why am I seeing the spaces?

[SMcNeill]

Looks to me like it's a glitch in _PRINTMODE which isn't keeping the background with the Comma spacing.

Try this instead:

Code: (Select All)

Screen _NewImage(512, 384, 32)
rootpath$ = Environ$("SYSTEMROOT") 'normally "C:\WINDOWS"
fontfile$ = rootpath$ + "\Fonts\comic.ttf" 'TTF file in Windows
style$ = "" 'font style is not case sensitive

f& = _LoadFont(fontfile$, 16, style$)
_Font f&
Line (1, 1)-(510, 382), _RGB32(50, 50, 50), BF
'_PrintMode _KeepBackground
Color _RGB32(255, 255, 255), 0

Do
    Input txt$
    Print _PrintWidth(txt$), txt$
Loop Until txt$ = "END"