---
name: "ftview"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "freetype2-demos"
version: "2.15.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ftview"
---

# ftview(1)

simple glyph viewer

## NAME

ftview - simple glyph viewer

## SYNOPSIS

**ftview** \[*options*\] \[*pt*\] *font ...*

## DESCRIPTION

**ftview** displays all glyphs of a font, allowing changes of various rendering and hinting parameters interactively.

- **pt**

  The point size for the given resolution. If resolution is 72dpi, this directly gives the ppem value (pixels per EM).

- **font**

  The font file(s) to display. For Type 1 font files, ftview also tries to attach the corresponding metrics file (with extension \`.afm' or \`.pfm').

This program is part of the FreeType demos package.

## OPTIONS

- **-d** *W***x***H***\[x***D\]*

  Set the window width to *W* px, the height to *H* px, and optionally the depth to *D* bpp (default: 640x480x24).

- **-r** *r*

  Use resolution *r* dpi (default: 72dpi).

- **-f** *index*

  Specify first index to display (default: 0).

- **-e** *enc*

  Specify encoding tag (default: no encoding). Common values: **unic** (Unicode), **symb** (symbol), **ADOB** (Adobe standard), **ADBC** (Adobe custom), or a numeric charmap index.

- **-m** *text*

  Use *text* for rendering.

- **-l** *mode*

  Set start-up rendering mode (0 \<= *mode* \<= 6). This corresponds to the keystrokes 'A' to 'G' within the program.

- **-L** *W1***,***W2***,***W3***,***W4***,***W5*

  - **-L** *Rx***,***Ry***,***Gx***,***Gy***,***Bx***,***By*

  Depending on the implemented subpixel rendering method and the number of provided arguments, set either five LCD filter weights or six subpixel coordinates (as specified in functions **FT\_Library\_SetLcdFilterWeights** or **FT\_Library\_SetLcdGeometry** respectively).

- **-k** *keys*

  Emulate sequence of keystrokes upon start-up. If the keystrokes contain 'q', the program operates in batch mode. Function keys F*x* are mapped to character codes 0xF*x*; as an example, **-k $'\\xF3q'** is function key 'F3' followed by character 'q'.

- **-p**

  Preload file in memory to simulate memory-mapping.

- **-v**

  Show version.