color fntC = new Color(4, 4, 109);       
     g.setColor(fntC);
     g.setFont(fnt);[/b]
     Dimension d = new Dimension(200, 113);
     drawCenteredString(text, d.width, d.height, g);
}
public static void drawCenteredString(String s, int w, int h, Graphics g) {
      FontMetrics fm = g.getFontMetrics();
      int x = (w - fm.stringWidth(s)) / 2;
      int y = (fm.getAscent() + (h - (fm.getAscent() + fm.getDescent())) / 2);
      g.drawString(s, x, y);
}

}

Open in new window

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Mick Barry

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Mick Barry

http://codeidol.com/java/swing/Text/Use-Global-Anti-Aliased-Fonts/

cgray1223

ASKER

I changed my object to Graphics2D and added the below, but no change. In one example you sent its applying the antialiasing in the Graphics2D drawImage method. I wonder if antialiasing doesn't apply when writing text on top of an existing image using the Graphics2D drawString method?

      Graphics2D g = img.createGraphics();
                  g.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_ANTIALIASING,
                              RenderingHints.VALUE_ANTIALIAS_ON);
//continue of previously posted code

Mick Barry

no change seems strange, check you aren't looking at previously created images

Mick Barry

you're not resizing the text are you?
That would get messy, better to create two images of different sizes.

Mick Barry

if you are resing then make sure you're using appropriate interpolation
http://helpdesk.objects.com.au/java/how-do-i-scale-a-bufferedimage

cgray1223

ASKER

I'm creating two images one large and one thumb.

for_yan

Here they write that anti-aliasing may sometimes not be visible
depneding on LookAndFeel:
http://forums.java.net/node/686261

Mick Barry

> Here they write that anti-aliasing may sometimes not be visible
> depneding on LookAndFeel:

thats not relevant for rendering images

cgray1223

ASKER

looks like the effect worked on the larger image but the thumb is grainy. Any suggestions?

for_yan

Anti-aliasing Pros and Cons
Pros

* Makes fonts look smoother
* Rounded edges look round
* Type is easier to read (for some) because it looks more like what printed type looks like
* It's just plain prettier (some would argue)

Cons

* Small fonts become too fuzzy to read <-----------------------------------------------------
* Sharp edges may be fuzzy and not precise
* You can't print anti-aliased text as it comes out blurred
* Images are generally larger
* Type is easier to read (for some) because the blurring is reduced and the fonts are clear

Mick Barry

> looks like the effect worked on the larger image but the thumb is grainy. Any suggestions?

java is not the best at rendering small images
how are you creating the thumbnail, is it the same as what you posted?

Mick Barry

> looks like the effect worked on the larger image but the thumb is grainy. Any suggestions?

its better than it was so antialiasing has certainly helped

cgray1223

ASKER

@Objects, yeah that's how I'm doing the thumb, same as my original post.

CEHJ

You might be better off using vector graphics - scaling works much better.

Can you post just the background image too?

Mick Barry

What scaling?

cgray1223

ASKER

here is the background image