DirectWrite can be disabled in NPP settings itself
Settings -> Preferences -> MISC.
Use DirectWrite (May improve rendering special characters, need to restart Notepad++)

Using a plugin to set the technology, you could set also a mode supporting ligatures and nppQCP coloring (here LUA Script plugin)
Support both (but coloring lines is a bit delayed, this can't be set via NPP GUI):
editor.Technology = SC_TECHNOLOGY_DIRECTWRITEDC
Support coloring lines, but no special characters (i.e. ligatures):
editor.Technology = SC_TECHNOLOGY_DEFAULT
Support special characters (i.e. ligatures), but not coloring lines with nppQCP
editor.Technology = SC_TECHNOLOGY_DIRECTWRITE