Fonts too think in Big Sur

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Level 1

8 points

Fonts too think in Big Sur

I upgraded from Catalina, they are too-thin and hard to read, also in mail there isn't enough contrast in the bold to easily see read vs unread messages.

How can I revert to the old fonts that Catalina used?

Posted on Jun 3, 2021 11:42 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Jun 3, 2021 12:05 PM in response to kiwicolin

The only way to increase the font size is to decrease the screen resolution in the System/Display/Display preference pane as shown here.

However, it's OK for iMacs but may lose some screen real estate in smaller screened laptops.

I have problems with the contrast and have opted for the Dark Mode and set the System/Accessability/Display preference pane to this:

This gives me this in the menu bar and menu:

For Safari I've installed the Dark Reader extension so Safari is matching the Dark Mode.

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Answer 2

Jun 3, 2021 11:48 AM in response to kiwicolin

Could you post a screenshot to illustrate the problem? Even for old eyes I don’t have any difficulties discerning unread from read messages.

I am not at my mac to check but I think you can change the font in Mail preferences.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Jun 3, 2021 2:04 PM in response to kiwicolin

I took another look at my Mail list and it's normal for all "titles", i.e. Auto-Receipt, to be in bold and the only difference between read and unread is the blue dot.

However, as far as I know the "title" is always in bold. I don't see any place to set that as an option.

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Answer 4

kiwicolin Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2021 12:15 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Column layout does make the bold show, but it's an unusable layout and would increase my email sorting time.

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Answer 5

Jun 3, 2021 2:22 PM in response to kiwicolin

Maybe it is better for you to sort by the unread status.

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Answer 6

kiwicolin Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2021 2:18 PM in response to Old Toad

I preferred the old way, its easier to see whats been read and hasn't, I know I can look at the blue dot, but I would rather read, than scan the dot, then read. I get hundreds of emails each day and although this may seem trivial, it really does make a difference. I don't like doing email as it is, but now its even worse

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Answer 7

kiwicolin Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2021 11:54 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

You can tell by the blue whats read and what isn't. I have unread messages in bold turned on. Do they even look different to you?

This is one example, its like this in the whole OS

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Answer 8

kiwicolin Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2021 12:10 PM in response to Old Toad

Im editing video on a 3 display setup, so changing resolution isn't an option.

I don't see the contrast option on my prefs. Im on a 2019 Mac Pro

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Answer 9

Jun 3, 2021 12:09 PM in response to kiwicolin

There is no visible distinction via the font, I agree.

Part of the problem, as I understand it, is that my selected font is already bold.

For me, I guess the blue is so obvious that it does not matter. But I did try a few different fonts and the option to show unread messages in bold does not seem to have any effect... except in Column Layout. This is what used to be called "Classic Layout" in the past. In that, I can see the bold - provided that the default font is not bold to begin with.

Here, there is no difference (because the font that I have selected, Arial Rounded MT Bold, is already a bold font:

But if I choose, for example, Helvetica, I can see the bold (again, this ONLY in Column Layout):

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Fonts too think in Big Sur

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