8

For a specific task I want to select a decent font. For that I want to compare the text “E G PM” for all my installed fonts (or even more) on a Linux system (Ubuntu in this case). Especially the bold face of a font (if it has any) will more likely match my requirements.

A quick visual viewing will probably sort 90% out already, so I was thinking of seeing a list of my string in the different font faces available on my system.

The font viewers/managers I tried are not up for the task. Which app could help me here or how can I quickly solve my problem otherwise?

The apps I tried are:

  • fontmatrix
    • version 0.6.0+svn20110930 (0.9.99)
    • a bug hinders your configured text to be shown (font name is always shown)
    • it does not show the bold face of a font in the list (just regular)
  • gnome-specimen
    • you have to add each font face individually (2-3 clicks) to seem them
    • you see substituted fonts (if glyph is not in font) without being warned/told
  • fontypython crashes at startup on this Ubuntu bionic system
  • fontmanager.app is unusable in i3 window manager
  • gwaterfall
    • text is fixed to “Lazy dog...”
    • needs each font selected individually (4 clicks at least)
  • font-manager
    • has a great browse mode, but in that mode it doesn’t show your own text (only font name)
  • gnome-font-viewer can’t set text
  • typecatcher
    • custom text, yes
    • shows just regular type face for each font (i.e. not bold or others)
    • requires 1 click to see the font
    • doesn’t show system fonts(?), only a big selection of downloadables
  • Opcion
    • horrible user interface
    • doesn’t show bold type face (and others) in the list
  • FontViewer
    • makes fonts look ugly (doesn’t antialias or whatnot)
    • no list, no bold face
  • kfontview
    • doesn’t find system fonts itself (select font with “Open...” on a font file)
    • doesn’t do lists of fonts
4
  • FontBase seems to have the features you need fontba.se
    – catemperor
    Aug 22, 2019 at 15:45
  • @contemplator Not bad. It does not load system fonts, though. Aug 22, 2019 at 22:13
  • yeah, you need to manually add them, drag and drop the /usr/share/fonts folder into the app window.
    – catemperor
    Aug 23, 2019 at 5:16
  • @contemplator took like 10min to add /usr/share (~900 font files) Aug 24, 2019 at 23:26

1 Answer 1

3

I've installed Fontvuer under 18.04 and it's working pretty good.

It installs as a snap application.

Fontvuer Screenshot

2
  • At the top I see “400(Normal)”. Does that mean it shows only one font face per font (and not all it contains)? And the other way around: if you set it to “900” it still shows all fonts, even if they have no bold face (by showing the regular face)? May 13, 2020 at 0:03
  • @RobertSiemer Yes (it will only show one face) and Yes (It will show the regular face if doesn't have any other). The "I" Button is better: You will get the Italic face for those that support it and a yellow warning mark for the others.
    – MadMike
    May 13, 2020 at 2:46

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .