I forgot to mention: it does not make any difference whether I turn Hardware Accelaration on or off.

Check with your font options

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-fonts-and-colors-websites-use

What should I check in my font options?

check whether its uses default font

I am using Verdana (16 pt), but it also happens with the default font.

If you zoom pages then the result can always be unpredictable.

Does this only happen if you zoom the page, either will a full and with a text zoom (Zoom Text Only)?

Does this also happen with these extensions?

• Default FullZoom Level: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/default-fullzoom-level/
• NoSquint: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/nosquint/

You can alternatively set a larger default minimum font size, but this can cause issues with overlapping or disappearing text on pages that use absolute values for container height.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Changing+fonts+and+colors

I have this problem too. I tried many settings, direct draw, hardware acceleration etc, but it does not help. The only solution for now is to revert back to Firefox 17. I wonder why there is no massive outrage on the internets. Everyone uses Gmail, right? And Gmail fonts are broken too.

No, it happens with random sites for me. I never use zoom. For example, it happens on twitter, when I expand a tweet. Suddenly all the fonts become messed up. And it happens on other sites too. I tried fixes, found on the internet, but none of them worked. It seems to be some rare and dependable bug. My system: Xubuntu 12.04.1, amd64, FF 18.0.1. There is no problem on Windows, btw.

For me, the problem has been solved with an upgrade to Firefox 18.0.1.

Nah, didn't work. That's why I'm here. I thought update will fix this bug, but now I'm sure it's not.

Hi, i have the same problem as Awawa, and i have the same system. Xubuntu 12.04.1 i686. Hope we can find a fix, don't want to move to another browser.

i also have an issue with blurry fonts in linux (gentoo x86 in both firefox (compiled from source) and firefox-bin (official binaries from mozilla.org) packages). gmail in ff17 vs gmail in ff18 below:

Strange, for me (Gentoo x86_64, stable), I only get that problem with the "firefox" package. "firefox-bin" works fine.

Oh! I forgot to mention, I am using freetype-2.4.11 *with infinality patches*. Maybe that's the point.

This is a change in FF 18, so it's not a hardware acceleration problem. By blurred I assume the original poster means jagged. At least that's what I have on a few web sites that use a sans serif font.

I do NOT want to override all site defined fonts. That ruins some web pages. The Hardware acceleration setting has no effect. I can live with the jagged fonts on the few sites affected, but it's not pleasant.

It looks like the fonts are being displayed without benefit of font smoothing. In any case it's a new "feature" of FF 18 (currently 18.0.1).

Found a solution. I've installed Firefox 19 beta, and all is ok for now, i hope this feature doesn't come back with the Firefox 19 release. My system is Xubuntu 12.04.01.

Edit: Switched to Debian Linux but the problem still remains with Firefox 18, the Firefox 19 beta seems to be working.

same with larophel here: i am using gentoo x86_64, it seems the problem only happens in my firefox (compiled from source), while in firefox-bin fonts are fine

even with fox 19 beta?

i only tried firefox 18.0.1

Try 19 beta, or downgrade to 17, until the 19 comes out, if you don't like to use beta stuff. Cheers!