Enable Smooth Fonts in Debian.

[devils casper]

Hi Friends !

I am using Debian unstable for last 3-4 months and couldn't configure fonts properly. Fonts were not smooth, installed msttcorefonts, tweaked font config, anti-aliasing etc.. but result was not good.

I found a font.conf from somewhere over net ( dont remember link ) and it has changed smoothness drastically. I am really impressed with it.

Copy font config, save it as font-conf and replace it with .font.conf of your home folder.

cd
mv .font.conf font.conf.bak
mv font-conf .font.conf

Restart X Server and see the difference. Its worth to try. If you like it, delete font.conf.bak file.
You can use same config in Ubuntu/Kubuntu too.

font-conf :

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
 <match target="font" >
  <edit mode="assign" name="autohint" >
   <bool>true</bool>
  </edit>
 </match>
 <match target="font" >
  <edit mode="assign" name="rgba" >
   <const>none</const>
  </edit>
 </match>
 <match target="font" >
  <edit mode="assign" name="hinting" >
   <bool>false</bool>
  </edit>
 </match>
 <match target="font" >
  <edit mode="assign" name="hintstyle" >
   <const>hintnone</const>
  </edit>
 </match>
 <match target="font" >
  <edit mode="assign" name="antialias" >
   <bool>true</bool>
  </edit>
 </match>
</fontconfig>

Enjoy smooooth Fonts !

[oz]

Hey, thanks for the HowTo, casper.

Fonts have always been a very touchy subject under Linux for me, too, and I've hated the results every time right after installing the MS core fonts.

Fortunately, my fonts have looked great under Arch for the last few years, now.

[devils casper]

Non-smooth fonts irritate me a lot and I was struggling for last 3-4 months. My search for smooth fonts ends here and I am happy now..

[emerica]

Wow devils_casper this is a great post! I had to alter your directions a weed bit though. My fontconfig folder is ".fontconfig" not ".font.config". I am using Lenny by the way. But other than that these fonts are smooth! Thanks a lot.

[devils casper]

Hi emerica !

It was a typo and I have corrected that. Font config filename is .font.conf instead of .font.config. Thanx for pointing it out.

[MikeTbob]

It works for Gentoo also, thanks DC!

[devils casper]

It works for Gentoo also, thanks DC!

You are Welcome Mike and thanx for the Info.

[lindylex]

devils casper, you are a God. Now my Mac friends will wish they had a Debian install.

I have no idea how you figured this out but if you would like to go into details I would be very happy to be your humble student.

Thanks Lex

[hugortega]

Hey man!,

This works fantastic! specially on FireFox.... ...

Thanks a lot!

Hugo

[gruven]

You can also go into about:config in firefox and do a search for freetype and turn the hinting on.

I haven't had a problem with fonts not being smooth on my debian box. I use the Liberation-ttf fonts from RedHat and in KDE I just turn smoothing on.

Of course, I could have changed something and not realized it because I have had this /home partition for ages.