Font compatibility problems.

[daledavies]

Ive come across a problem when designing my latest website hosting, this has only really dawned on me since I started using Ubuntu a month or so ago. The problem is quite simple, and really makes perfect sense. However Im struggling to find a good solution.

So, as many of you know, we only really have a limited amount of fonts available for use in HTML based website hostings. Those are mainly Arial, Tahoma and Veranda. Most of these however are "Windows" true type fonts and are not fully cross platform compatible, Ive noticed when using Firefox in Ubuntu (GNOME) that the default font looks a bit like arial, but is actually a LOT wider! This means that even if I spend hours making my typeface look nice using CSS and it looks brill in Windows, things can get pretty messed up when the website hosting is viewed on another OS.

So, Ive been reading up on font embedding, which seems like it should be a simple thing, but it dopesnt seem to be so well supported throughout a large range of browsers. Also there are issues with copyright of fonts.

So anyways, Im actually using Arial as the default font for my new website hosting, but this obviously does not come with Ubuntu, so the typface looks completely wrong.

Has anybody got a solution?

Thanks

[esnail]

I would stick with Arial - all but the simplest of website hostings will have some differences when viewed in different browsers and different operating systems - the mac for instance always makes Arial look a little bolder than windows (and much more attractive in my view). If you design your website hosting using ems rather than pixels, then at least any differences will be accommodated for in relation to the rest of your design, should the fonts prove to be considerably different from that which you'd envisaged.
Other than that, vive la diffrence!!

out of interest, does verdana come with ubuntu? If so you could list that as you secondary font in your css. Statistcally, most people will be viewing your website hosting on windows, unless you have a very specific target audience - so at least most people will be viewing your website hosting as you'd wish them to.

[daledavies]

Veranda unfortunately doesnt come with Ubuntu, nor Arial. As I mentioned the default font in Firefox on Ubuntu looks a lot like Arial but is a LOT wider, which causes obvious problems.

Does Arial come as standard on a Mac? If so then I guess this is the best to use, but Im very concerned about the lack of standard fully cross-platform compatible fonts. Its annoying me that I may now have to reconsider the layout of certain parts of the website hosting just because Ubuntu does not have the same default fonts

[esnail]

arial does come as standard on macs. I was thinking though - ubuntu - even though it is aimed at newbie linux users, still demands a fair amount of computer savviness, so its not unreasonable to suggest that ubuntu users install the font pack that will give them arial. Pretty much the entire web uses arial or times-new-roman (or helvetica/Times mac equivalents) so if linux users want to enjoy a good web experience they really ought to be urged to install these font packs - which are shipped with the ubuntu disc - but as you say, not installed by default.

[daledavies]

Do you think then that I need not worry too much, as most Linux users would probably have arial or a suitable equivalent unstalled in order to get a good web experience?

Its just I feel uncomfortable knowing that problem exists and not taking steps to overcome it.

[esnail]

I understand your concerns - but web design/development is not perfect by any means but you have to work to your target audience. If that is mostly linux users then create a website hosting that looks great on linux and readable on all other platforms. If the website hosting if for a wider, more general audience then make sure the website hosting looks and behaves well on the major browsers and platforms and place the most favourable linux font as your third preference when you specify the CSS rule i.e. body{font-family:Arial, Helvetica, [linux font];} - this should provide the most accessible solution for all platforms and those Linux users who haven't installed font-packs will be presented with the fonts that you specify as your linux preferred. Ubuntu will ignore Arial, will ignore Helvetica (useful for the older macs) and display the linux font of your choice.
I think that's the way I would go in your situation..

[daledavies]

Sound, thanks for the advice