On a stock NetBSD + X11 setup with CTWM, improving font rendering makes a noticeable difference in everyday usability. CTWM uses X11 core fonts, so anti-aliasing and subpixel hinting don’t apply to window titles or menus. However, any application that uses Xft, Fontconfig, and FreeType (Firefox and most modern X11 graphical apps, for example) will immediately benefit from better font rendering. Start by installing the following packages: ``` fonts/fontconfig graphics/freetype2 fonts/dejavu-ttf fonts/liberation-ttf ``` Then create `~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf`: ``` true true hintslight rgb lcddefault false sans-serif DejaVu Sans Liberation Sans serif DejaVu Serif Liberation Serif monospace Liberation Mono DejaVu Sans Mono ``` Check your DPI first: ``` xdpyinfo | grep -i resolution ``` Then create `~/.Xresources`: ``` ! Adjust this value if needed Xft.dpi: 96 Xft.antialias: 1 Xft.hinting: 1 Xft.hintstyle: hintslight Xft.rgba: rgb Xft.lcdfilter: lcddefault ``` Load the configuration: ``` fc-cache -fv xrdb -merge "$HOME/.Xresources" ``` Create `~/.xsession` if you’re using XDM, or `~/.xinitrc` if you’re using startx: ``` #!/bin/sh [ -r "$HOME/.profile" ] && . "$HOME/.profile" [ -r "$HOME/.Xresources" ] && xrdb -merge "$HOME/.Xresources" exec ctwm ``` After restarting X or relaunching your applications, fonts in applications should look much better.

Improving font rendering on NetBSD/CTWM (Fontconfig)

Leufroy

On a stock NetBSD + X11 setup with CTWM, improving font rendering makes a noticeable difference in everyday usability.

CTWM uses X11 core fonts, so anti-aliasing and subpixel hinting don’t apply to window titles or menus. However, any application that uses Xft, Fontconfig, and FreeType (Firefox and most modern X11 graphical apps, for example) will immediately benefit from better font rendering.

Start by installing the following packages:

fonts/fontconfig
graphics/freetype2
fonts/dejavu-ttf
fonts/liberation-ttf

Then create ~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE fontconfig SYSTEM "urn:fontconfig:fonts.dtd">
<fontconfig>
  <match target="font">
    <edit name="antialias" mode="assign"><bool>true</bool></edit>
    <edit name="hinting" mode="assign"><bool>true</bool></edit>
    <edit name="hintstyle" mode="assign"><const>hintslight</const></edit>
    <edit name="rgba" mode="assign"><const>rgb</const></edit>
    <edit name="lcdfilter" mode="assign"><const>lcddefault</const></edit>
    <edit name="embeddedbitmap" mode="assign"><bool>false</bool></edit>
  </match>

  <alias>
    <family>sans-serif</family>
    <prefer>
      <family>DejaVu Sans</family>
      <family>Liberation Sans</family>
    </prefer>
  </alias>

  <alias>
    <family>serif</family>
    <prefer>
      <family>DejaVu Serif</family>
      <family>Liberation Serif</family>
    </prefer>
  </alias>

  <alias>
    <family>monospace</family>
    <prefer>
      <family>Liberation Mono</family>
      <family>DejaVu Sans Mono</family>
    </prefer>
  </alias>
</fontconfig>

Check your DPI first:

xdpyinfo | grep -i resolution

Then create ~/.Xresources:

! Adjust this value if needed
Xft.dpi: 96

Xft.antialias: 1
Xft.hinting: 1
Xft.hintstyle: hintslight
Xft.rgba: rgb
Xft.lcdfilter: lcddefault

Load the configuration:

fc-cache -fv
xrdb -merge "$HOME/.Xresources"

Create ~/.xsession if you’re using XDM, or ~/.xinitrc if you’re using startx:

#!/bin/sh

[ -r "$HOME/.profile" ] && . "$HOME/.profile"
[ -r "$HOME/.Xresources" ] && xrdb -merge "$HOME/.Xresources"

exec ctwm

After restarting X or relaunching your applications, fonts in applications should look much better.