If you’ve been using Ubuntu for a while and noticed that the option for fractional scaling isn’t showing up, you ain’t alone, dear. Now, fractional scaling can be a tricky thing, and it’s not always as smooth as you’d hope. But don’t you worry, I’m here to tell you a few things about it, in case you’re having trouble with it on your Ubuntu machine.
First off, let’s talk about what fractional scaling is. You see, on your computer screen, the display needs to be just the right size so you can see things without squinting or straining your eyes. Normally, computers use full integer scaling, like 100%, 200%, or 300%—simple numbers, easy to understand. But sometimes, you need something in between, like 125% or 175%. That’s where fractional scaling comes in. It lets you use those in-between numbers, so you don’t have to deal with stuff being too big or too small.
Now, if you’re wondering why you can’t find that option for fractional scaling on your Ubuntu, I’ll tell you—it ain’t easy, especially on older versions. But if you’ve got Ubuntu 20.04 or newer, it’s much simpler, I promise you. You just need to head into your Display settings, and there you’ll find the option to turn on fractional scaling. It’s a little switch that you just toggle, and then, voila! You can choose those in-between scale options like 125% or 175%, if that’s what you need. Simple, right?
But let me tell you, it ain’t always perfect. You see, fractional scaling doesn’t always work well with every single display or program, especially when it comes to GTK-based apps. GTK’s been pretty stubborn about supporting fractional scaling properly. They’ve made it pretty clear that they ain’t gonna fix it anytime soon. So, what this means is that some things might still look a bit off when you enable fractional scaling. It’s like trying to force a square peg into a round hole—sometimes it fits, and sometimes it don’t.
Now, if you’ve got a fancy 4K display, you might be thinking you need all that extra scaling power. Well, you might be right! For 4K screens, setting the display to 200% scaling will double the size of everything on your screen. It can make things a lot easier to read and use. To do this, just go into the display settings, pick the 200% option, and hit apply. It should be pretty straightforward. But for smaller screens, like 2K ones, that’s a whole different story. You might find yourself fiddling with it a bit, trying to find that sweet spot.
One thing you gotta keep in mind, though, is that fractional scaling works much better when you stick to full integer scaling options. That’s 100%, 200%, 300%, all those simple numbers. When you start playing with odd percentages like 125%, your computer has to do extra work to adjust things, and it ain’t always perfect. Sometimes things get blurry or fuzzy. It’s like trying to use an old-fashioned sewing machine to stitch a new dress—it doesn’t always turn out the way you want it.
So, what should you do if you can’t find fractional scaling? First off, make sure you’re using a recent version of Ubuntu. If you’re still using an older version, you might be out of luck. For Ubuntu 20.04 and newer, go to your settings, then the Display settings. Look for a switch that says “Enable Fractional Scaling.” Toggle it on, and you should be good to go.
If it still ain’t working, well, there’s another trick up your sleeve. You can use the Gnome Tweaks tool, a little tool that gives you more control over things like fonts, themes, and yes, scaling. You’ll find it by searching for “Tweaks” in your applications. Once you’re in there, look for the Display settings and tweak the scaling options until you get it just right. Sometimes it’s all about trial and error, and believe me, I’ve spent many a night fiddling with settings before getting things right.
In conclusion, fractional scaling can be a little frustrating, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to use it just fine. Don’t expect everything to work perfectly every time, especially if you’re using older apps or a display that doesn’t quite match the scaling options. But if you keep at it, you’ll find a solution that works best for you. And remember, when in doubt, just stick with the simple stuff—those full integer scaling options are your friends.
Tags：[fractional scaling, Ubuntu, 4K display, GTK, scaling options, display settings, Gnome Tweaks]
