11.4 - subpixel hinting

nevermind_hr · February 10, 2011, 10:54am

Is it possible to use subpixel hinting on 11.4 (RC1)?
There is no packages yet in Index of /subpixel/ repo.

Romanator · February 10, 2011, 4:22pm

I’m still downloading. However, you can try the following steps:

Navigate to Configure Desktop → System Settings → Application Appearance.
Click to the right of Use anti-aliasing: → System Settings → Enabled
Click on the Configure button and enable Use sub-pixel rendering
Click on the Apply button when finished

Remember to have fun!

Romanator

nevermind_hr · February 10, 2011, 7:06pm

I didn’t install it yet.
Are you sure this is going to work? Because some packages needs to be patched for subpixel hinting.

Romanator · February 10, 2011, 8:29pm

I’m not 100% sure. Maybe someone else can chime in on this topic.

If you have a spare partition, install openSUSE 11.4 RC1 on it.

Another option is to download a free program called VirtualBox 4.0.2. You can run an entire operating system on it virtually. You can find it on VirtualBox

RC 2 should be out on Feb. 20.

Cheers!

Romanator

google01103 · March 8, 2011, 9:06pm

maybe it is no longer required as the description of the provided libfreetype6 rpm says “this version also contains an autohinter for producing improved output”

maybe the licensing changed and openSuse is now able to distribute ?

reo_sam · March 9, 2011, 8:27am

Well, the normal freetype is never going to have the best implementation of the subpixel hinting (because of licensing issues and this is related to upstream packaging).

And since the Subpixel repo of opensuse-community.org is not yet there for 11.4, i am using the packages from this user repo:

Index of /repositories/home:/muzlocker/openSUSE_11.4

The results are fantastic on the laptop. Not sure, whether this is required for a desktop.

reo

google01103 · March 9, 2011, 10:52am

Reasons why I think the std libraries are fine and include sub-pixel hinting any maybe why the subpixel repo isn’t needed

"Because global patents expired in May, Libfreetype version 2.4 and later will now compile with the bytecode interpreter activated by default. " FreeType 2.4 now free from patent restrictions - The H Open Source: News and Features

“Note that anti-aliasing is no longer necessary since the TrueType bytecode interpreter was activated. Disable it completely or restrict it to sizes above 12 or 15.” TrueType - openSUSE

“this version also contains an autohinter for producing improved output” from the description provided by the installed rpm

reo_sam · March 9, 2011, 2:34pm

There is a world of difference between the default freetype subpixel hinting and the particular subpixel hinting that i am currently using. Though, i am not aware of the the underlying differences of implementation.

google01103 · March 9, 2011, 3:47pm

I tried the repo you use and I don’t really see the difference but that could be me, me monitor and me eyes. I would like to hear what others think

what settings for hinting are you using: rgb,bgr, etc …? full, medium, slight?

kde or gnome?

reo_sam · March 10, 2011, 7:36am

i am using rgb, full hinting. force fonts DPI=disabled.
the default fonts.
kde 4.6

(ATI fglrx driver on HD3200 on-board graphics card). And the default settings of the ATI configuration.

I had tried to use the ATI configuration to try and better the things on the default freetype that comes with the system. but the results were poor (eye-straining), but now everything is quite good.

On the 11.3 system, there is not much difference b/w the subpixel-hinting of opensuse-community.org and the muzlocker repo freetype.

swims · March 10, 2011, 12:10pm

I installed muzlocker repo freetype on 11.4 Gnome VM, and it’s definately better looking in my opinion.