tömell

Q: Yosemite: how to increase menu font size?

Howdy, here's my question: How can I (permanently!) change the size of the menu font used in Yosemite (terminal command, software)?

I installed Yosemite on my Mac Book Pro 15" the day it became available because I liked what I saw here and there previously. In short: I like a lot of things about "Josie", but as a Swiss typographer, and above all as a long time Mac user, I got quite some problems with the menu bar and the menus in this new OS. Helvetica, the new menu font in Yosemite, looks great to my eyes when shining forth from iPhone- or other devices' displays in big sizes.   Also, Helvetica almost always look great (i. e. easy to read) on paper, but every experienced typographer could have told Apple that this typeface doesn't work as a menu font because of it's narrow spacing, which makes it hard to read. The same is true for almost every else Helvetica shows up, esp. in the list views of the finder windows (where at least the font size can be changed). I've experimented with this fonts quite some time ago e g. when designing Filemaker databases, and I always replaced it (often with Lucida!). This, combined with a terribly small font size, makes Jony Ive's (or whoever the unlucky person is) decision a deal breaker when it comes to install or not to install Yosemite on my other Macs.

OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 18, 2014 1:01 PM

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Q: Yosemite: how to increase menu font size?

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  • by Jay NC,

    Jay NC Jay NC Jun 9, 2015 6:49 PM in response to tömell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2015 6:49 PM in response to tömell

    Several people have suggested that Apple should remember that older users may have age-related visual difficulties. This, of course is true, but it is evident that the problem is affecting a much wider group of Mac users - and I am one of them. I have been using Macs since my student days - from Power Macs through to my Macbook Air which is running Yosemite. My problem - thanks to Apple, is that I cannot use my new laptop since I have visual problems (which are not age-related). My brother collects old Macs (yes, rather sad, but each to their own!). From the early Mac Plus monochrome display through to the superb (in my opinion) Snow Leopard,

     

    I have made extensive use of computers in my research  and professional life as a scientist. I upgraded my old MacBook Pro 17” to Snow Leopard. A few years later I purchased the later Macbook Pro  17” which came with Mountain Lion in-order to run my (expensive) upgraded software. By comparison with Snow Leopard I have found Mountain Lion a great disappointment , In-fact, I would go so far as to say that with each “upgrade” to MacOS what I see onscreen looks less and less like a Mac. A recent purchase of a MacBook Air (I needed the portability) already loaded with Yosemite has meant that I am unable to continue with projects that I began on my other laptops. I do have an IPad which is useful, but I do NOT want my laptop to be a larger version of a touch screen tablet. The main problem is that Apple appear to have forgotten the reason that most Mac users would never consider using a PC. Previous on-screen displays reflected the involvement of programmers with an in-depth understanding of typography. However, most software engineers are NOT typographers and it shows. My current problems associated with severe iritis means that my new MacBook Air is unusable and I have also had to limit the time I spend on the laptop loaded with Mountain Lion. Apple’s sole concession for users with visual difficulties is far too limited in scope.

     

    I am just thankful that I kept my old Mac which is still running perfectly with Snow Leopard.

  • by MacsSince1984,

    MacsSince1984 MacsSince1984 Jun 9, 2015 10:01 PM in response to Jay NC
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Jun 9, 2015 10:01 PM in response to Jay NC

    Thank you. I hope you will report this under Apple Feedback.

  • by Frances54,

    Frances54 Frances54 Jun 30, 2015 9:26 AM in response to MacsSince1984
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPad
    Jun 30, 2015 9:26 AM in response to MacsSince1984

    Thanks for this discussion. I was recently upgraded (?) to Yosemite from Lion on my office computer and have been struggling with it ever since. I have a large 26" desktop computer so a font that works well on a small laptop screen just isn't cutting it on the big screen. I am using a work computer so I don't have the luxury of moving to a newer or older computer, using a different OS, downloading apps, or making changes to applications.

     

    So after many searches I actually found an Apple help page that assisted in making some changes. (I hope this link works now that the developers have decided that I no longer need to see the url.)

     

    OS X Yosemite: Make it easier to see what’s on the screen

     

    I wear bifocals and have tried both contacts and eyeglasses when viewing the Yosemite updates and it is a challenge with either. It's a shame that we have to access the options for disabled persons to make this update usable. At least let us change the font!

     

    Luckily the link above shows a way to turn off the folder icons so that hideous aqua blue is not assaulting my eyes. The color seems to fluoresce and is hard to look at.

