Hi all, I do hope you don't mind helping me. I'm running GIMP on Unbuntu 16 and I cannot get anything but a 'sans' font. I've been trying to read about it and check my fonts directory and added directories with truetype fonts but it is still not picking anything up. Is there anything else I should be doing?

Welcome to GimpChat, HenryM!. I would love to help but I do not use Unbuntu. However, I am certain that we have some members that do and will be along to help you. This is a friendly group. Everybody helps each other!

I am on windows.
But it should come with a bunch of fonts available
did you click on the highlighted A (see below image).

Welcome to Gimp Chat, HenryM!

I'm running Fedora 23, and I imagine we have similar folders.

In your home/<name>/.fonts folder, are there any fonts?

Also, in your home/<name>/.gimp2.8/fonts folder are there any fonts?

I've found if I download a font, open the zip file (before downloading it all the way) double-click the font, I get a choice to install it. It installs in my home/<name>/.fonts folder which is accessible by Gimp.

Answer back and let me know. If you go to http://www.dafont.com and download a font, you should get a choice to open the zip file, then double-click the font file.

Much the same as previous posts

Are you also a newbie to linux as well as Gimp? You might be better off asking on an ubuntu forum.

This is my Kubuntu 16.04 laptop and Gimp 2.8.18

You will probably be using the Gimp 2.8.16 from the ubuntu xenial repo, but that is ok.

When you say you can 'not get anything but a sans font' does this mean the drop down list in the font tool options is empty?

If it is, look in Edit -> Preferences -> Folders -> Fonts and there should be two locations, one in your home directory and the other in the gimp root share. Both of these are initially empty. All you get are the system fonts. If you added folders containing fonts you need to add the location there as well.

First thing to try, put some of those fonts into your home gimp profile ~/.gimp-2.8/fonts This is a hidden folder. Turn on show hidden files in your file manager (shortcut alt. (alt dot))
Start Gimp. Do you see those fonts in the font list.
No? then something is really wrong with your installation.

You could try deleting your Gimp profile ~/.gimp-2.8 then reinstalling Gimp. Sometimes fixes a broken package.

... also, you probably need to install mscorefonts. Those are the common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Comic Sans, etc.

Here is how they tell you to do it in an Ubuntu forum:

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1089577

Welcome to Gimp Chat HenryM

Thanks for help everyone. I wasn't even getting the dropdown selection box. However, having added the font directories to the GIMP path, I've rebooted the laptop overnight and the fonts are now there so my bad, I'm sorry not doing something so simple and thank you

Sometimes the best lessons are the ones that make you cringe.

Gimp learning goes on and on, and no matter how much you learn about it, there's still something more to learn.

Glad to see you got your fonts HenryM and welcome to Gimp Chat.

I agree!

Welcome, HenryM!

Welcome to Gimp Chat, HenryM