Subpixel font rendering on macOS

[BSVogler]

JabRef version

JabRef 5.0--2020-03-06--2e6f433
Mac OS X 10.15.6 x86_64
Java 13.0.2

• Mandatory: I have tested the latest development version from http://builds.jabref.org/master/ and the problem persists

Every text/label is blurry as the subpixel rendering is off. See the screenshot for an example.

[Siedlerchr]

I am using the latest development version on a 2019 macbook pro with 10.15.6

Some linux user had problems. #4998
You might try that preferences switch. Or you modify the sh start script in Applications/Jabref.app/Contents/Runtime/home/bin/Jabref and try with the switch suggested in that issue

[BSVogler]

You might try that preferences switch.

I don't know which preference switch you are referring to.

The linked issue is about an option available on Linux.
Adding -Dprism.lcdtext=false to the startup script fixes this issue. Shouldn't this be enabled by default on macOS?

[Siedlerchr]

Okay, glad to hear that it works for you.
AS you can see from my screenshot, on my macbook it looks fine. So it's possibly related to the hardware generation.

[pistepilvi]

I just installed JabRef 5.1 on a Mac Mini (2018) running MacOS 10.15.7 and encountered what appears to be the same issue.

Is the startup script the following file? /Applications/JabRef.app/Contents/runtime/Contents/Home/bin/JabRef
When I add "-Dprism.lcdtext=false" and launch that file, the text looks much better, but instead of the JabRef menu bar, a Java menu bar appears. When starting JabRef.app, nothing seems to have changed.

This is the modified line:
"$DIR/java" -p "$DIR/../app" -Dprism.lcdtext=false -m org.jabref/org.jabref.JabRefLauncher "$@"

[koobs]

@Siedlerchr Per #8387 is it possible to either:

1. Backport the 4 line change such that the fix is applied to the current javafx version
2. Add an option in UI (Help > Java Startup Options, or Preferences) enabling users to easily add java startup arguments to work around this and other issues.

Edit: Perhaps useful for a workaround in the meantime, scoped to macOS is System.setProperty("prism.lcdtext", "false"); which should be set before loading the UI from the FXML template (1)

(1) https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24254000/how-to-force-anti-aliasing-in-javafx-fonts

[TheRealGlumfish]

I am on the latest release build on macOS 12.2.1 on a Mac Pro (Late 2013) and the issue still persists, have tried changing the startup script but the same issue as @pistepilvi occurs.

[Siedlerchr]

HI, you can you test the latest dev version https://builds.jabref.org/main/ ? We upgraded to jfx18 which fixed some issue regarding this

[pistepilvi]

On my Mac Mini (macOS 12.0.1) everything looks fine in the latest development version, whereas on the same system JabRef 5.5 did show the issue. So I get the impression the issue is now resolved. Hopefully @TheRealGlumfish can confirm this.

[TheRealGlumfish]

@Siedlerchr @pistepilvi I will test the latest development version and let you know. Thanks for the reply.

[TheRealGlumfish]

I tested the latest development version and it appears to be fixed! Thanks for the help! Keep making a great product!