https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=156200
Bug ID: 156200
Summary: Writer: Bad font rendering with anti-aliasing disabled
(hinting enabled!) in Manjaro KDE system settings
after update to LO 7.4.5-1
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 7.3.7.2 release
Hardware: All
OS: other
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: Writer
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
I use Linux, Manjaro KDE (the problem was tested with kernels 515lts and
61lts).
Up to version 7.3.7-3, LibreOffice Writer rendered fonts such as Arial,
Verdana, or even the in Manjaro KDE preinstallled DejaVu Sans with disabled
anti-aliasing and enabled hinting slim, uniform and smooth.
As of version 7.4.5-1 (presumably generally as of 7.4.x) the fonts look
tattered, frayed and unevenly thick (see attached screenshots).
The problem only appears when anti-aliasing is disabled in combination with
enabled hinting in the system settings (more about this in Steps to reproduce).
I originally had LibreOffice Still 7.3.7-3 from the official repositories
installed on my main PC when I noticed the problem after updating to 7.4.x.
Currently I have been able to reproduce the problem on three different systems
(main machine, laptop and newly set up virtual machine, all running Manjaro
KDE) as follows:
LO Still (official repositories), version 7.4.7-2 -> affected.
LO Fresh (official repositories), version 7.5.3-2 -> affected
LO Fresh Appimage, version 7.5.4-2 -> affected
LO Fresh Flatpak , version 7.5.4-2 -> not affected!
So NOT affected are the "old" version up to 7.3.x and any Flatpak version.
All other versions show the bad font rendering.
On a MX Linux KDE, which I installed myself testwise in the VM, with an
Appimage version of LO (7.5.4-2) running there, I could not reproduce the
problem.
Translated partly with the help of deepl.com! Therefore, please be lenient! :)
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Use a current Manjaro KDE (because I don't know exactly if or to what extent
the settings in other KDE systems differ).
2. Make sure that you have installed an appropriate font, e.g. the preinstalled
DejaVu Sans in Manjaro KDE is suitable. The difference is even a bit more
visible with Verdana, Arial, Times New Roman.
3. Go to System Settings -> Appearance -> Fonts and make the following settings
(both options achieve the same effect):
3.1 (Option 1, I took a screenshot of this:) First, make sure that some kind of
hinting is enabled, either "Light", "Medium" or "Full" (it doesn't matter
which), because after anti-aliasing is disabled, hinting is grayed out and no
longer adjustable. But Hinting must be activated in background, even if it is
grayed out afterwards (and supposedly should have no function anymore!). Then:
Anti-Aliasing -> Disable/Checkmark out
3.2 (Option 2:) Anti-Aliasing -> Enable/set checkmark; Exclude range from
anti-aliasing -> Enable (8 - 15 pt -> the font size to be tested, e.g. 12 pt
must be excluded); Sub-pixel rendering -> Best not to change, for me it is set
to RGB; Hinting -> Light, Medium or Full <- important! Force font dpi ->
Disable/Checkmark out
4. Remember that the changes made will only affect programs that are restarted
afterwards! I have even experienced having to make and save changes twice until
they were fully applied.
5. Open LO Writer, go to Tools -> Options -> LibreOffice -> View, and uncheck
"Use anti-aliasing" and "Screen font antialiasing" if they were set. To be on
the safe side, restart LO so that the changes take effect. (I don't see any
effect here anyway, but to make it match with the system settings, you might
want to make it better.)
6. Now before you write anything to see the font rendering, change the font to
one of the mentioned, e.g. DejaVu Sans or Verdana, which I used for my
screenshot here.
Optional:
(7. You can disable the automatic spell checker for better readability).
(8. If you happen to have an older LO version (up to max. 7.3.x) installed in
parallel or on a different system (or probably you can get the same results
with the current Flatpak version, like I did (can be installed in parallel
without problems)), you will see the difference how it looked before).
Actual Results:
As of version 7.4.5-1 (probably generally as of 7.4.x), the fonts look ragged,
frayed and unevenly thick (see attached screenshot).
Expected Results:
The font should be slim, uniform and smooth as mentioned above and seen in the
screenshot with anti-aliasing disabled and hinting enabled.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: Yes
Additional Info:
nothing
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