Arch Linux

betaversion

Member

Registered: 2016-03-02

Posts: 6

KDE plasma UI font rendering

In plasma 5 Qtcurve and breeze themes render UI fonts really bad, like freetype and xft font settings are not being obeyed.
All fonts other than the widgets render normal. Subpixel hinting and antialising works in browsers, text editors and generally anywhere there is text except the UI.
When using Gtk+ theme fonts render properly in the UI as well but when using either breeze or Qtcurve the fonts look like they re not antialised or have been subject to some strange filtering effect like the edge enhancement filter of some LCD displays.
I ve tried to turn off every aspect of the effects in Qtcurve configuration to achieve a completely flat look but to no avail.
Turning antialiasing and subpixel rendering off completely does change the fonts so the settings are being enforced but the widgets are applying something to the fonts decreasing visual quality very much.

I am running the desktop on an HD 55" Lg tv so my actual  PPI is less than 40 pixels per inch. I have to work a lot with infinality to get great looking fonts on that screen.

Does anyone know a way to turn these filters off or will I have to stick with using the k-gtk theme?

Thanks

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Plasma 5.6, linux-ck 4.4.6, infinality-ultimate from bohoomils repo

tuxfusion

Member

Registered: 2007-12-31

Posts: 98

Re: KDE plasma UI font rendering

I struggled in 5.6 a bit as well, not sure whether I can help as this is a very personal setting. However I myself am very picky about anti aliased fonts as well.
So to understand, you did go to :
System Settings > Appearance > Font ?

On the bottom I just set smoothing to "System" and found this the best setting for me, not sure where they are taken from, though.
GTK: Breeze.

Then there is "qtconfig-qt4". I think it does backend setup on how to handle non QT framework in QT. I have "GUI Style: GTK+" > save.

Just an idea, no expert on that matter

And there is this of course :  https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KDE#Fonts

Last edited by tuxfusion (2016-04-07 13:36:22)

betaversion

Member

Registered: 2016-03-02

Posts: 6

Re: KDE plasma UI font rendering

Hey there tux, thanks.
Yeah I noticed that as soon as you go into settings>fonts it mucks up your settings.. I write the fonts.conf file manually  to make sure everything is as I want it. Basically even with the correct settings qtcurve and breeze muck up the font rendering somehow.. They introduce a text filter of some sort, I guess its hard coded..
I just installed flatstudio for gtk+ and am using the gtk-qt application theme which translates the gtk theme to qt widgets and my fonts look great.. Funny thing.. is it looks better in KDE than it does in my LXDE install..
In qtconfig-qt4 I used "system settings"; otherwise the color palette doesn't translate correctly.
Some parts of the color palette are still editable through the colors dialog.

One thing I noticed though is the effect is much more pronounced in dark themes. If you use light palettes for breeze or qcurve the difference is not as noticeable.

Its such a pity though because in qtcurve you can make really good looking and also very clear dark themes, oh well, 5.8 maybe