fix(plugins): draw text 1-bit, so glyphs stay crisp on the LED grid

.github/workflows/module-collisions.yml

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ name: Plugin Structure
 #    scroll_display_legacy.py. Three plugins shipped as those two files
 #    concatenated, carrying ~2,000 lines nothing referenced, and that dead copy
 #    is what hid the missing separator-icon constants that broke scroll mode.
+#
+# 3. Pixel-perfect text -- fails when a Draw() that renders text leaves PIL's
+#    fontmode at the anti-aliasing default. An LED panel has no partial
+#    brightness, so the grey fringe just smears the glyph.
 
 on:
   pull_request:
@@ -25,6 +29,7 @@ on:
       - 'scripts/test_check_scroll_adoption.py'
       - 'scripts/check_sports_display_contract.py'
       - 'scripts/test_check_sports_display_contract.py'
+      - 'scripts/test_pixel_perfect_text.py'
       # Without this, a PR that only edits this workflow matches no path and
       # the workflow never runs against its own change.
       - '.github/workflows/module-collisions.yml'
@@ -61,3 +66,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test the sports display()-contract gate
         if: always()
         run: python scripts/test_check_sports_display_contract.py
+      # PIL anti-aliases TrueType text by default, which on a panel with no
+      # partial brightness only smears glyphs -- 4x6-font.ttf at 6 puts 74% of
+      # its lit pixels at partial coverage. Static, because the plugins most at
+      # risk render only with live data the harness has none of, so a
+      # render-based check would skip exactly those.
+      - name: Check text draws are 1-bit (no anti-aliasing)
+        if: always()
+        run: python scripts/test_pixel_perfect_text.py

plugins.json

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.40.1"
+      "latest_version": "1.40.2"
     },
     {
       "id": "basketball-scoreboard",
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.29.1"
+      "latest_version": "1.29.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "calendar",
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.4"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.5"
     },
     {
       "id": "christmas-countdown",
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "3.4.1"
+      "latest_version": "3.4.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "geochron",
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.25.1",
+      "latest_version": "1.25.3",
       "icon": "fas fa-hockey-puck"
     },
     {
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.24.1",
+      "latest_version": "1.24.3",
       "icon": "fas fa-baseball-ball"
     },
     {
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-03",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.2"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "leaderboard",
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-08-05",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.3.2"
+      "latest_version": "1.3.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "ledmatrix-flights",
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-03",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.12.19"
+      "latest_version": "1.12.20"
     },
     {
       "id": "march-madness",
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-08-05",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.0.6"
+      "latest_version": "1.1.1"
     },
     {
       "id": "masters-tournament",
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-08-05",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "2.5.5"
+      "latest_version": "2.5.6"
     },
     {
       "id": "mqtt-notifications",
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.0"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.1"
     },
     {
       "id": "music",
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.6",
+      "latest_version": "1.2.7",
       "icon": "fa-circle-dot"
     },
     {
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-08-05",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.4.2",
+      "latest_version": "1.4.4",
       "icon": "fas fa-football-ball"
     },
     {
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.4.2"
+      "latest_version": "1.4.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "olympics",
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-05-15",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "2.0.1"
+      "latest_version": "2.0.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "pga-tour-leaderboard",
@@ -760,7 +760,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "2.24.1"
+      "latest_version": "2.24.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "static-image",
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.0.6"
+      "latest_version": "1.0.7"
     },
     {
       "id": "stock-news",
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.1.6"
+      "latest_version": "1.1.7"
     },
     {
       "id": "tide-display",
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.8.1",
+      "latest_version": "1.8.2",
       "icon": "fas fa-fist-raised"
     },
     {
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@
       "repo": "https://github.com/ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins",
       "branch": "main",
       "plugin_path": "plugins/ledmatrix-weather",
-      "latest_version": "2.6.6",
+      "latest_version": "2.6.7",
       "stars": 0,
       "downloads": 0,
       "last_updated": "2026-09-03",
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.1.0"
+      "latest_version": "1.1.1"
     },
     {
       "id": "youtube-stats",
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.0"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.1"
     },
     {
       "id": "ledmatrix-elections",
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-07-31",
       "verified": false,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.1"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.2"
     },
     {
       "id": "ledmatrix-dresden-departures",
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@
       "downloads": 0,
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.22.1",
+      "latest_version": "1.22.3",
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02"
     },
     {
@@ -1095,7 +1095,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.21.1"
+      "latest_version": "1.21.3"
     },
     {
       "id": "jellyfin-now-playing",
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-02",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "",
-      "latest_version": "1.2.0"
+      "latest_version": "1.2.1"
     },
     {
       "id": "incoming-packages",
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@
       "last_updated": "2026-09-03",
       "verified": true,
       "screenshot": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins/main/plugins/incoming-packages/assets/screenshot.png",
-      "latest_version": "1.0.1",
+      "latest_version": "1.0.2",
       "icon": "fas fa-box"
     },
     {

plugins/afl-scoreboard/game_renderer.py

@@ -499,6 +499,7 @@ def render_game_card(
         main_img = Image.new('RGBA', (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 255))
         overlay = Image.new('RGBA', (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 0))
         draw_overlay = ImageDraw.Draw(overlay)
+        draw_overlay.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
 
