"Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

qylvaran · 2006-08-09 22:16:42

I've set up my fonts and such according to the instructions at the archlinux wiki. I'm using Bitstream Vera for Firefox, and it mostly looks okay, but I can't stand the way bolded zeroes stick out from the tops and bottoms of their lines.

This is what it looks like. There are the zeroes I just mentioned peppered throughout the screenshot, so you can see what I'm talking about.

Also, there are some odd colors around the edges of some larger text. I don't think it's noticeable in that shot, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to fix such a problem. I've turned sub-pixel rendering on and off, and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Here's my /etc/fonts/local.conf file. I've been commenting and uncommenting to tinker with things.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<!-- /etc/fonts/local.conf file for local customizations -->
<fontconfig>

<!--
Use the Auto-Hinter
-->
        <match target="pattern">
                <edit name="autohint" mode="assign">
                        <bool>true</bool>
                </edit>
        </match>

        <match target="font">
                <test name="weight" compare="more">
                        <const>medium</const>
                </test>
                <edit name="autohint" mode="assign">
                        <bool>false</bool>
                </edit>
        </match>
        <!--
        <match target="font" >
                <test compare"more" name"size" qual="any" >
                        <double>12</double>
                </test>
                <edit mode"assign" name"antialias" >
                        <bool>true</bool>
                </edit>
        </match>
        -->
        <match target="font" >
                <test compare="more" name="pixelsize" qual="any" >
                        <double>17</double>
                </test>
                <edit mode="assign" name="antialias" >
                        <bool>true</bool>
                </edit>
        </match>

<!--
Disable anti-aliasing for fonts that are size <=12
-->
        <match target="pattern">
                <test qual="any" name="size" compare="less_eq">
                        <int>12</int>
                </test>
                <edit name="antialias" mode="assign"><bool>false</bool></edit>
        </match>

<!--
Enable sub-pixel rendering
        <match target="font">
                <test qual="all" name="rgba">
                        <const>unknown</const>
                </test>
                <edit name="rgba" mode="assign"><const>rgb</const></edit>
        </match>
-->
</fontconfig>

If anyone can point me at what to do here, I'd be most appreciative. Thanks for your time.

EDIT: The odd colors.

My monitor is a "15.4 in. WXGA TFT Active Matrix", according to the specs for the eMachines M2350.

cdhotfire · 2006-08-09 23:41:39

The colors are from sub-pixel rendering.

I don't really see the problem with the zeros thought. It's probably just the font is like that.

You can try my config, I get pretty decent fonts.

<xml>
<DOCTYPE>
<fontconfig>
    <match>
        <edit>
            <bool>true</bool>
        </edit>
    </match>
    <match>
        <edit>
            <const>hintmedium</const>
        </edit>
    </match>

<match>
  <test>
  <double>7</double>
  </test>
  <edit>
    <bool>true</bool>
  </edit>
</match> 
 
</fontconfig>

Gullible Jones · 2006-08-09 23:53:41

cdhotfire wrote:

I don't really see the problem with the zeros thought. It's probably just the font is like that.

I don't think that's the case. Qylvaran, have you tried it with autohinting turned off?

qylvaran · 2006-08-10 00:05:05

cdhotfire wrote:

The colors are from sub-pixel rendering.

As I said, I tried it with sub-pixel rendering on and off and saw no difference in the color artifacts.

cdhotfire wrote:

You can try my config, I get pretty decent fonts.

I can't really see your config. You need to check 'Disable HTML in this post' for it to show up right.

GJ: There's a setting in there that is supposed to turn autohinting off for bold fonts. Is it maybe not doing that like it should?

I'll try turning sub-pixel rendering on again and disabling autohinting entirely to see if it does anything and then post some 'after' screenshots.

cdhotfire · 2006-08-10 00:56:01

Gullible Jones wrote:

cdhotfire wrote:
I don't really see the problem with the zeros thought. It's probably just the font is like that.
I don't think that's the case. Qylvaran, have you tried it with autohinting turned off?

What I meant was that I don't see what's wrong, I don't see how the zeros are wrong.

Here's the config again without HTML.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
    <match target="font" >
        <edit mode="assign" name="hinting" >
            <bool>true</bool>
        </edit>
    </match>
    <match target="font" >
        <edit mode="assign" name="hintstyle" >
            <const>hintmedium</const>
        </edit>
    </match>

<match target="font" >
  <test compare="more" name="pixelsize" qual="any">
  <double>7</double>
  </test>
  <edit mode="assign" name="antialias" >
    <bool>true</bool>
  </edit>
</match> 
 
</fontconfig>

qylvaran · 2006-08-10 05:25:56

I tried using cdhotfire's local.conf, and while a side-by-side comparison has the first screenshot looking exactly the same as before, the one I used to demonstrate color weirdness is completely different. That's one down.

I am, however, noticing a problem that I experienced in Gentoo. in the normal Bitstream Vera Sans 12pt font, certain letters or parts of letters are extremely faint. Specifically, the top-right arm of the letter 'k' and the center of the letter 'x' look like they've been partially erased. I'd like to fix this and my bold zeroes if possible. I wonder if it's even possible to have all of my font issues fixed at the same time.

Finally, I would like to know if it is possible to disable all hinting and antialiasing shenannigans for all bitmap fonts in general. Thank you again for taking the time to listen to my constant demands.

Gullible Jones · 2006-08-10 12:04:31

What I meant was turning off autohinting... Completely. I'm guessing that, for some odd reason, your system might like the bytecode hinter better.

test1000 · 2006-08-10 13:42:03

Gullible Jones wrote:

I'm guessing that, for some odd reason, your system might like the bytecode hinter better.

Doesn't everyones system? Or would you argue that the autohinter now looks better? That would be quite impressive if it did look better without antialiasing for us who like that clearness to the text!

Gullible Jones · 2006-08-10 15:17:22

Apparently the autohinter does look a lot better in some cases - I'm guessing particularly on LCD monitors. At any rate, it looks fine on my box with the *default* settings; the only fonts that really look bad with it are the MS web fonts, and it's no big deal to use Dejavu fonts instead.

test1000 · 2006-08-10 15:45:01

Gullible Jones wrote:

no big deal to use Dejavu fonts instead.

Really? Can I see some screenshot of your setup that you have now gullible, the one without ms ttf fonts?

Gullible Jones · 2006-08-10 16:02:42

Could be my monitor. Anyway, I might set it up later, but right now I'm using OBGnome with bytecode AA - as I said, autohint looks fine with default settings, but Gnome messes it up. Still looking for a way around that.

Regarding the MS web fonts, they stay pretty clear, but get very thick, and are distorted at small sizes. Dejavu fonts don't seem to have those problems.

Arch Linux

#1 2006-08-09 22:16:42

"Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#2 2006-08-09 23:41:39

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#3 2006-08-09 23:53:41

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#4 2006-08-10 00:05:05

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#5 2006-08-10 00:56:01

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#6 2006-08-10 05:25:56

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#7 2006-08-10 12:04:31

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#8 2006-08-10 13:42:03

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#9 2006-08-10 15:17:22

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#10 2006-08-10 15:45:01

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

#11 2006-08-10 16:02:42

Re: "Proud Nails" in my Font Configuration

Board footer