Poor font quality in XFCE-Debian

[craig10x]

A little tip for you guys using this distro...since the maintainer of it didn't have the time to do the patched libcairo, let me tell you...THAT is what is going to make the difference...once you install that patched libcairo from Clem in this, it should look just like Ubuntu does (and Mint main edition since it is based on ubuntu and already has the patches)...

I went back to main edition, but while using LMDE, the difference was immediately noticable and i was NOT using the ubuntu fonts...that has nothing to do with the rendering at all...in fact, i was just using the standard fonts that mint use to use for applications and installed the microsoft fonts (ttf-ms core fonts which you have to do in package manager because you have to agree to the license agreement which doesn't pop up in the software center)...and i used the ms core fonts in Google Chrome (my favorite browser)...i think i use Times New Roman and Serif....and it looks great...

Of course you can experiment with whatever fonts you like...but the key is to INSTALL PATCHED LIBCAIRO!
Clem did it for us in the December LMDE iso but sounds like your guy didn't have the time to do it on his...so you will have to add it in manually...

Hope that helps

[Nick_Djinn]

It does. I really appreciate all the tips here.

Still, I think somebody should re spin the ISOs before the next edition is released.

[linuxviolin]

Just a thought. From the posts by the previous posters, I don't understand why people want absolutely all the fonts (Ubuntu or other) as packages. You have never downloaded a font from the web and installed by hand? Absolutely amazing. Yet, this is so easy, quick and already explained several times in this forum if someone doesn't know how to make...

[Nick_Djinn]

If I understand correct, wouldnt pretty much any font look like unicorns without the patch?

Also, it still makes a bad impression regardless of workarounds. It just looks like you cant be bothered.

[linuxviolin]

I was speaking generally, not specifically for the problem of this topic...

[Nick_Djinn]

Also, its the system fonts that look crappy, not just the browser fonts.

Ive never downloaded system fonts before from anywhere but the local repositories. I have downloaded and installed fonts for firefox specifically, but it didnt improve system fonts.


Is there a tutorial for downloading system fonts? You just search the web for "linux fonts"?

[VtPoet]

Is there a tutorial for downloading system fonts? You just search the web for "linux fonts"?

There's no distinction, that I'm aware of, between "system fonts" and any other font.

All you do is to find a font that you like (.ttf) and copy it to your ~/.font folder. If the hidden folder isn't in your home directory, you need to create it. Once that's done, that font should be available to all applications (including the "system").

However, copying the font to your ~./font folder only makes it available to "you". If you want all users to have access to the font, copy it into the /usr/share/fonts folder.

Installing a font is simply a matter of copying and pasting. I've never installed fonts from repositories or the like. If it's zipped up, I extract, copy and paste. The Ubuntu font is free to use. Just grab the ttf's from anywhere and paste them anywhere, that could be in your Windows/Fonts folder or your linux ~./folder.

I think there's an automated (or GUI) process for installing fonts but I've never bothered to sort it out. Just easier to copy & paste.

[VtPoet]

Maybe in this case people should just use XFCE over the Gnome base until somebody starts paying attention to the release and ironing out the details.

In all fairness, this release is still in Beta.

I think feedback is more appropriate than chest thumping.

[VtPoet]

The ttf-ubuntu font is in the LMDE repo also the patched libcairo, you can install them. And yes they do work in Debian.
Really, if you believe that a font will break your system
Why they are not the default ?
I do not know, but the Xfce release seems to be a rush job without the usual Mint attention to detail.

Jeffrey, can you give me more info on that libcairo?

1.) Have you tried this on your own system?
2.) Is it simply a matter of searching for libcairo in Synaptic?
3.) Or is the patched version to be found elsewhere? Is it helpful to know the version number?
4.) If the patched version isn't available through synaptic, is there some guidance for installing it?

[craig10x]

Just to answer the question above...yes ALL fonts will look crappy without the ubuntu patches to libcairo...without it, you are seeing debian as it normally renders (which is crap..sorry to sound harsh but it is!...you would think THEY would add in those patches themselves but i guess it must be some kind of pride thing or something...lol I guess they don't want to use anything ubuntu...which is pretty dumb if you ask me)...

Hope someone here can point you to where to get it...i don't use XFCE so i am not familar but very glad Clem did the patching into LMDE...
I had looked at LMDE when the original iso came out and promptly threw it in the trash when i saw had poorly fonts would look...it was like an instant "turn off"...

[linuxviolin]

Is there a tutorial for downloading system fonts? You just search the web for "linux fonts"?

