ICON font shadow has disappeared???

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:28:11 Z

I noticed there is a dark shadow (3d effect) under the desktop font on each icon. If you change the theme to classic it goes away, but normally with the Vista theme you see it. I guess it's so a white font will be visible if you have a light colored background on your desktop. I just noticed it's gone and I can't seem to get it back. I'm still getting used to the complete change of all desktop tweaking controls, but I cannot find any reference to the shadow for the font . . . HELP?!

ICON font shadow has disappeared???

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:53:03 Z

This problem because you've turned off ClearType Technology. To enable it:

Control Panel>>Personalization>>Windows Color and Appearance >> Click Effects button and make sure All selections are checked and first selection is set to ClearType.

Good luck

ICON font shadow has disappeared???

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:40:29 Z

I checked what you suggested and all the boxes are already checked. ClearType is selected, but the shadows are still missing under the Desktop Icon's text? Bizarre!!

Any other suggestions?

ICON font shadow has disappeared???

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:58:46 Z

I tried the same things, but cannot get the ClearType back with the dropshadow. Just got white text on the icons with black box background. Sux!

The icon text is in Windows 98 classic style and cannot be changed with all the procedures listed. It must be a bug. I know what I am doing, and this happened immediately after the Service Pack 3 installation. I tried it all correctly. It does not matter what color or black or white or yellow or any color I tried. It shows to be set correctly, but it stays the same, even when I undo it, apply it, the redo it and reapply it. Thanks!

ICON font shadow has disappeared???

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:46:17 Z

In addition to the information Ahmed posted.

The drop shadow on the desktop icon text is automatic. You will only see the drop shadow on a light colored background and only if the background has different shades of color.

To see this effect, right click the desktop and select Personalize/Desktop Background. Select Solid Colors.

Choose the Black background and the text is all white with no drop shadow, choose White and it turns black with no drop shadow.

Now, select Windows Wallpapers and select one of the 'Black and White' wallpapers. You will see that the text in the lighter parts of the wallpaper has the drop shadow and the text in the darker parts of the wallpaper does not. The lighter the shade, the more apparent the drop shadow will be.

This works this way so that the text is always visible, regardless of the background color or shade where the text is located.

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Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience