diff --git a/src/g_all_guis.c b/src/g_all_guis.c
index d520603e861c2416f7eeb27127b40ebf01afa6bf..6f196e343f0aa9cd457acf305d00f739ce0c441a 100644
--- a/src/g_all_guis.c
+++ b/src/g_all_guis.c
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ void iemgui_label_font(void *x, t_iemgui *iemgui, t_symbol *s, int ac, t_atom *a
         f = 4;
     iemgui->x_fontsize = f;
     if(glist_isvisible(iemgui->x_glist))
-        sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s}\n",
+        sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s}\n",
                  glist_getcanvas(iemgui->x_glist), x, iemgui->x_font, 
                  iemgui->x_fontsize, sys_fontweight);
 }
diff --git a/src/g_bang.c b/src/g_bang.c
index d02c20f5578359c84cac3f9ff398b903592695f7..1e5d6604fcd2762aa788a1cb1cbc4ecb4470a631 100644
--- a/src/g_bang.c
+++ b/src/g_bang.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ void bng_draw_new(t_bng *x, t_glist *glist)
              xpos + x->x_gui.x_w-1, ypos + x->x_gui.x_h-1,
              x->x_flashed?x->x_gui.x_fcol:x->x_gui.x_bcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx,
              ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ void bng_draw_config(t_bng* x, t_glist* glist)
 {
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_graph.c b/src/g_graph.c
index 88a98d62555aa49f62c05da0f5390bfc0a51e073..9b69fe711cfcae40106c12625d66cc26ad7b7973 100644
--- a/src/g_graph.c
+++ b/src/g_graph.c
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ static void graph_vis(t_gobj *gr, t_glist *parent_glist, int vis)
         {
             i -= sys_fontheight(glist_getfont(x));
             sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor nw\
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -tags %s\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -tags %s\n",
              (long)glist_getcanvas(x),  x1, i, arrayname->s_name, sys_font,
                 sys_hostfontsize(glist_getfont(x)), sys_fontweight, tag);
         }
@@ -823,7 +823,7 @@ static void graph_vis(t_gobj *gr, t_glist *parent_glist, int vis)
             /* draw x labels */
         for (i = 0; i < x->gl_nxlabels; i++)
             sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text\
-        %d %d -text {%s} -font {{%s} %d %s} -tags %s\n",
+        %d %d -text {%s} -font {{%s} -%d %s} -tags %s\n",
                 glist_getcanvas(x),
                 (int)glist_xtopixels(x, atof(x->gl_xlabel[i]->s_name)),
                 (int)glist_ytopixels(x, x->gl_xlabely),
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ static void graph_vis(t_gobj *gr, t_glist *parent_glist, int vis)
             /* draw y labels */
         for (i = 0; i < x->gl_nylabels; i++)
             sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text\
-        %d %d -text {%s} -font {{%s} %d %s} -tags %s\n",
+        %d %d -text {%s} -font {{%s} -%d %s} -tags %s\n",
                 glist_getcanvas(x),
                 (int)glist_xtopixels(x, x->gl_ylabelx),
                 (int)glist_ytopixels(x, atof(x->gl_ylabel[i]->s_name)),
diff --git a/src/g_hdial.c b/src/g_hdial.c
index 64b0711e2b57a295f6b9612db583740e6319a27a..b08209f92211da8bf378508b05bfd388fdd75ce5 100644
--- a/src/g_hdial.c
+++ b/src/g_hdial.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void hradio_draw_new(t_hradio *x, t_glist *glist)
         x->x_drawn = x->x_on;
     }
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xx11b+x->x_gui.x_ldx, yy11+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void hradio_draw_config(t_hradio* x, t_glist* glist)
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
     int n=x->x_number, i;
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_hslider.c b/src/g_hslider.c
index b5b44698783cda431d7819e61fc73f8ae82ee87e..3d0720943df460f484063c0dcb0c32f5457ffdd0 100644
--- a/src/g_hslider.c
+++ b/src/g_hslider.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static void hslider_draw_new(t_hslider *x, t_glist *glist)
              canvas, r, ypos+1, r,
              ypos + x->x_gui.x_h, x->x_gui.x_fcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx,
              ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static void hslider_draw_config(t_hslider* x,t_glist* glist)
 {
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_mycanvas.c b/src/g_mycanvas.c
index 2dbf91f365af1ad9ce80a132169e065bc33446d2..1040c11fdd852473188b9cf2c729b2df985a5972 100644
--- a/src/g_mycanvas.c
+++ b/src/g_mycanvas.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void my_canvas_draw_new(t_my_canvas *x, t_glist *glist)
              xpos + x->x_gui.x_w, ypos + x->x_gui.x_h,
              x->x_gui.x_bcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx, ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void my_canvas_draw_config(t_my_canvas* x, t_glist* glist)
              x->x_gui.x_bcol, x->x_gui.x_bcol);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxBASE -outline #%6.6x\n", canvas, x,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_bcol);
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_numbox.c b/src/g_numbox.c
index 03671e5700988c6494352bf324510fe16939e84e..87864b61fc299a8d9e0873b1d7202cf4e5e85b4c 100644
--- a/src/g_numbox.c
+++ b/src/g_numbox.c
@@ -195,14 +195,14 @@ static void my_numbox_draw_new(t_my_numbox *x, t_glist *glist)
