[Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

Fusion916 · 2025-08-10 00:58:49

Update: Resolved by recent version in AUR

I can't tell which update broke this, but bitmap fonts no longer render pixel perfect in vscode anymore. I used to could get them to render pixel perfect at 125% desktop scale but even at 100% desktop scale I can't get this to work anymore.

In particular I use either Terminus (TTF) or Terminess Nerd Font.

Now both display with some kind of anti-aliasing and scaling apply no matter what settings I do.

with the current version of vscode and electron has anyone gotten pixel perfect bitmap fonts to render correctly?

Last edited by Fusion916 (2025-08-15 21:26:16)

seth · 2025-08-10 06:39:18

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=306612 - but that's supposed to be fixed (changed) and more importantly

In particular I use either Terminus (TTF) or Terminess Nerd Font.

Neither of those are bitmap fonts to begin with.

If only electron is affected and assuming this is some wayland compositor: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Chromi … er_Wayland

If that's not it, please elaborate on the setup (display server, X11 or your specific wayland compositor - "wayland" would be completely meaningless here)
Randomly, hyprland seems to have some peculiar behavior: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 2#p2253252

Fusion916 · 2025-08-10 07:40:39

When I say bitmap fonts, I don't litteralyl mean PCF fonts. Vscode I dont has ever worked with real bitmap (pcf) fonts. You have to use TTFs that have bitmap fonts embeded.

This used to work (Teminus TTF or Terminess Nerd Font). But now the fonts do not render 1:1 pixels anymore.

Maybe I'm not using the correct terminology, but basically you use to be able to make those TTF fonts behave exact like terminus PCF.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=306612 is unrelated. I am using wayland KDE plasma.

seth · 2025-08-10 07:55:08

Does it happen on KDE/X11?
Embedded bitmaps will only ever be used for very specific sizes - the moment the system dpi-scales around w/ that you'll get the vector rendering.

Does vscode not work w/ https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/terminus-font/ (no surprise w/ any pcf fonts for mentioned reasons)

Fusion916 · 2025-08-10 08:04:14

seth wrote:

Does it happen on KDE/X11?
Embedded bitmaps will only ever be used for very specific sizes - the moment the system dpi-scales around w/ that you'll get the vector rendering.
Does vscode not work w/ https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/terminus-font/ (no surprise w/ any pcf fonts for mentioned reasons)

I have not tried in X11, I'll try to boot into X11 a bit later and get back to you (I have not booted up X11 in ages).

Vscode does not work, and to my knowledge never has worked with https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/terminus-font/ as it only works from what I know with TTF fonts period. I am aware you have to use specific sizes with the embedded bitmaps in TTFs and its finicky if you dont use 100% scaling. I messed around with settings for 2+ hours earlier including reducing my desktop scale to 100% and made sure vscode itself was running at 100% scaling. Still could not get the embeded bitmaps in the TTFs to render at 1:1 pixel map. This was working previously for sure.

But I think this may be a unqiue problem to vscode as it has a weird font rendering system I believe. I was hoping someone had some solution or to point out something I was doing wrong.

Very annoying as its hard for me to use a text editor without perfect 1:1 scale bitmapped fonts.

Last edited by Fusion916 (2025-08-10 08:04:47)

seth · 2025-08-10 13:07:43

Use a better text editor ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Are the embedded bitmap used by other clients™ (not electron)?
Otherwise post your fc-conflist - the interim, bitmap-denying configlet would block embedded bitmaps (but for emojis…) as well.

Fusion916 · 2025-08-15 19:34:11

Update, the new version in the AUR fixes the bitmap font issue, so I guess it was some kind of regression.

seth · 2025-08-15 21:21:58

\o/
Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

Arch Linux

#1 2025-08-10 00:58:49

[Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#2 2025-08-10 06:39:18

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#3 2025-08-10 07:40:39

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#4 2025-08-10 07:55:08

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#5 2025-08-10 08:04:14

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#6 2025-08-10 13:07:43

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#7 2025-08-15 19:34:11

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

#8 2025-08-15 21:21:58

Re: [Resolved]Can no longer get bitmap fonts to render correctly in vscode

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