SubpixelHinting

From openSUSE Community Wiki

Disclaimer

The subpixel hinting implementation in freetype2 might infringe Microsoft's ClearType patents, which is why it is disabled both upstream (by the freetype2 authors) and in the freetype2 RPM packages that ship with openSUSE.

Install subpixel hinting enabled `freetype2` packages

For further information see: [http://forums.opensuse.org/get-help-here/applications/425534-subpixel-hinting-11-2-gtk-apps-solution-2.html]

1-click install

You can upgrade the freetype2 packages using 1-click-install, by clicking on the image below:

With `zypper`

Note: the following commands must be executed using the root account; after opening a shell (konsole, gnome-terminal, xterm, ...), switch to the root user using the command "su -" (and enter the root password when prompted for it)

SUSE_VERSION=$(awk '/^VERSION/{print $3}' /etc/SuSE-release)

URL=http://opensuse-community.org/subpixel/openSUSE_${SUSE_VERSION}/subpixel.repo zypper ar --repo "$URL" zypper ref subpixel zypper up -t package -r subpixel

zypper in freetype2-feature-subpixel-hinting

With `smart`

Note: the following commands must be executed using the root account; after opening a shell (konsole, gnome-terminal, xterm, ...), switch to the root user using the command "su -" (and enter the root password when prompted for it)

SUSE_VERSION=$(awk '/^VERSION/{print $3}' /etc/SuSE-release)

URL=http://opensuse-community.org/subpixel/openSUSE_${SUSE_VERSION}/subpixel.repo smart channel --add "$URL" smart update subpixel

smart install freetype2-feature-subpixel-hinting

KDE Configuration

Note: the following commands must be executed using your regular non-root account

Note: the KDE Control Center application must be installed on your system (packages: kdelibs3 and kdebase3)

If you're using the KDE desktop or any KDE-based application, here is how to set up subpixel hinting for KDE:

start the KDE font configuration with the following command depending on your KDE version:
kcmshell fonts

kcmshell4 fonts

enable the checkbox "Use anti-aliasing for fonts"
click on the "Configure" button next to the above mentioned checkbox

enable the checkbox "Use sub-pixel hinting:"
select "Medium" or "Full" from the Hinting style: list (the best settings is both a matter of taste and depending on your monitor, try the different hinting style options to see what suits you best)
click the "OK" button
click the "OK" button

GNOME Configuration

Note: the following commands must be executed using your regular non-root account

Note: the GNOME Control Center application must be installed on your system (package: control-center2 or gnome-control-center (openSUSE 11.0))

If you're using the GNOME desktop or any GNOME/GTK2-based application (e.g. Firefox), here is how to set up subpixel hinting for GNOME/GTK:

start the GNOME font configuration with the following command:
gnome-font-properties
or for openSUSE 11.0
gnome-appearance-properties

in the "Font Rendering" section, select "Subpixel smoothing (LCDs)"
click on the "Details..." button below the above mentioned option

in the "Smoothing" section, select the option "Subpixel (LCDs)"

in the "Hinting" section, select the option that suits you best (the best settings is both a matter of taste and depending on your monitor)
click the "Close" button
click the "Close" button

Firefox Configuration

Type in about:config in the address box and search for freetype. By double-clicking on a specific setting you can change it. Apply the changes in bold as shown below.

If you experience an issue with the font sizes search for dpi and set it to 0. This will make Firefox use only X's dpi value.

For even better experience it is recommended that you install the package dejavu from Repositories/Packman (see Installing Software) and set Firefox to use them by opening up Edit -> Preferences -> Content -> in the Fonts & Colors box -> Advanced and setting them up as follows: