OK, I've just compiled freetype 2.8.1 from the latest source https://sourceforge.net/projects/freetype/files/freetype2/2.8.1/
and re-pointed the `libfreetype.so.6` link to a newly built .SO-file. I restarted the system and the hinting started working great. So, apparently only the 2.8.0 version of "freetype" is affected. Unfortunately, this is the version that's going to be shipped with Artful. ** Description changed: It appears that font hinting in 17.10 (beta) doesn't work as expected. The issue is easy to miss if you have antialiasing enabled system-wise. However, if you install "gnome-tweak-tool" and disable antialiasing there, the problem becomes obvious. Here is how it looks on 17.10 beta: https://postimg.org/image/3auqsbkqtn/ And here is how it looks on my 16.04 machine (and this is pretty much how it's supposed to look): https://postimg.org/image/85n5ss3l4b/ * When comparing the pictures make sure you "Open image in new tab" and see them without browser zoom, otherwise the problem may no be obvious. I suspect that this issue is caused by a bug in some base font rendering - package that Ubuntu uses. A couple of months ago a similar issue was - reported (and promptly fixed) in Chromium after they had changed - something in FreeType rendering + package that Ubuntu uses (edit: the problem is probably caused by + FreeType 2.8.0, see my comments below). A couple of months ago a similar + issue was reported (and promptly fixed) in Chromium after they had + changed something in FreeType rendering (https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=748997). - lsb_release -rd Description: Ubuntu Artful Aardvark (development branch) Release: 17.10 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1722508 Title: Font hinting appears broken on 17.10 beta To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/freetype/+bug/1722508/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs