don՚t rule out the possibility of using a Shape Layer; it can often produce
much better results than Photoshop՚s algorithms.
Fractional Widths
Another, more veiled, setting that sometimes helps with anti-aliasing type
at small point sizes is the Fractional Widths option located in the Character
palette՚s fly-out menu. With this setting turned on, the character spacing is
set to varying fractions of pixels. This is ideal for auto-kerned type at large
sizes but tends to bump the type either too close together or too far apart
at smaller sizes. Turning this option off will round all character spacing to
whole pixel values, which may help better space the problematic type. This
is a hit-or-miss option, so use it wisely.
Decimal Point Sizes
Typophiles might cringe at the idea of using a decimal point size, but when
designing for digital media, standard point sizes don՚t always conform to
the pixel grid. By using decimal point sizes and either the Smooth or Strong
anti-alias setting, you can usually bring a blurry typeface back into focus.
Please note that I am not condoning the use of vertical or horizontal scale!