Using Ubuntu 16.04 (probably works in all supported versions), I edited ~/.bashrc
and just before terminal splash at end of file, inserted the setfont
command:
# Set font when running in console
/bin/setfont /usr/share/consolefonts/Lat2-Terminus32x16.psf.gz
# Splash Calendar and time
now
# ASCII Linux distribution display
screenfetch
Now when selected Ctrl+Alt+F1 through Ctrl+Alt+F6 and get nice big fonts.
This is the largest font available and you can see a complete list with ls
command:
$ ls /usr/share/consolefonts
Arabic-Fixed15.psf.gz Lat15-Terminus20x10.psf.gz
Arabic-Fixed16.psf.gz Lat15-Terminus22x11.psf.gz
Arabic-VGA14.psf.gz Lat15-Terminus24x12.psf.gz
(... SNIP ...)
Lat15-Terminus14.psf.gz Vietnamese-Fixed16.psf.gz
Lat15-Terminus16.psf.gz Vietnamese-Fixed18.psf.gz
Sample screen
This is a facsimile, not a true screen capture from console where screen is wider by 20% and background is black:

Prior to changes I couldn't read the screen on HDPI monitor.