         xpos, ypos + x->x_gui.x_h,
         x->x_gui.x_fcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-        -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+        -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
         canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx, ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
         strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
         x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_lcol, x);
     my_numbox_ftoa(x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-        -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxNUMBER\n",
+        -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxNUMBER\n",
         canvas, xpos+half+2, ypos+half+d,
         x->x_buf, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
         x->x_gui.x_fcol, x);
@@ -271,11 +271,11 @@ static void my_numbox_draw_config(t_my_numbox* x,t_glist* glist)
 {
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxNUMBER -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxNUMBER -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_fcol);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxBASE1 -fill #%6.6x\n", canvas,
diff --git a/src/g_template.c b/src/g_template.c
index 4613d4153ec301417d36737733f27cd6cd5a3599..279fa2c3eadcace6f28cb5787553d96249cad4c1 100644
--- a/src/g_template.c
+++ b/src/g_template.c
@@ -2136,7 +2136,7 @@ static void drawnumber_vis(t_gobj *z, t_glist *glist,
         drawnumber_sprintf(x, buf, &at);
         sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -anchor nw -fill %s -text {%s}",
                 glist_getcanvas(glist), xloc, yloc, colorstring, buf);
-        sys_vgui(" -font {{%s} %d %s}", sys_font,
+        sys_vgui(" -font {{%s} -%d %s}", sys_font,
                  sys_hostfontsize(glist_getfont(glist)), sys_fontweight);
         sys_vgui(" -tags drawnumber%lx\n", data);
     }
diff --git a/src/g_toggle.c b/src/g_toggle.c
index 4473adcc68d5aa32a6cb8b25ff6ece9ab77f09fe..6a71b5e11201eabab81889ac14d4917a6e05673c 100644
--- a/src/g_toggle.c
+++ b/src/g_toggle.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void toggle_draw_new(t_toggle *x, t_glist *glist)
              canvas, xx+w+1, yy + x->x_gui.x_h-w-1, xx + x->x_gui.x_w-w, yy+w, w,
              (x->x_on!=0.0)?x->x_gui.x_fcol:x->x_gui.x_bcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xx+x->x_gui.x_ldx,
              yy+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ void toggle_draw_config(t_toggle* x, t_glist* glist)
 {
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_vdial.c b/src/g_vdial.c
index 80c857f51e41a9c84d277e176c3ad5802058697e..0fa65da7a71d1b401eb387c02ac302a91a481978 100644
--- a/src/g_vdial.c
+++ b/src/g_vdial.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void vradio_draw_new(t_vradio *x, t_glist *glist)
         x->x_drawn = x->x_on;
     }
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xx11+x->x_gui.x_ldx, yy11b+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void vradio_draw_config(t_vradio* x, t_glist* glist)
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
     int n=x->x_number, i;
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight, 
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_vslider.c b/src/g_vslider.c
index e7f1a8e128acfc8d29c3ff79982f1120acb29456..c49c51f2e2ca806d8690bde008826c9e4105ed8f 100644
--- a/src/g_vslider.c
+++ b/src/g_vslider.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static void vslider_draw_new(t_vslider *x, t_glist *glist)
              canvas, xpos+1, r,
              xpos + x->x_gui.x_w, r, x->x_gui.x_fcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx, ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight, 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static void vslider_draw_config(t_vslider* x,t_glist* glist)
 {
     t_canvas *canvas=glist_getcanvas(glist);
 
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight, 
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
diff --git a/src/g_vumeter.c b/src/g_vumeter.c
index f0fb5ea50824d1b8dd9409e14ac313eac66aa9cd..6e06a967fff41d82b3356a2abc7f3d428302cc45 100644
--- a/src/g_vumeter.c
+++ b/src/g_vumeter.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static void vu_draw_new(t_vu *x, t_glist *glist)
                  canvas, quad1, yyy, quad3, yyy, x->x_led_size, iemgui_color_hex[led_col], x, i);
         if(((i+2)&3) && (x->x_scale))
             sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-                     -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
+                     -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
                      canvas, end, yyy+k3, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], 
                      x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize,
                      sys_fontweight, x->x_gui.x_lcol, x, i);
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ static void vu_draw_new(t_vu *x, t_glist *glist)
         i=IEM_VU_STEPS+1;
         yyy = k4 + k1*(k2-i);
         sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-                 -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
+                 -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
