Bold font in posts difficult to discern

[Laird]

Fair enough, Typoz.

It seems to me too that different platforms (Windows vs Linux especially) sometimes, as in this case, render identically-named fonts in different ways, so it's not exactly a deterministic process.

Is there anything you think we can do to help Kam then? Maybe he could try adjusting the zoom level of his browser on PQ?

Fair enough, Typoz.

It seems to me too that different platforms (Windows vs Linux especially) sometimes, as in this case, render identically-named fonts in different ways, so it's not exactly a deterministic process.

Is there anything you think we can do to help Kam then? Maybe he could try adjusting the zoom level of his browser on PQ?

I don't think we should simply do nothing. But take a little time to consider. One approach, I don't recall the steps now, would be to duplicate the existing theme first, so we could make the change, but have the previous version also available in the list of themes. Something like that. (I just don't like other people thrusting changes on me - not so long ago Firefox was redesigned, making some things smaller and much less legible and others unavailable. They called it 'more modern' or something).

Note to @Kamarling I've had the same problem which you have raised, so fixing this would help me too.

[Laird]

One approach, I don't recall the steps now, would be to duplicate the existing theme first, so we could make the change, but have the previous version also available in the list of themes. Something like that.

I like that idea. I seem to recall that the steps are quite straightforward, but it would allow Kam to have a customised theme which doesn't affect the default theme.

Serif fonts like TNR are normally more common for print media while sans serif is more common on web pages. I read something once that explained why that is but can't remember where. Apparently Ariel is the most common font for web pages but the two we are using here are also considered "web safe". 

I also noticed the difference when I had a Linux system at home. But I can't say that I noticed much difference between Mac and PC but I sold my iMac a while ago. Just checked my iPad and the bold is slightly more noticeable than it is on my Windows PC.

[Laird]

One approach, I don't recall the steps now, would be to duplicate the existing theme first, so we could make the change, but have the previous version also available in the list of themes.

I went with this approach. Dave, you can switch to the "--Default (but posts use Tahoma font)" theme using the theme selector at the bottom right of a forum page, and hopefully your problem will be solved. If not, please let us know.

I went with this approach. Dave, you can switch to the "--Default (but posts use Tahoma font)" theme using the theme selector at the bottom right of a forum page, and hopefully your problem will be solved. If not, please let us know.

Ahh yes ... now I can see the bold clearly. Thank you. Perhaps you could make that the default theme?

[Laird]

Ahh yes ... now I can see the bold clearly. Thank you.

Excellent, and you're welcome.

Perhaps you could make that the default theme?

I'm wary of doing that because it may cause problems for others, even if only the annoyance of having to get used to a change. I think it's best to leave it open to members to choose it if they prefer it.

Once a user has changed their preferred setting, it stays set, even on a different browser, provided they are logged in. When not logged in, presumably it would go to the default if cookies were cleared - though I've not checked that.

I'm wary of doing that because it may cause problems for others, even if only the annoyance of having to get used to a change. I think it's best to leave it open to members to choose it if they prefer it.

OK but I'd add that the main reason I asked was because I was posting comments and mentioning the sections I had bolded only to find that I was struggling to see which sections were, in fact, bolded. So I was trying to make sure others could see the bold passages. Unless everyone reads this thread, they will go on as I was, straining to see the bold type.

OK but I'd add that the main reason I asked was because I was posting comments and mentioning the sections I had bolded only to find that I was struggling to see which sections were, in fact, bolded. So I was trying to make sure others could see the bold passages. Unless everyone reads this thread, they will go on as I was, straining to see the bold type.

Well, we don't know what hardware, operating system, browser, zoom and other user preferences others are using. Maybe you're right and this is a problem for most users.

The other aspect is the appearance of text in italics, which may appear less legible than before - possibly. This is something we're yet to find out.