Flash Gets Text Upgrade

Mitsubishi Research Labs has licensed their Saffron type-rendering technology to Macromedia for scalable, clear text.

Macromedia Flash Player 8, the popular media player found on 98% of Internet connected desktops, is giving it’s users better text rendering with Saffron.  The technology, developed at MERL, is based on Adaptively Sampled Distance Fields (ADF), a methodology for describing and rendering shapes.  Text presents a unique challenge to digital displays, one which ADF is able to beat.

“We really put a lot of effort into improving the text capabilities of Macromedia Flash Player 8, and MERL’s Saffron is the cornerstone of that effort. MERL has provided us with cutting-edge technology and has proven to be a valuable and responsive partner,” said David Mendels, general manager, Macromedia.

Flash 8 is in a public beta and can be downloaded free from the Macromedia website.  Also, Saffron text rendering is available to license to other software.