TrueType Fonts in Linux Distributions?

Kypeli asks: "I just got the TrueType fonts working on my X (finally!!). Now that I can use these wonderful TrueType fonts, I have been wondering why can't TrueType fonts be included as default in the Linux distributions? At least in my opinion Postscript fonts suck deeply." A large number of TrueType fonts are not free, but I'm sure there are some out there. Why /aren't/ TrueType fonts included in distributions these days, especially now that Linux has support for them?

Comments

Maybe a Mini-HOWTO?

[Daniel Serodio]

You really got TrueType fonts working? Maybe you could write a mini-HOWTO or something, I still haven't got it to work.

Re:Maybe a Mini-HOWTO?

[Pudding Yeti]

If you're talking Linux, and I guess it's silly of me to assume anyone on Slashdot would be running anything else*, it sort of depends on your distro.

If you're running Red Hat 6.0 or 5.2, this page gives instructions on how to use the truetype support that was rolled into the X font server in 6.0, or using Herbert Duerr's xfstt for Red Hat 5.2.

Debian 2.1, which I run, comes with xfstt, as well, and is available as a .deb on their site.

I understand that the other implementations of truetype support are better, but I've been using xfstt for well over a year now with little trouble. I think earlier memory problems have been handled. It is very easy to use and set up, and I can't imagine why any of the current distros wouldn't work with it.

Finally, if you are curious about the alternatives I skipped, there's already a HOWTO available at http://pobox.com/~brion/linux/Tru eType-HOWTO.html.


*sarcasm, it's only sarcasm.
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mphall@cstone.nospam.net

TTFonts and Linux Mandrake

[smeat]

The True Type Fonts in Mandrake 6.0 work great. Set up by default and everything.

If you can get a copy I highly recomend it.

Bret

cos they suck.

[Zurk]

truetype fonts have worse quality than postscript fonts when printing at high res. theyre only good for display.

Re:cos they suck.

[Einsturz]

Isn't everything about display these days? I don't know about you but I use a printer maybe once every 6 months.

Re:cos they suck.

[IntlHarvester]

So, is there an equivalant of "Adobe Type Manager" for XFree ? I've got a gazillion PS fonts on an old Mac (which would need to be converted to Windows/Unix format somehow, I guess.)

(I mean, besides Ghostscript..)
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Re:cos they suck.

[Zurk]

xfree can display ps fonts by default. no equivalent of atm needed. Xfree does it directly.

included distro

[Anonymous Coward]

linux mandrake (www.linuxmandrake.com) has true type already included! a lot easier on the nerves to install..... plus i586 optimized.

Microsoft TrueType Fonts

[Tsu]

Agreed. I would gladly trade off beautiful printing and ugly displays for fonts that I could look at for more than a few hours without getting fed up.

I predict that when XFree86 4 is released, TrueType fonts will completely take over.

Actually, if you want free TrueType fonts that are semi-standard, I'd reccomend a visit to the microsoft font-pack site. They even come with a fairly `free' licence (I don't see any reason why a Linux or *BSD distributor couldn't include these fonts in a distribution.)

Still waiting patiently for XFree86 4. ]=)

Re:Microsoft TrueType Fonts

[IntlHarvester]

Yes, MS wisely designed certain fonts (Verdana, Anadale Mono) primarily for display. Wise move, because most TT/PS fonts don't look very good at low point resolutions, and are really designed for the printer.

Also, is there a way to convert Macintosh bitmap fonts for display on XFree? Chicago, Geneva, New York may be old skool, but they do look very good for display only purposes (webpages).
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Re:Microsoft TrueType Fonts

[Anonymous Coward]

I think one of the underlying problems is the PS renderer in XF86 is just poor at hinting, whereas most truetype font renderers for X are based on the freetype library which produces output rivaling and in some cases, exceeding MS's TrueType font renderer. If you look at Adobe's own PS renderer, it generates displays that are far better than anything generated by XF86

converting Mac bitmap fonts

[rillian]

Also, is there a way to convert Macintosh bitmap fonts for display on XFree?

Cut and paste from a screenshot?

I don't know of any tools, but it should be fairly simple to write a converter. The font format is described in Inside Macintosh: Text, specifically here.

There are also so free tools available at fonts.apple.com.

Solution?

[fireproof]

If TrueType fonts display better than postscript, and postscript fonts print better than TrueType, then why could one not implement a system where in a situation where both a TrueType and postscript version of a given font were available, the TrueType would be displayed by default while the postscript would be used for printing?

Re:Solution?

[Ramses0]

You've got to be really careful about the differences between displaying a font and printing a font- for some applications (like desktop publishing/advertising) designers want to what shows up on the screen to be *EXACTLY* what appears on the printed page.

This doesn't mean "look good" or "anti-aliased", but rather "oh, I hope that the last word of the second sentence in the third paragraph really *does* show up where it is on the screen and not on the next line"

Silly stuff, but hey- if you write source code, you can appreciate the concern if you've ever used "helpful translators." ;^)=

xfstt for support...

[Anonymous Coward]

I have truetype fonts working pretty well. Through the gimp and netscape are my main two. I use xfstt (available at Freshmeat or xfstt.org) to hook into XF86. Pretty simple to install, and I have gotten it to run on both an old slakware install and a couple RH6.0 boxes.

http://www.larabiefonts.com/

[Naikrovek]

free fonts, that are free for distrobution:
http://www.larabiefonts.com/