         # Calculate score text width first to determine available space for logos
         home_score = str(game.get("home_score", "0"))
@@ -523,6 +524,7 @@ def render_game_card(
         if not home_logo or not away_logo:
             # Draw placeholder text if logos fail
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(main_img)
+            draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
             self._draw_text_with_outline(
                 draw, 
                 f"{game.get('away_abbr', '?')}@{game.get('home_abbr', '?')}", 

plugins/afl-scoreboard/manifest.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "id": "afl-scoreboard",
   "name": "AFL Scoreboard",
-  "version": "1.22.1",
+  "version": "1.22.3",
   "author": "ChuckBuilds",
   "description": "Live, recent, and upcoming AFL (Australian Football League) games with real-time scores and game status.",
   "category": "sports",
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@
     "afl_upcoming"
   ],
   "versions": [
+    {
+      "released": "2026-09-04",
+      "version": "1.22.3",
+      "changelog": "Render text 1-bit (no anti-aliasing) so glyphs stay crisp on the LED grid",
+      "ledmatrix_min_version": "3.3.0"
+    },
     {
       "version": "1.22.1",
       "released": "2026-09-02",

plugins/baseball-scoreboard/game_renderer.py

@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ def _render_live_game(self, game: Dict) -> Image.Image:
             main_img = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 255))
             overlay = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 0))
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(overlay)
+            draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
 
             league = game.get('league', 'mlb')
             home_logo = self._load_and_resize_logo(league, game.get('home_abbr', ''))
@@ -591,6 +592,7 @@ def _render_recent_game(self, game: Dict) -> Image.Image:
             main_img = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 255))
             overlay = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 0))
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(overlay)
+            draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
 
             league = game.get('league', 'mlb')
             home_logo = self._load_and_resize_logo(league, game.get('home_abbr', ''))
@@ -769,6 +771,7 @@ def _render_upcoming_game(self, game: Dict) -> Image.Image:
             main_img = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 255))
             overlay = Image.new("RGBA", (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 0))
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(overlay)
+            draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
 
             league = game.get('league', 'mlb')
             home_logo = self._load_and_resize_logo(league, game.get('home_abbr', ''))
@@ -1098,5 +1101,6 @@ def _render_error_card(self, message: str) -> Image.Image:
         """Render an error message card."""
         img = Image.new('RGB', (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0))
         draw = ImageDraw.Draw(img)
+        draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
         self._draw_text_with_outline(draw, message, (5, 5), self.fonts['status'])
         return img

plugins/baseball-scoreboard/manifest.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "id": "baseball-scoreboard",
   "name": "Baseball Scoreboard",
-  "version": "1.40.1",
+  "version": "1.40.2",
   "update_interval": 60,
   "author": "ChuckBuilds",
   "description": "Live, recent, and upcoming baseball games across MLB, MiLB, and NCAA Baseball with real-time scores and schedules",
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@
   "branch": "main",
   "plugin_path": "plugins/baseball-scoreboard",
   "versions": [
+    {
+      "released": "2026-09-04",
+      "version": "1.40.2",
+      "changelog": "Render text 1-bit (no anti-aliasing) so glyphs stay crisp on the LED grid",
+      "ledmatrix_min_version": "3.3.0"
+    },
     {
       "version": "1.40.1",
       "released": "2026-09-02",

plugins/basketball-scoreboard/game_renderer.py

@@ -475,6 +475,7 @@ def render_game_card(
         main_img = Image.new('RGBA', (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 255))
         overlay = Image.new('RGBA', (self.display_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0, 0))
         draw_overlay = ImageDraw.Draw(overlay)
+        draw_overlay.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
 
         # Get league for logo directory
         league = game.get('league', 'nba')
@@ -503,6 +504,7 @@ def render_game_card(
         if not home_logo or not away_logo:
             # Draw placeholder text if logos fail
             draw = ImageDraw.Draw(main_img)
+            draw.fontmode = "1"  # Pixel fonts on an LED panel: 1-bit text so every lit pixel is fully lit (no AA fringe).
             self._draw_text_with_outline(
                 draw, 
                 f"{away_abbr or '?'}@{home_abbr or '?'}",