    • Go to Finder and click in one of the View type button on the left of the menu bar. Then go to View>Show View Options and uncheck the Show Folders icon. Whew! do this for each of the view types and you are good to go.

     

    I have had similar issues every time my iPad OS is upgraded, too. Just because you can make changes doesn't mean you should! Or at least beta test it on a BROAD range of users. And I have make several comments to the Feedback website already. Now if I could just add some character back to those ugly flat buttons.

  • by MacsSince1984,

    MacsSince1984 MacsSince1984 Jun 30, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Frances54
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Jun 30, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Frances54

    Thank you very much!

     

    Can someone please tell me why the "This helped me." button/star never works! When I click on it after signing in all I ever get is a window telling me that 0 people said they liked the post! Of course, that's because it is impossible to register a Liked or Helped so it always says nobody liked it!

  • by Topic_M,

    Topic_M Topic_M Aug 18, 2015 9:59 AM in response to tömell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 9:59 AM in response to tömell

    I am far less sophisticated than tömell by many degrees, but, in anguish over my aging eyes and their inability to read text on Safari tabs, in near desperation I was pleased to find the 'Zoom It' app from the Mac App Store and it does the trick.


    Briefly Zoom-It provides a virtual jeweler's loupe which can be moved anywhere on the screen simply by moving the mouse. Beneath the loupe everything is magnified by a factor adjustable to the user. Size, shape, magnification, and whether it is visible can be changed very easily.


    Setting this app to open at start-up and appear in the status bar (is that the correct term for the far upper bar on the screen?) is ideal for someone like me with persistent unhappiness concerning small font text.


    Here is a link to 'Zoom-It' developer's page:


    http://www.zoomitapp.com/how-does-it-work.html


    Be sure to download it from the Apple App Store though, and nowhere else.


    Trust me, I am in no way 'promoting' this App except as a partial remedy. The loupe can disappear or appear as you wish, using keyboard commands or drop-down menu via icon on uppermost status bar.


    All the best to you my friends.


  • by Topic_M,

    Topic_M Topic_M Aug 18, 2015 10:10 AM in response to Jay NC
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 10:10 AM in response to Jay NC

    The 'Zoom-It' app from the App Store may remediate your viewing quite satisfactorily. (See lengthier post of mine below).


    If you'd like to hear my very own tin-foil hat conspiracy theory concerning the tiny font mystery, which you describe so well, it is very simple: By making the font unreadably small, the user is forced to lean in very close to the screen, the better to be remotely photographed!

  • by PCH54,

    PCH54 PCH54 Sep 18, 2015 10:07 AM in response to tömell
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2015 10:07 AM in response to tömell

    Hello, I purchased a new iMac, 27", Yosemite, a few days ago and was dismayed at the tiny print in the menus and applications. However, kind of by accident, I hit upon the perfect solution to my problem.

     

    1.) In system preferences, go to "Display." There you will see two choices: "Default for Display" and "Scaled."

     

    2.) Click "Scaled." Everything gets bigger, and I can finally see.

     

    I hope this helps,

  • by AstroMacMan,

    AstroMacMan AstroMacMan Oct 4, 2015 7:37 AM in response to Topic_M
    Level 2 (312 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 4, 2015 7:37 AM in response to Topic_M

    LOL!!

  • by Alinde Omalley,

    Alinde Omalley Alinde Omalley Oct 14, 2015 2:48 PM in response to PCH54
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Oct 14, 2015 2:48 PM in response to PCH54

    I am so grateful for your post!  I had tried for a long time to enlarge the menu bar to a respectable size for my rather poor eyes, and now it is fine again.

  • by PCH54,

    PCH54 PCH54 Oct 14, 2015 3:12 PM in response to Alinde Omalley
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2015 3:12 PM in response to Alinde Omalley

    You are very welcome!

  • by bopbob622,

     bopbob622 bopbob622 Mar 1, 2016 12:40 PM in response to PCH54
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2016 12:40 PM in response to PCH54

    Maybe not the programmer's "elegant" solution, but perfect for a tech-challenged, myopic presbyope like me. So simple, so helpful, thanks so much PCH54.

  • by sncvsrtoip,

    sncvsrtoip sncvsrtoip Mar 2, 2016 12:16 PM in response to bopbob622
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 2, 2016 12:16 PM in response to bopbob622

    I just bought Dell u2515h(2560x1440) and connected it to macbook pro 13.3(2015). What a joke Apple ! Why do you block resizing system font size without changing resolution?! I will have to change monitor because my eyes are so tired of these little system fonts.

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