Issues Using Free Font With Sprite

[audreylim]

I'm trying to display changing numbers without flickering. Following this example and using NotoSans font worked:

https://github.com/Bodmer/TFT_eSPI/blob/master/examples/Smooth%20Fonts/FLASH_Array/Font_Demo_4_Array/Font_Demo_4_Array.ino

  spr.loadFont(AA_FONT_LARGE);
  spr.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(0, 95); 
  spr.printToSprite("123");
  spr.unloadFont();

However when trying to use free font, the following didn't work:

 #define FF_LARGE &FreeSans18pt7b

  tft.setFreeFont(FF_LARGE);
  spr.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE, TFT_BLACK);
  spr.drawString("123", 0, 95, GFXFF);

and

  #define FF_LARGE &FreeSans18pt7b

  tft.setFreeFont(FF_LARGE);
  tft.setCursor(0, 95); 
  spr.printToSprite("123");

Is it possible to use free font with sprites? What am I missing?

[Bodmer]

I suspect if you use:

spr.setFreeFont(FF_LARGE);

It will work.

Since the text is printed in the sprite first, it is the sprite that needs to have the font loaded.

I know this can get confusing...

[audreylim]

Oh, yes I also tried spr.setFreeFont(FF_LARGE) and it didn't work...

[Bodmer]

Ah, yes. I have just checked and printToSprite only works for smooth fonts!

You can print a free font in a sprite that has already been created.

Example here.

[audreylim]

That works, thank you! It'll be great if printToSprite supports free fonts too.

[Bodmer]

I tend to add features to support my own projects and I got lazy when I added printToSprite. I will add to my (long) to do list!

[audreylim]

Ah yes, no worries and thank you for sharing your library! :)