GIMP :: Adding Text To Graphics - Fonts Suddenly Too Narrow

I had been using 2.8.0, adding some text to graphics. I came back from a brief break, and the next time I added text, the font was extremely narrow, to the point that it was illegible.

At first I tried simply shutting GIMP down and restarting. No such luck. Next, I uninstalled GIMP, then I ran CCleaner to get rid of any residual files and settings, then I reinstalled GIMP, still using the 2.8.0 Windows installer, and still, the issue persisted.

** EDIT ** I tested ALL fonts, the problems happens with each one.

So I uninstalled again, did the CCleaner thing, then downloaded and installed 2.8.8, and the problem still persists.

Again, fonts and texts had been working without an issue all day. I stepped away from my PC to get food. There was no one in the house that could have messed with any settings, no pets to accidentally press keys or anything like that.

I am at a complete loss. I've looked at every possible setting I could think of that could possibly impact how fonts are rendered, and changing settings still does nothing.

I have found an inconvenient workaround for this problem, but at least I can now get some work done.

The problem still occurs when I try to insert text into an EXISTING image, but if a create a NEW IMAGE with a background color, text displays and renders as it should. If I choose a transparent background, I still get the problem with the text rendering too narrow to be legible.

So something about existing images and/or transparent backgrounds contributes to this issue. But as long as I create my text layer in a new image, I can then just copy and paste that layer into the image I want to edit, and I can even edit the text once it has been pasted without problems.

Still, this is very inconvenient, especially when I am trying to place text in precise positions.