A font is a font. You just need to download and install it, regardless of the OS though they may have different procedures. There are many free, also pay fonts not necessarily expensive, fonts on the web. To install them, I advise you to incorporate them in the system, i.e. in /usr/share/fonts. This is the best. If you don't know how making that, you can read my post here. Oh and a font incorporated in the system can be used by all users, all apps, your desktop... anything that requires a font.

If you want a link for free fonts, here are two examples, but you can find other if you seek a little :

30 Top Best Free Fonts From 2010
Metrotemplate free fonts

If you want all users to have access to the font, copy it into the /usr/share/fonts folder. (...) Installing a font is simply a matter of copying and pasting.

Not just that. Especially if you want to incorporate them to the system. See above the link to the good procedure, if you want to do things correctly...

[VtPoet]

I had looked at LMDE when the original iso came out and promptly threw it in the trash when i saw had poorly fonts would look...it was like an instant "turn off"...

I sent a note to CLEM, but he doesn't know me from Adam. Got no response.

Have to say... I'll give this another couple of days. If I don't get a solution to the font problem then I'm going to "promptly" throw XFCE Mint into the trash. I agree with you, the poor font display is an instant turn off.

When the next version comes out, I may try it again...

[craig10x]

I wouldn't blame you VtPoet...i think some here are confusing fonts with FONT RENDERING...that is what you need...the high quality ubuntu patching to libcairo that gives Ubuntu one of the best font rendering you will find on Linux distros...I would imagine that other distros you may have seen that also look very good probably either used the same patching or something very similar...Debian apparently does not have the desire to bother with it, so they kind of leave you on your own with this...

No matter what fonts you choose (or like) they will still look crummy unless there is proper rendering and that is what the patching does for it...
If you want to see the difference, just burn and run the current live iso of LMDE...

[VtPoet]

No matter what fonts you choose (or like) they will still look crummy unless there is proper rendering and that is what the patching does for it...
If you want to see the difference, just burn and run the current live iso of LMDE...

Which gives me a thought. The whole reason to try XFCE Mint is because it's a rolling release and its Mint. Maybe I should try LMDE and install the XFCE desktop on top of it. I don't notice the bloat. Wonder if that would work?

[Nick_Djinn]

No matter what fonts you choose (or like) they will still look crummy unless there is proper rendering and that is what the patching does for it...
If you want to see the difference, just burn and run the current live iso of LMDE...

Which gives me a thought. The whole reason to try XFCE Mint is because it's a rolling release and its Mint. Maybe I should try LMDE and install the XFCE desktop on top of it. I don't notice the bloat. Wonder if that would work?

Considering that LMDE is Gnome yet still light enough AS Gnome, I think it will be lightning fast and not slowed down like in Xubuntu, and will have the patch for good rendering.

[jeffreyC]

My statement that a font will not break your system is because there are Ubuntu packages which will break your system, not because they cannot be installed but there are packages which are not compatible. You can put diesel fuel in the fuel tank of a gasoline car but that does not mean it will run on it.
The patched libcairo was in synaptic but may have been replaced by a newer Debian version.
It is libcairo2 1.10.0-1ubuntu2
It is still in the Mint repo here

http://packages.linuxmint.com/list.php?release=Debian

It can be installed with gdebi but first uninstall the libcairo you have currently, as gdebi cannot downgrade packages.

[Nick_Djinn]

Sorry. Sarcasm isnt always obvious online. I dont even attempt it because my ideas are different enough that nobody can tell when I am joking.

[VtPoet]

I've already moved on, uninstalled (formatted) the Mint XFCE partition. I'm trying Xubuntu right now, but I can't get Emerald to work and nobody at the forum seems to know how to make it work - might be a Natty issue. At least I could get Emerald to work in Mint. Two things were deal breakers for me, in Mint, the piteously poor Font resolution, and the fact that XFCE 2.6 was still being used - just made it seem like a green Debian install.

I'm going to trash Xubuntu tonight and install #! XFCE. If the font is good and I can get Emerald to work, I'll stick with them.

[Nick_Djinn]

Let me know how it goes. Have you tried Crunchbang XFCE? How do they compare?

[merlwiz79]

I've already moved on, uninstalled (formatted) the Mint XFCE partition. I'm trying Xubuntu right now, but I can't get Emerald to work and nobody at the forum seems to know how to make it work - might be a Natty issue. At least I could get Emerald to work in Mint. Two things were deal breakers for me, in Mint, the piteously poor Font resolution, and the fact that XFCE 2.6 was still being used - just made it seem like a green Debian install.

I'm going to trash Xubuntu tonight and install #! XFCE. If the font is good and I can get Emerald to work, I'll stick with them.

I'm hoping that you mean Xfce 4.6.2.
Install compizconfig settings.
The open it and change the Window Decorator to emerald --replace