Peterborough Linux User Group (Canada) Forum

Linux & Android => Articles, Tutorials and Tips => Topic started by: Jason on August 24, 2023, 05:03:40 PM

Title: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: Jason on August 24, 2023, 05:03:40 PM
I tried out the steps in this article to install a font for LibreOffice and it works. I also looked int the font settings for Plasma and the fonts are available there, too.

I'm using Plasma with openSUSE Tumbleweed but it should work with any Linux distro. If you try it and it works, let us know what you are using just to confirm.

Note that there is a typo in the article on Step 2. They incorrectly give the directory of /user/share/fonts/googlefonts which should be /usr/share/fonts/googlefonts. So the correct line, for the copy-paste smarties among you, should read:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/share/fonts/googlefonts

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-install-free-google-fonts-on-linux-and-why-you-should/
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: fox on August 29, 2023, 01:06:59 PM
Any particular Google fonts that you recommend?
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: Jason on August 29, 2023, 04:31:00 PM
Quote from: fox on August 29, 2023, 01:06:59 PMAny particular Google fonts that you recommend?

This will be a boring answer but I only briefly scrolled the list for something I could use to test the instructions. I settled on 'Handjet (https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Handjet?category=Display,Monospace&subset=latin&noto.script=Latn)'. It reminds me of the look of the output on the dot matrix I had with my first PC back in the late 80s. But I'm not really sure where I'd use it.

The handwriting ones (https://fonts.google.com/?category=Handwriting&subset=latin&noto.script=Latn) tend to catch my eye. However, I don't know where I'd use them unless I was hosting a dinner party.

I'm terrible at choosing fonts. I could spend hours just looking at them. Every font has a feel to it, it guides you in how to interpret the message. But it's hard for me to choose the font that feels right for me although I can often rule out ones that don't. If you're just looking for fonts to give your desktop (i.e. not documents) a different look, just pick anything that fancies you and see how it looks. If it's a document font, that depends on the audience. There's a whole science and art behind typography.
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: ssfc72 on August 30, 2023, 07:48:08 AM
Thanks Jason for your post about Linux Fonts and the Link to the article.

I read the article and have book marked the instructions for perhaps, future use.
I never bother much with using different fonts but the instructions are good to know, in case I need some unique type of font.
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: buster on August 30, 2023, 09:41:42 AM


Helvitica and Italics walk into a bar and order a drink.

The bartender said, "Sorry, but we don't serve your type in here!"
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: ssfc72 on August 30, 2023, 04:05:48 PM
Such discrimination! :-)
Title: Re: How to install free Google fonts on Linux (ZDnet)
Post by: Jason on August 30, 2023, 06:51:34 PM
Quote from: buster on August 30, 2023, 09:41:42 AMHelvitica and Italics walk into a bar and order a drink.

The bartender said, "Sorry, but we don't serve your type in here!"

Flattery will get you nowhere but a Star Wars reference will get you a second date.  ;)