Revit 2024 Browser fonts fuzzy and gray

[dpoloway2UHHH]

I just migrated a project from Revit 2021 to Revit 2024. Notwithstanding the added bells and whistles the workspace graphics are much poorer. I did a side-by-side 2021-2024 comparison and the 2021 Browser font is crisp and easy to read. 2024 is fuzzy and gray and is actually results in a lot of eye strain. Similar for the Properties palette, with the added frustration of the the organizational grid lines having been screened way back to 5% making it much less readable.

The 'what's new' describes this as 'modernization'. I thought modernization meant improvement but in this case it seems to mean creating a frustrating user experience for unknown reasons.

I can't find any workarounds for this problem- yes I know there is an added graphic option for a dark background for the CAD-heads out there; that's not my thing. I also know that CNTRL-scroll increases the font size of the Browser/Properties but that does not solve the fundamental problem of fuzzy gray font.

This is squarely an instance where Autodesk needs to walk back these graphic changes and stick with what worked best for users. Or offer a 'Classic' graphics option, and support it.

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@dpoloway2UHHH 

The project browser font, as with the other UI fonts, are controlled by Windows and not Revit according to this help topic:

How to change the size and typeface in the Revit UI

If you follow these instructions and change the font and size, does it help?

-luc

[dpoloway2UHHH]

The Autodesk Support brief mentions that the font in ‘ribbon interfaces and menus’ is controlled by Windows; it does not mention the browser and properties palette, which is where the problem appears. It also refers to Windows 7 and 8 but I am running 10.

I have 2021 and 2024 up on my desktop now and if I toggle between them the font appearance is dramatically different as described in my original post- also see attached snip image. If Windows was controlling this a user would expect the appearance to be exactly the same. I suspect that the browser and properties are controlled differently- if so can these be user-adjusted? I could not find any applicable settings under Options or the UI.

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@dpoloway2UHHH 

You are correct that the Project browser font doesn't seem to follow the changes for the rest of the interface (ribbons, pop-up windows and properties tab). 

I'm currently running Revit 2024 in dark mode, windows 10, with the smallest font size + 150% enlarging in the Windows ergonomics control panel and this is the display:

Another possibility is to disable the font anti-aliasing (or font smoothing) in Windows 10 and/or your graphics card settings. For Windows 10, this is in control panel, performance options, font smoothing.

That's as much as I can help as I tried to reproduce the problem on my setup and can't get it greyed and blurry.

Hope this helps,

-luc

[DZimmerKVJT2]

The fact that Autodesk's response (from Oct 2023) only references Windows 7 and Windows 8 is indicative of a larger problem, IMO.

Those operating systems stopped being supported by MS on Dec 31, 2022. So the article could not even theoretically be helpful. 

My issue with the font involves when it's greyed out. It's virtually identical to when it's not greyed out. A fairly small issue. I cannot use the 'light' setting, as it has inexplicably removed its identification of different hierarchies on info, like in the Properties dialog. 

[Simon_Weel]

You're not the only one - there's a number of posts about the 2024-UI, like this one Revit 2024 user interface too light - Autodesk Community - Revit Products

Now there's a folder called 'themes' within the Revit program folder and it holds two XML files - DarkTheme and LightTheme. This suggests you can tailor colors and fonts and what not, so I've been experimenting with it, but I don't see any change I make reflected in Revit so I'm not sure what the deal with these files is...

[DZimmerKVJT2]

From the research I've done it seems like there is no way to change the size, color, typeset, etc. of the text used in the dialog boxes and menus. 

The light  setting is totaly unusable to me because with light, there is no way to see the groupings in dialog boxes like Properties and the project browser. 

It's already difficult to find the item I'm looking for in there but without the broader groupings, it's a real challenge and severely tires my eyes out. 

It's also especially frustrating because this was NOT a problem. And instead of fixing problems or improving the interface, they ADDED a problem with zero regard for their users that are biologics and use biological organs to obtain info from the software. Synths can just replace their ocular sensors once worn out. 

[fhinojosaYMTNZ]

I had the same issue with the Revit 2023 User Interface being fuzzy or blurry versus Revit 2022 which was crisp and clear. This is especially noticeable when they're side-by-side. This was my fix on a Windows 10 PC:

1. Go to Display Settings on your PC. You can get there by right-clicking on the Desktop and left-click on Display Settings.
2. Scroll down to where it says Scale and Layout and find Advanced Scaling Settings, and click it.
3. Under "Fix scaling for apps" where it says "Let Windows try to fix apps so they're not blurry," turn it Off. My default was On, so this is what fixed my problem.
4. Lastly, shut down the version of Revit that has the issue completely. This setting will not be applied until you shut down and restart Revit.

Hope this helps someone!

-Fili H.