First thing, the introductory page under the "supported by you" tab has text in boxes like there's a missing font, or font replacement. Do I need to have my Mac Font Book or other font manager launched prior to launching Inkscape? It doesn't seem to make any difference. Does Inkscape require specific fonts to work? TIA
I am a Windows user but Polygon is razor sharp in his ideas and with Mac assistance.
Have you tried un-installing Inkscape and re-instslling it. Also, what Mac version do you use? What zinkscape version? If there are multiple package versions accessible, which one or ones have you tried,?
Ok - suggesting something not accessible due not readable GUI wasn't a clever idea I have to admit and I don't have access to my Mac recently - so I can't lead you to the "Reset-Preferences-button" via screenshots unfortunately. @Hum's questions are valid of course.
Yes, I did. Tried two different most recent applicable Mac OS versions. I'm running a brand new (March 2023) Mac mini with Ventura 13.5.2. Inkscape version is 1.3.0. I can't try his suggestions if I can't read the text substituted with united squares. I tried turning on all system fonts including Helvetica regular in Font Book. Another thread suggests Inkscape use Arial as they're having problems as well. I'm old school and when this issue arises it usually was a font issue, but with these newer OS I'm at a loss.
Another thought or two. Is Inkscape the only software where you are having font issues? Have you even tried a recent, prior version of Inkscape as a test? Such as version 1.22 to see if the fonts are legible and accessible?
Have there been any recent Mac system updates (to rule our the possibility or an issue from that side).
Also. For Windows, there is a portable version that can be installed. I do not know if such an application exists for Mac users. My thought is to try each particular version (package installation version) for version 1.3 and for a prior version such as 1.22. In order to compare and narrow down where the issue might be.
Inkscape is the only application I have had font issues with so far. Older versions were not compatible with Mac OS Ventura. I tried the two Mac versions for 1.3 and Both of them had the same issue. I did just recently update OS to 13.5.2. According to Apple it was a security update. I really think it's an issue with Font Book not activating the necessary fonts that Inkscape is calling for. This was a feature I loved in Font Explorer; It would tell you what fonts were needed for an app or document and give you the option to open them, and if you didn't have the fonts, it would substitute but tell you the name of them so you could get them and load them. But thanks for giving this some thought!
Sorry for the difficulties you are experiencing here. Perhaps another Mac Inkscape user could try out the same font or fonts you are using to learn if they also are having issues. It may lead to some clarity or help.
Also. In the past, when having some issues with unique fonts within Inkscape but not in other software ... I have found that I can create the font letters or wording or verbiage within those software's and either copy them into memory and paste them into Inkscape and do tweaking. Or by using a screen capture application. I can copy it and paste it into Inkscape and use Trace Bitmap. Not the most elegant solution per se but it does allow one to utilize a font of sorts inside Inkscape.
I have found I can copy and paste from text editors and programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel and so on.
Beginners' Questions First off, what's with the fonts?
Inkscape.org
First thing, the introductory page under the "supported by you" tab has text in boxes like there's a missing font, or font replacement. Do I need to have my Mac Font Book or other font manager launched prior to launching Inkscape? It doesn't seem to make any difference. Does Inkscape require specific fonts to work? TIA
Can you please check if there's something you can benefit from this thread? https://inkscape.org/forums/questions/question-about-v130/
Tried all their suggestions and it didn't fix the issue. No answers. At this point Inkscape is a bust if I can't read anything on my screen.
And going Inkscape Preferences->System hit Reset Preferences and restart Inkscape doesn't help either?
It is inaccessible since I can not read what it says. I open Inkscape and pull down to settings and I get this (screenshot) then it crashes.
I am a Windows user but Polygon is razor sharp in his ideas and with Mac assistance.
Have you tried un-installing Inkscape and re-instslling it. Also, what Mac version do you use? What zinkscape version? If there are multiple package versions accessible, which one or ones have you tried,?
Ok - suggesting something not accessible due not readable GUI wasn't a clever idea I have to admit and I don't have access to my Mac recently - so I can't lead you to the "Reset-Preferences-button" via screenshots unfortunately. @Hum's questions are valid of course.
Yes, I did. Tried two different most recent applicable Mac OS versions. I'm running a brand new (March 2023) Mac mini with Ventura 13.5.2. Inkscape version is 1.3.0. I can't try his suggestions if I can't read the text substituted with united squares. I tried turning on all system fonts including Helvetica regular in Font Book. Another thread suggests Inkscape use Arial as they're having problems as well. I'm old school and when this issue arises it usually was a font issue, but with these newer OS I'm at a loss.
Another thought or two. Is Inkscape the only software where you are having font issues? Have you even tried a recent, prior version of Inkscape as a test? Such as version 1.22 to see if the fonts are legible and accessible?
Have there been any recent Mac system updates (to rule our the possibility or an issue from that side).
Also. For Windows, there is a portable version that can be installed. I do not know if such an application exists for Mac users. My thought is to try each particular version (package installation version) for version 1.3 and for a prior version such as 1.22. In order to compare and narrow down where the issue might be.
Inkscape is the only application I have had font issues with so far. Older versions were not compatible with Mac OS Ventura. I tried the two Mac versions for 1.3 and Both of them had the same issue. I did just recently update OS to 13.5.2. According to Apple it was a security update. I really think it's an issue with Font Book not activating the necessary fonts that Inkscape is calling for. This was a feature I loved in Font Explorer; It would tell you what fonts were needed for an app or document and give you the option to open them, and if you didn't have the fonts, it would substitute but tell you the name of them so you could get them and load them. But thanks for giving this some thought!
Sorry for the difficulties you are experiencing here. Perhaps another Mac Inkscape user could try out the same font or fonts you are using to learn if they also are having issues. It may lead to some clarity or help.
Also. In the past, when having some issues with unique fonts within Inkscape but not in other software ... I have found that I can create the font letters or wording or verbiage within those software's and either copy them into memory and paste them into Inkscape and do tweaking. Or by using a screen capture application. I can copy it and paste it into Inkscape and use Trace Bitmap. Not the most elegant solution per se but it does allow one to utilize a font of sorts inside Inkscape.
I have found I can copy and paste from text editors and programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel and so on.
Mayne these thoughts will help you.
Here´s a similar issue with GIMP and fonts/Apple´s FontBook and a possible solution: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gimp/-/issues/7589#note_1444703