Text Suddenly too Small

[Tira]

Randomly, for some reason, my mac decided that it liked making random texts super small. I'm pretty new to macs, so I'm stumped.

I tried finding answers online, and every time I hunt, it says to turn off my text smoothing, yet it never tells how. Is that even the issue? Here is what my screen looks like. All the text on my photoshop is WAY too small to read so I can't work on it! And when I try to rename a file, can't read it. I can't even read my iTunes anymore!

Someone..please help this poor girl.. =< I don't know what else to do.

 

[frankmezz]

you can search this forum for "bad fonts". I did and found this link which might be helpful

Apple - Pro - Tips - Checking for Bad Fonts

 

[Tira]

hmm. i just spent close to an hour validating my fonts and they all seem to be ok. i guess that wasn't the problem. =/

 

[louishen]

How many fonts do you have installed, and what do you use to manage your fonts

sounds like a font conflict

 

[chscag]

Randomly, for some reason, my mac decided that it liked making random texts super small. I'm pretty new to macs, so I'm stumped.

I tried finding answers online, and every time I hunt, it says to turn off my text smoothing, yet it never tells how. Is that even the issue? Here is what my screen looks like. All the text on my photoshop is WAY too small to read so I can't work on it! And when I try to rename a file, can't read it. I can't even read my iTunes anymore!

Someone..please help this poor girl.. =< I don't know what else to do.

It almost looks like OS X is using a small system font other than the normal average medium font. I can only surmise that perhaps some program you installed changed the system font although that doesn't seem likely. The system font is pre-set and can not be changed by the user.

For text smoothing, open system preferences, click on Appearance. Select the text size and below for which you want to turn off text smoothing. It will be at the bottom of the dialog.

Also try this: As a test, create another account. Call it "Test" or whatever. Log off your normal account and log on to the newly created account. Does the text likewise appear small? Post back.

I just thought of something: Right click with your mouse or trackpad on empty space on the desktop. A dialog box will appear. Select "Show view options". Another dialog will appear. What text size is listed? It should be "12".

Regards.

 

[Tira]

It almost looks like OS X is using a small system font other than the normal average medium font. I can only surmise that perhaps some program you installed changed the system font although that doesn't seem likely. The system font is pre-set and can not be changed by the user.

For text smoothing, open system preferences, click on Appearance. Select the text size and below for which you want to turn off text smoothing. It will be at the bottom of the dialog.

Also try this: As a test, create another account. Call it "Test" or whatever. Log off your normal account and log on to the newly created account. Does the text likewise appear small? Post back.

I just thought of something: Right click with your mouse or trackpad on empty space on the desktop. A dialog box will appear. Select "Show view options". Another dialog will appear. What text size is listed? It should be "12".

Regards.

so i tried everything you mentioned. everything was fine really. i DID try the test account and even logged on to other accounts on my computer and they all seem fine. i must be the only one having the problem. should i delete this account? if so that's going to be a lot of files to transfer. =/

 

[osxx]

IN Safari under preferences under advanced could you select never use a font
size smaller than ______ you select the number I have mine set to 12.

 

[a4 abt]

maybe you zoomed with the trackpad accidentally!?!

 

[Tira]

i don't really use safari so i don't think that'd be it. i did check it out though and it's set to 12 as well. hmm.

and if i zoomed with the trackpad, how do i zoom out? again, new with macs. ^^;

 

[osxx]

If its too small you did not zoom it will tell you about how to use that function
in system references under track pad since you don't use Safari did you look
for a similar feature in the browser you are using.

 

[Tira]

If its too small you did not zoom it will tell you about how to use that function
in system references under track pad since you don't use Safari did you look
for a similar feature in the browser you are using.

yeah. looked up the preferences on my web browser. it's set to 16 there. even if it was just that, why would my other programs be like that as well?

 

[chscag]

so i tried everything you mentioned. everything was fine really. i DID try the test account and even logged on to other accounts on my computer and they all seem fine. i must be the only one having the problem. should i delete this account? if so that's going to be a lot of files to transfer. =/

It sure looks like your account has gotten messed up somehow. Perhaps as I stated above - some program, or even an update that didn't go right. Deleting the account you're using could be dangerous and cause problems if you're not careful. Be sure you make a complete backup of your entire hard drive before attempting it.

Regards.