Unfortunately there is no unified font handling system for Linux. You will have
to configure each individual program so you can use TrueType, Type 1 or fonts
that pique your fancy. And each program may well have its own way of doing
this so you will have to RTFM.
Most GUI apps should be able to use TrueType, and Type 1 fonts too.
Wordperfect for Linux, however, cannot use TrueType. (See the
links section below for more on Wordperfect.) Text editors, terminal programs
and the like need fixed width fonts, and do not play well with TrueType or
other scalable fonts.
Though not discussed here, Type 1 fonts provide many of the same benefits
as TrueType. You likely have many of these installed already. Unfortunately
however, Type 1 are not a web standard like TrueType. But they are suitable
for many other purposes. They are where it's at for printing. See ghostscriptfor more on this.
Anti-aliasing is not supported by any version of XFree86.
While it is possible to specify a default point size for the xfs font
server, very few applications will actually use this value.
The
Video
Timings HOWTO, the ins and outs of getting the most from your monitor.
Font HOWTO
Many good tips for installing fonts and for applications such as StarOffice,
Applixware, Wordperfect, Ghostscript, TeX/LaTeX.
A TrueType HOWTO, good tips for printing, and a few application specific tips.
xfsft Homepage,
TrueType font support for X. This is the origin of the "freetype" font module
for XFree86 4.x, and Redhat's xfs. Good site, and links to other information
related to fonts and TrueType.
Some Linux for Beginners. Great font site, and other Linux topics. Covers many of the topics
discussed here in more detail.
X-TrueType Homepage, and yet
another TrueType Font server, especially good for Japanese, Chinese and Korean
character sets.
Tips on font size problems from
Netscape.
Wordperfect for Linux -- Fonts
and Printers by Rod Smith, the author of
Using Corel Wordperfect 8 for Linux
from Que. Excellent information on Wordperfect and where TrueType fits in.
XFree86 Project, the guys and gals
who do an incredible amount of work to give us a killer GUI environment. Some
info on fonts in
XFree86 4.x.
Microsoft
Web Fonts direct from the Lion's den -- and they are free! If you
don't have access to a win32 system to unpack these, then get the ones
labeled for Win3.1. These can be unpacked in Linux (see above).
Web Fonts RPM package,
contains a few of the MS web browser fonts.
HP FontSmart TrueType
Fontsfrom Hewlett Packard -- Garamond, Bodoni, Dark Courier, Euro Sign
and Ozzie Black. Can be unzipped in Linux with the unzip
utility.
Freeware Connection
-- Free Fonts Sites lots of links to lots of sites.
