magick convert font error on 15.2 but works on 15.1

English Applications
#1

Hi, on my leap 15.2 with KDE I use magick convert to annotate some text on pictures,on leap 15.1 everything works fine, but on leap 15.2 happens this error:

pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments> magick convert "/home/pla/extended-fototest.jpg" -gravity south -font helvetica -fill blue -pointsize 30 -annotate 0,0 "file=fototest.jpg 
> -autore=pier andre -descrizione=  
> capodanno in Croazia" "/home/pla/annotated-fototest.jpg" 
convert: unable to read font `/usr/share/fonts/truetype/Adobe-Helvetica-Regular.otb' @ error/annotate.c/RenderFreetype/1521. 
pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments>

the file /usr/share/fonts/truetype/Adobe-Helvetica-Regular.otb exist

[FONT=monospace]pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments> ls /usr/share/fonts/truetype/Adobe-Helvetica-Regular.otb 
/usr/share/fonts/truetype/Adobe-Helvetica-Regular.otb 
pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments>

[/FONT]
I have to remove “-font helvetica” from the command to have a working command

pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments> magick convert "/home/pla/extended-fototest.jpg" -gravity south  -fill blue -pointsize 30 -annotate 0,0 "file=/fototest.jpg
> -autore=pier andre -descrizione= 
> capodanno in Croazia" "/home/pla/annotated-fototest.jpg"
pla@pla4-TW:~/bin/foto-comments>

how can I have a working command with the “[FONT=monospace]-font helvetica” option also in leap 15.2??
ciao :slight_smile: pier
[/FONT]

#2

Find a Helvetica to install, or use one of its metric-compatible virtual clones. Helvetica on Linux is uncommon. It’s mainly found on MacOS. On Windows, when Helvetica is called for, Arial is usually substituted. Below shows observed substitutions on several distros here:

on Mint 19

fc-match helvetica

LiberationSans-Regular.ttf: “Liberation Sans” “Regular”

on 15.1

fc-match helvetica

LiberationSans-Regular.ttf: “Liberation Sans” “Regular”

Ubuntu 18.04 & 20.04

fc-match helvetica

LiberationSans-Regular.ttf: “Liberation Sans” “Regular”

TW 20210210

fc-match helvetica

LiberationSans-Regular.ttf: “Liberation Sans” “Regular”

Debian 11

fc-match helvetica

DroidSans.ttf: “Droid Sans” “Regular”

Fedora 33

fc-match helvetica

Cantarell-Regular.otf: “Cantarell” “Regular”

#3

where can I install helvetica from? I suppose if the command works on my 15.1 I have helvetica installed but I don’t remember where I taken it
maaanythanks, here on 15.2

pla@pla4-TW:~> fc-match helvetica
texgyreheros-regular.otf: "TeX Gyre Heros" "Regular"
pla@pla4-TW:~> fc-match arial
LiberationSans-Regular.ttf: "Liberation Sans" "Regular"
pla@pla4-TW:~>

I tried to use texgyreheros-regular but was too much spaced among lines, so I tried LiberationSans-Regular and it worked idendical as helvetica

#4

There are four Helvetica options that I’m aware of for use on computers:

  1. Buy Helvetica from Adobe
  2. Substitute a metric-compatible font (e.g. Liberation Sans, Arial, many others)
  3. Use an illegal copy from someone who purchased a license or has MacOS
    *]Use MacOS
#5

No.
Helvetica belongs to Monotype company, you can use some of it for free: https://hello.monotype.com/Helvetica-Now-Download.html
Possibly you may use for free Helvetica predecessor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akzidenz-Grotesk

#6

Try installing the google-opensans-fonts package.

I haven’t tested it on suse, but I was having a very similar error on Fedora 34, where my ImageMagick convert invocation was complaining about not being able to find ‘helvetica’:

$ magick montage -background ‘#336699’ -geometry +4+4 magick:rose [FONT=Courier New]magick:logo montage.jpg[/FONT]
montage: unable to read font `helvetica’ @ error/annotate.c/RenderFreetype/1459.

The error went away after I installed Fedora’s open-sans-fonts package. I found the tip here: https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/issues/3404