diff --git a/src/display_manager.py b/src/display_manager.py
index 9cc7f622..e578ad7c 100644
--- a/src/display_manager.py
+++ b/src/display_manager.py
@@ -364,6 +364,7 @@ def _setup_matrix(self):
             # Create image with the (logical) display dimensions
             self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self.matrix.width, self.matrix.height))
             self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+            self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
             logger.info(f"Image canvas created with dimensions: {self.matrix.width}x{self.matrix.height}")
             
             # Initialize font with Press Start 2P
@@ -403,6 +404,7 @@ def _setup_matrix(self):
 
             self.image = Image.new('RGB', (fallback_width, fallback_height))
             self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+            self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
             # Simple fallback visualization so web UI shows a realistic canvas
             try:
                 self.draw.rectangle([0, 0, fallback_width - 1, fallback_height - 1], outline=(255, 0, 0))
@@ -705,6 +707,7 @@ def render_size(self, width: int, height: Optional[int] = None):
             # self.image, so swapping the buffer below is enough on its own.
             self.image = Image.new('RGB', (target_w, target_h))
             self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+            self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
             yield
         finally:
             self.matrix = real_matrix
@@ -814,6 +817,7 @@ def clear(self):
                 
                 self.image = Image.new('RGB', (width, height))
                 self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+                self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
                 logger.debug("Cleared display in fallback mode")
                 return
                 
@@ -825,6 +829,7 @@ def clear(self):
             # Create a new black image
             self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self.matrix.width, self.matrix.height))
             self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+            self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
 
             if not self._capture_mode_active:
                 # Clear both canvases and the underlying matrix to ensure no artifacts.
@@ -1258,6 +1263,7 @@ def cleanup(self):
             try:
                 self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self.width, self.height))
                 self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+                self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # 1-bit text: the panel has no partial brightness, so AA only smears glyphs.
             except (OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError, MemoryError):
                 logger.debug("Canvas reset during cleanup failed", exc_info=True)
         # Reset the singleton state when cleaning up
diff --git a/src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py b/src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py
index 5211a226..e33d2309 100644
--- a/src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py
+++ b/src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def __init__(self, width: int = 128, height: int = 32):
         # Canvas
         self.image = Image.new('RGB', (width, height), (0, 0, 0))
         self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+        self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # Match production: 1-bit text, so goldens show what the panel shows.
 
         # Matrix proxy (plugins access display_manager.matrix.width/height)
         self.matrix = _MatrixProxy(width, height)
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ def clear(self):
         self.clear_called = True
         self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self._width, self._height), (0, 0, 0))
         self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+        self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # Match production: 1-bit text, so goldens show what the panel shows.
 
     def update_display(self):
         """No-op for hardware; marks that display was updated."""
@@ -211,6 +213,7 @@ def render_size(self, width: int, height: Optional[int] = None):
             self.matrix = _MatrixProxy(target_w, target_h)
             self.image = Image.new('RGB', (target_w, target_h), (0, 0, 0))
             self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+            self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # Match production: 1-bit text, so goldens show what the panel shows.
             yield
         finally:
             self._width, self._height = prev_w, prev_h
@@ -569,6 +572,7 @@ def reset(self):
         self.draw_calls = []
         self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self._width, self._height), (0, 0, 0))
         self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+        self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # Match production: 1-bit text, so goldens show what the panel shows.
         self._scrolling_state = {
             'is_scrolling': False,
             'last_scroll_activity': 0,
@@ -582,3 +586,4 @@ def cleanup(self):
         """Clean up resources."""
         self.image = Image.new('RGB', (self._width, self._height), (0, 0, 0))
         self.draw = ImageDraw.Draw(self.image)
+        self.draw.fontmode = "1"  # Match production: 1-bit text, so goldens show what the panel shows.