HOWTO: Improve fonts rendering

[luca_linux]

Sometimes fonts rendering on Linux (especially on some distros) can be a real issue.
As I managed to find a configuration that works great for me, I thought I should share this.
This HowTo is based on my current distro which is Ubuntu with Gnome. However, the proper settings can be applied to other Desktop Environments (such as KDE) and other distros too; you'll just have to find the right GUI in which to set up these things.
Anyway, the idea is to play with the "Smoothing" and "Hinting" font parameters.

• First of all, go to "System --> Preferences --> Appearance" menu

The following window should open and then go to the "Fonts" tab:

• Now in the "Rendering" section pick the "Subpixel smoothing (LCDs)" option
• Then click on the "Details" button

A new window will open, as follow:

• In the "Smoothing" section pick the "Subpixel (LCDs)" option
• In the "Hinting" section pick the "Slight" option

You'll immediately notice a better font rendering in this same window. As a quick preview, take a close look to the difference between the fonts in the two images I used in this HowTo.

• Now just close the the windows by clicking on the "Close" buttons
• Enjoy the better rendering

I hope that'll help.



P.S: please note that this HowTo especially helps on LCD screens. On CRT monitors the result might not be great.

[wieman01]

Nice one! I will try it out!

[Ferio]

Well, I suppose it's just a choice dependant on likings; I like it better when choosing Full instead of Slight.

[luca_linux]

Well, I suppose it's just a choice dependant on likings; I like it better when choosing Full instead of Slight.

It might be.
Anyway, on higher resolution (which are more and more common nowadays) in which everything is smaller, I think the "Slight" hinting performs better, because it makes the regular font style appear bolder.

[Holy Cheater]

That makes small fonts look more clear, but spoils the appearance of small bold fonts. And there is a problem that gnome ignores all the fontconfig settings, so I can't just modify it to make small fonts render with slight hinting and normal-sized and bold render with full-hinting

[zerwas]

so I can't just modify it to make small fonts render with slight hinting and normal-sized and bold render with full-hinting

sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig-config

Here, choose "ALWAYS" (you can leave the rest or play around with it)

sudo dpkg-reconfigure fontconfig

Restart X.

-- zerwas

[the8thstar]

Note that this is not a one-size-fits-all solution. I personally use Futura Bk size 9, with slight hinting on my laptop, which looks fabulous.

However, the same setting looks like crap on the CRT monitor of my desktop computer.

Nice how-to though: it can help people just starting with Ubuntu.

[saratchandra]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks