Muddy-looking fonts in certain applications [SOLVED!]

Quick to answer questions about finding your way around Linux Mint as a new user.
Forum rules
There are no such things as "stupid" questions. However if you think your question is a bit stupid, then this is the right place for you to post it. Stick to easy to-the-point questions that you feel people can answer fast. For long and complicated questions use the other forums in the support section.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
chunes

Muddy-looking fonts in certain applications [SOLVED!]

Post by chunes »

Hey all, I've been having this problem for a few days now. A couple of my applications have fonts that look really muddy, even though they used to look fine before a few days ago. I'm using 64-bit Linux Mint 19 Tara with Cinnamon DE.

These are the two problem applications:
Example screenshot from Factor Help Browser: Image
Example screenshot from Steam: Image

My other applications are fine, such as Firefox, Discord, Hexchat, Gimp, etc.
An example screenshot from Firefox without this problem: Image

I tried changing some of the antialiasing/hinting in the font settings, but it didn't have an effect on these applications. As for what changed a few days ago, I really don't know. The only thing I installed recently was Minecraft.

My inxi:

Code: Select all

System:    Host: og Kernel: 4.15.0-36-generic x86_64 bits: 64 gcc: 7.3.0
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.9 (Gtk 2.24.32) Distro: Linux Mint 19 Tara
Machine:   Device: desktop Mobo: MSI model: Z77A-G45 (MS-7752) v: 1.0 serial: N/A
           UEFI: American Megatrends v: V2.1B5 date: 03/12/2012
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i5-2500K (-MCP-) 
           arch: Sandy Bridge rev.7 cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 26402
           clock speeds: max: 3400 MHz 1: 1633 MHz 2: 1603 MHz 3: 1600 MHz
           4: 1600 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GK104 [GeForce GTX 670] bus-ID: 02:00.0
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: nvidia (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 670/PCIe/SSE2
           version: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 390.77 Direct Render: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Def. Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 NVIDIA GK104 HDMI Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 02:00.1
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-36-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCIE Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 04:00.0
           IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1000.2GB (5.2% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST1000DM005_HD10 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 916G used: 49G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C gpu: 0.0:36C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 238 Uptime: 23 days Memory: 4808.8/7931.0MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.3.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.4.191) inxi: 2.3.56
Thank you so much for any help!
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Top
chunes

Re: Muddy-looking fonts in certain applications

Post by chunes »

So I fixed my problem!

It turns out that of all things, it was because of an antialiasing setting I had set in my NVIDIA X Server Settings. I told it to use FXAA and override application settings, because that's how I like Minecraft to look. I had no idea it would affect font rendering! I will definitely set up a rule so that I don't need to do it globally.
Top
Locked

Return to “Beginner Questions”