Why do fonts look cleaner on Explorer?

[CoMiKe]

From the very start, I've been using Total Commander with the default look. I mean, with bold fonts all over the program (in tabs, file list and drive combo/buttons).

Every time I tried to set normal fonts, I got the impression that it looked like a mess. So I just started researching what's looking different than Explorer.

Well, in this first picture, you can compare at the right panel the fonts in TC and Explorer:

Total Commander: default look Vs. Explorer

In this screenshot, you can see the difference between in line spacing between TC and Explorer.
And it also seems that Explorer fonts look cleaner (even more defined) that TC ones. But it's the same font on both programs (Microsoft Sans Serif, 8 pt).

Then, searching the forum, I found a workaround to fix the TC line spacing problem, setting the file list icons to 17x17 or higher:

Total Commander: fixed line spacing Vs Explorer

Well, we have fixed the line spacing problem, but icons look a bit distorted (not that bad, anyway) and fonts keep looking cleaner in Explorer.

Even more, take a look at the TC menu text at top, and the drive buttons text.
Why does the TC menu text look cleaner and darker, even if it's the same font (Microsoft Sans Serif) and font size (8 pt)?

And just to finish the comparison, a zoomed version of that last picture:

Total Commander Vs Explorer (2x Zoom)

As you can see, they are exactly the same font.

Any suggestions of what's wrong on my eyes?

And seriously, any way to fix it, if there's something to fix?

[SanskritFritz]

Just for testing, you should turn off alternate line coloring in TC. I guess this plays tricks with our eyes. Or maybe it even messes with cleartype, who knows.

[CoMiKe]

2SanskritFritz: No luck with default background color.

Anyway, as said in my first post, it also happens with the TC Menu fonts against the drive button fonts. TC Menu font looks cleaner and darker than the one on drive buttons and free disk space text.

So I don't think it's a problem with my sight.

[malungu]

Hmm, I can't see any difference between the font clarity / resolution in TC and Explorer. Should I see my eye-doctor?

malungu

[SanskritFritz]

Yeah, me neither actually.

[CoMiKe]

LCD monitor here, but I don't think it makes a difference.

Is there any way to change the filelist icons to use the Windows default iconset? (the Explorer icons, I mean)

And I think I will ask for an option to increment the file list interspacing without incrementing the icon size, so the icons don't get distorted.

[XPEHOPE3KA]

Haha, evidently it's because of the background color. It's NOT white in Explorer, use CatchColor.

[StatusQuo]

Haha, evidently it's because of the background color. It's NOT white in Explorer, use CatchColor.

Agree, the grey in the Explorer window is darker than TC's white stripes, but brighter than TC's grey stripes.

[Marlby23]

In the last pic: http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2983/tcvsexplorer03kc8.png

Both lists overlap pixel-by-pixel:

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/8463/okun5.png

Maybe it's something cleartype/LCD related, because at first sight they looked the same to me anyway.. (CRT here)

[CoMiKe]

ClearType isn't active on my system (I've checked and I don't like how it looks, specially on desktop icons).

I really think the problem is on the file list icons. As I've raised the size to 17x17, now the icons are distorted and have lighter colors (check the real look of the icons in the first picture against the 17x17 ones in the second picture).

But there's no other way to raise the file list line spacing.

I've decided to make a request.

[Stance]

Hello !
A black font appears to be smoother on a light grey background.
You may find it useful to use a very dark grey font on a white background in TC.
You can also customize the color of your menus and systemfont in windows.

CoMiKes request: [Req] Configurable file list line spacing