Sub-Pixel Rendering on CRTs?

rst2003 asks: "Is it possible (in theory) to do sub-pixel rendering (e.g. cleartype) on a CRT monitor using a triangular dot matrix instead of a 1x3-aspect rectangular one? If so, has it been done? I'm fairly sure it's not been done by Microsoft or Adobe, but is it available on X?"

Comments

Re:How subpixel rendering works...

[dead_penguin]

...Microsoft didn't invent subpixel rendering! Instead, this technique was used on Apple computers 26 years ago...

I'm not sure about it being done 26 years ago, but I do remember doing this on the Apple //e in the early 80s. In fact, Nibble magazine published some assembly routines that did exactly this, although simply doing some calculations from Applesoft Basic (ugh) and plotting the points using hplot gave you the same effect for lines and shapes.
Basically, by setting the colour of the pixel you were plotting, you could move it by a third of a column's width on the screen.

Of course with CRTs of the day and with Apple's hi-res graphics mode, this looked hideous unless you turned the colour all the way down. Text and lines looked smoother, but had freakish colour halos around them. In monochrome, though, it was pretty good. Fast too, if done in assembly (vs. basic!)

Sigh. Enough reminiscing for today...

How subpixel rendering works...

[DevTopics]

is explained, in depth, at Gibson Research If you don't get through to this site, its not becaused they are slashdotted, but because someone is inflicting a DDoS on them (which has the same impact, though). For this reason, I can't give you the complete address, but its just a from mouseclicks away (as soon as the attack stops). Yes, it may be amazing, but (to some extend) sub-pixel rendering improves quality on a CRT, too! If you don't believe me (and even if you do), check out that small programm that is offered on the web-page above. But notice why it works: it does so because antialiasing and sub-pixel rendering is similiar. And contrary to some believes Microsoft didn't invent subpixel rendering! Instead, this technique was used on Apple computers 26 years ago (this has been a topic on /. AFAIR).