                  canvas, end, yyy+k3, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], x->x_gui.x_font, 
                  x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
                  x->x_gui.x_lcol, x, i);
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static void vu_draw_new(t_vu *x, t_glist *glist)
              canvas, mid, ypos+10,
              mid, ypos+10, x->x_led_size, x->x_gui.x_bcol, x);
     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
+             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxLABEL\n",
              canvas, xpos+x->x_gui.x_ldx, ypos+x->x_gui.x_ldy,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"",
              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ static void vu_draw_config(t_vu* x, t_glist* glist)
         sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxRLED%d -width %d\n", canvas, x, i,
                  x->x_led_size);
         if(((i+2)&3) && (x->x_scale))
-            sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxSCALE%d -text {%s} -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x\n",
+            sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxSCALE%d -text {%s} -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x\n",
                      canvas, x, i, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], x->x_gui.x_font, 
                      x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight, 
                      x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol);
@@ -285,12 +285,12 @@ static void vu_draw_config(t_vu* x, t_glist* glist)
     if(x->x_scale)
     {
         i=IEM_VU_STEPS+1;
-        sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxSCALE%d -text {%s} -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x\n",
+        sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxSCALE%d -text {%s} -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x\n",
                  canvas, x, i, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], x->x_gui.x_font, 
                  x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
                  x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol);
     }
-    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
+    sys_vgui(".x%lx.c itemconfigure %lxLABEL -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -text {%s} \n",
              canvas, x, x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
              x->x_gui.x_fsf.x_selected?IEM_GUI_COLOR_SELECTED:x->x_gui.x_lcol,
              strcmp(x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name, "empty")?x->x_gui.x_lab->s_name:"");
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ static void vu_scale(t_vu *x, t_floatarg fscale)
                 yyy = k4 + k1*(k2-i);
                 if((i+2)&3)
                     sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-                             -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
+                             -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
                              canvas, end, yyy+k3, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], 
                              x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize,
                              sys_fontweight, x->x_gui.x_lcol, x, i);
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ static void vu_scale(t_vu *x, t_floatarg fscale)
             i=IEM_VU_STEPS+1;
             yyy = k4 + k1*(k2-i);
             sys_vgui(".x%lx.c create text %d %d -text {%s} -anchor w \
-                     -font {{%s} %d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
+                     -font {{%s} -%d %s} -fill #%6.6x -tags %lxSCALE%d\n",
                      canvas, end, yyy+k3, iemgui_vu_scale_str[i], 
                      x->x_gui.x_font, x->x_gui.x_fontsize, sys_fontweight,
                      sys_fontweight, x->x_gui.x_lcol, x, i);
diff --git a/src/u_main.tk b/src/u_main.tk
index e7b520a40eb3e29f588efcad96d0f1ae9f57735a..cabec4c086963c03101e2720ae4d3437f3229246 100644
--- a/src/u_main.tk
+++ b/src/u_main.tk
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ if { $tcl_platform(platform) == "windows" }  {
     set pd_nt 1
     set defaultFontFamily {Bitstream Vera Sans Mono}
     set defaultFontWeight normal
-    font create menuFont -family Tahoma -size 11
+    font create menuFont -family Tahoma -size -11
 } elseif { $tcl_platform(os) == "Darwin" } {  
     set pd_nt 2
     set defaultFontFamily Monaco
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ if { $tcl_platform(platform) == "windows" }  {
 # tk scaling 1
 
 # this font is for the Pd Window console text
-font create console_font -family $defaultFontFamily -size 12 \
+font create console_font -family $defaultFontFamily -size -12 \
     -weight $defaultFontWeight
 # this font is for text in Pd windows
-font create text_font -family {Times} -size 14 -weight normal
+font create text_font -family {Times} -size -14 -weight normal
 # for text in Properties Panels and other panes
-font create highlight_font -family $defaultFontFamily -size 14 -weight bold
+font create highlight_font -family $defaultFontFamily -size -14 -weight bold
 
 # end Pd-extended font hacks -----------------------------