When should I use SnapsToDevicePixels in WPF 4.0?

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Good answers by Spencer and Martin as to the when to align your pixels.

As to the how: I would also point out that one should in WPF 4.0 try using the property UseLayoutRounding instead of SnapsToDevicePixels.

UseLayoutRounding makes what you are doing compatible with Silverlight (SnapsToDevicePixels is not available in Silverlight) … and Microsoft is also encouraging the use of UseLayoutRounding over SnapsToDevicePixels in its documentation.

What is the difference between the two? Well, one big difference is that UseLayoutRounding occurs during the layout phase while SnapsToDevicePixels occurs during the render phase. This makes me speculate that UseLayoutRounding is probably a more performant way to go (I haven’t confirmed this, though).

All that being said, there will still be reasons to use SnapsToDevicePixels. In fact, the MSDN documentation points to one. I will add another: it is only with SnapsToDevicePixels that you can use guidelines for precise control.

Here are some resources on this matter (i.e. pixel snapping and clarity with images, text, and visuals):

Heh. I know my answer was a little more than what you were asking for … but this concept (i.e. resolution independence and the resulting problems it brings and how to get over them) can often be a point of frustration when working with WPF. At the very least, I wanted to point you to the new WPF 4.0 property, UseLayoutRounding.

UPDATE

I just have to add since I’ve seen this over and over … sometimes SnapsToDevicePixels works when UseLayoutRounding doesn’t. I wish I could put a finger on why this is the case, but definitely try UseLayoutRounding first and if that doesn’t work, don’t hesitate to try SnapsToDevicePixels.

That line is so sharp it can cut you!

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