Template: fontconfig/hinting_type Type: select _Choices: Native, Autohinter, None Default: Native _Description: With what method should fonts be hinted? The FreeType font library can adjust glyph outlines to accomodate the pixel grid for improved legibility. This process is called "hinting". FreeType can either use the hints built-in to each font or it can use a format-indepedent Autohinter. For most font formats, using the format-specific hints generates better results. However, many freely available TrueType format fonts don't include any hints at all. When loading such a font, unless you specifically ask to use the Autohinter, these fonts will end up unhinted, which will make them appear fuzzy on the screen. . If the TrueType fonts you use most include hints, then the Native hinter gives better results. However, if the fonts you use most do not include such hints, then the Autohinter will work better. Yes, FreeType should do this automatically. . You can also select None to disable all hinting, causing all text to look fuzzy on even the sharpest monitors. . Template: fontconfig/subpixel_rendering Type: select _Choices: Automatic, Always, Never Default: Automatic _Description: Should fonts be rendered using sub-pixel elements? With known sub-pixel geometry, LCD screens can synthesize higher resolution in one dimension. Taking advantage of this when rendering glyphs sharpens the appearance of text on the screen. This can cause color artifacts, especially when rendering unhinted or autohinted fonts. . This option selects when sub-pixel rendering should be used. Automatic enables sub-pixel rendering whenever the X server detects an LCD monitor, which it can generally do when the monitor is built into the computer or connected with a digital (DVI) cable. Always forces the system to use sub-pixel rendering while Never forces the system to not use sub-pixel rendering. Template: fontconfig/enable_bitmaps Type: boolean Default: false _Description: Enable bitmapped fonts by default? By default, only outline fonts are used by applications which support fontconfig. Outline fonts are fonts which scale well to various sizes. In contrast, bitmapped fonts are often lower quality. Enabling this option will affect the systemwide default; this and many other fontconfig options may be enabled or disabled on a per-user basis.