[FAQ] Bad font rendering in Firefox and other programs

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It’s not only Firefox, but any program using fontconfig…

1. Close your program

2. Enable LCD filter

   sudo ln -fs /usr/share/fontconfig/conf.avail/11-lcdfilter-default.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/
   

3. Rebuild font cache

   fc-cache --force
   

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Why it happened?

Caused by weird new defaults for fontconfig, maybe it will change in future.

Starting from FreeType 2.10.3, Arch Linux enables ClearType subpixel rendering by default [4] .

When using ClearType subpixel rendering, you should enable the LCD filter, which is designed to reduce colour fringing.

(c) https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Font_configuration

[Christopher67]

I notice this as well.

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Bad font rendering in Firefox

I don’t think that’s normal, have just tested latest .iso with XFCE and KDE in VM - it’s still there Yep, that’s the thing - however sometimes de fails to fix all that fontconfig crap P.S. @Tinymeat Dammit, you’re right some update killz /etc/fonts/conf.avail/

Plot twist!
What now…

Reason: /etc/fonts/conf.avail was replaced with /usr/share/fontconfig/conf.avail, but files there should not be edited.

P.S. I’ve updated symlink for new one…

[Kresimir]

I wish they’d stop pushing this ClearType rubbish on us. I like my fonts pixelated and rendered in only two colours: foreground and background!

The natural defects in my eyes take care of anti-aliasing for me

[Christopher67]

So
sudo ln -s /etc/fonts/conf.avail/11-lcdfilter-default.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/

Is no good anymore?

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Well, check to see if you already have:

cat "/etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf"

If not, then just run updated location from OP

[Christopher67]

cat: /etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf: No such file or directory

Edit: i get this when i use your updated link

ln: failed to create symbolic link ‘/etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf’: File exists

[Tinymeat]

@Christopher67

ln: failed to create symbolic link ‘/etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf’: File exists

You have to delete the broken link at first…

rm /etc/fonts/conf.d/11-lcdfilter-default.conf

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@Christopher67
I think you can also force with -f:

sudo ln -fs /usr/share/fontconfig/conf.avail/11-lcdfilter-default.conf /etc/fonts/conf.d/

See if it works, i’ll add to OP then

[Christopher67]

Yup that seemed to worked zero error, so i don’t have to do a fc-cache --force

That does it all it 1 command correct?

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No, it just removes previous broken symlink and replaces it with new one…
I’d do fc-cache --force as well

[Christopher67]

Thanks, looks good!

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As @Kresimir would say:

[ThisPoorGuy]

This is the fix I didn’t realize I needed. Thanks for the info!

[Kresimir]