iCal font size - too small

Definitely, there still is that poor “font foreground/background contrast” issue that Apple needs to resolve, (in fact many website designers make the same idiotic mistake where it’s annoying to read the text because of their use of light font on white background).

However Apple’s new feature in the MacBook Retina that increases DPI uniformly while keeping a crisp resolution makes a difference and does alleviate somewhat the contrast issue (even in iCal). It has helped me.

Hmm...looks like they finally fixed this in OS X Lion...according to http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/

Adjust the font size

It’s now possible to change the size of the text in the calendar view. Just choose Make Text Bigger or Make Text Smaller in the View menu or press Command-minus ➖ or Command-plus (+).

I don't have Mountain Lion yet (because I'm not ready to spend the money and time re-engineering my office system and older apps again after the debacle of Lion) so I can't see the result of this "improvement" in real time.

I can't see if the calendar layout and graphic framing on the month view has changed with less dainty lines and contrasts.

Bigger fonts might help see the name of the event but what good does that do if you can't see what day of the month it is?

BusyCal solves all this with simple total font access with colors and formatting framed in a much clearer presentation that the precious Apple graphics made for people with the vision acuity of a pre-teen.

Maybe someday I'll make the 70 mile round trip to my Apple store to see what the calendars look like in the Mountains.

--GG

One hates to say it but Windows has had a global "font size" setting for years... over a decade I think. No need to fiddle around in individual applications....!

You can increase the font size by pressing "CMD" "+"

Agree! Customization was a much-loved feature of earlier Apple apps. Glad the CMD+ works, though.

No matter how large the font is in the month display, it's almost impossible to read the day numbers. They are pale grey on a tinted grey background. There is no functional contrast.This is what I mean by "precious.
 All for effect and not for actual reading. A calendar is for reading, not for coolness.

Do you think a Navy Seal sniper’s watch would be effective with a contrast combination like the iCal's monthly date display?

This is an example of form over function. Apple's graphics are generally way cooler than the rest...but hey. "What day is it?"

--GG

Am I missing something here ? I have tried the CMD and + option on my computer (Snow Leopard), but it does absoloutely nothing to the font size in iCal or anything else in iCal for that matter as far as I can tell.

I need to print out the month's appointments, but the font is so small that it is completely useless for conveying information to collegues.

I'm working with 10.7.5 and the Cmd+ combination usually enlarges the font size in any app that responds to that command ( such as Firefox). Conversely, the Cmd- combo steps the font size down.

On my system, I find that one application (SpellCatcher) which is designed to interface with all apps displaying type, seizes the exclusive use of Cmd+ for another purpose. So, I must deactivate Spell Catcher from the top menu bar and then Cmd+ will toggle the font sizes in iCal.

That said, it will NOT do anything for the days of the week or the separator lines between days in the month view.

Font-toggle addresses this one part of they graphic dysfunction of iCal's visual presentation, faint, hard to read pale grey lines and small pale day names.

My solution is to use BusyCal which has all the iCal features plus a much more robust adjustable visual interface.

Sometimes graphic design make things look elegant but oh-so-hard to read. What's the point of a really svelt-looking text if you can't read it?

I'm using 10.8.5 and I guess I'm missing something; the CMD+ combo did not work.

I've been laid off and can't afford to buy software so please don't tell me to do that.

This is driving me crazy because I'm use to keeping my appts in Outlook and not having to deal with entering information into Calendar. I'm learning to use it but geeze...... it shouldn't be this difficult.

Come on Apple - FIX THIS NOW.

Are you sure you haven't accidentally assigned this key combinatiion to another function?

(Command + is also the thesearus call-up for some spelling apps.)

Try highlighting some text and then use that combination to see what it brings up when something is highlighted.

Did you ask on the forums what some people may think the issue is before commanding Apple to fix it?

And yes, I know the CMD+ combo works because it fixes other pages for me.

I expect more from Apple - given the premium we pay for their devices.

Yes definitely add me to the list. It's so frustrating when you have to struggle every time you want to work on your computer. Why can't Apple just fix it?

Hi dmorri35,

I just found out: CMD + '+' or CMD + '-'

It's that simple, and that ridiculously well hidden too;)

Apple seem to have fixed the issue. In Mavericks the Cmd+ and Cmd- works in iCal 7.0 for the screen display and when printing out there is now an option on the Print Dialog to select the Text Size (Big, Medium & Small).