Patent ID: 8144166

Claim:
A method for dynamically turning a pixel snapping mode of operation on and off comprising the steps of: turning on the pixel snapping mode of operation for a plurality of visual elements defined in accordance with device-independent layout calculations to improve an anti-aliased rendering, wherein the pixel snapping mode of operation comprises the application of offsets to edges of the visual elements, the offsets representing distances between guidelines defined in accordance with the device-independent layout calculations and boundaries of pixel rows or columns of a display device, each guideline being defined for a particular area of a particular visual element that is important for symmetric appearance; detecting that an animation involving the visual elements has started; turning off the pixel snapping mode of operation responsive to detecting that the animation has started; detecting that the animation has stopped; and resuming the pixel snapping mode of operation for an additional plurality of visual elements responsive to detecting that the animation has stopped, wherein the resuming step comprises gradually increasing a strength of an effect of the pixel snapping mode of operation over a period of time to implement a smooth transition.