diff --git a/src/Font.cpp b/src/Font.cpp
index 8ca30b1e9..5ed2372a3 100644
--- a/src/Font.cpp
+++ b/src/Font.cpp
@@ -5,31 +5,57 @@
 #include "Renderer.h"
 
 FT_Library Font::sLibrary;
+bool Font::libraryInitialized = false;
 
-int Font::getDpiX() { return 300; }
-int Font::getDpiY() { return 300; }
+int Font::getDpiX() { return 96; }
+int Font::getDpiY() { return 96; }
 
 void Font::initLibrary()
 {
 	if(FT_Init_FreeType(&sLibrary))
 	{
 		std::cerr << "Error initializing FreeType!\n";
+	}else{
+		libraryInitialized = true;
 	}
 }
 
 Font::Font(std::string path, int size)
 {
+	//register to receive init/deinit callbacks
+	Renderer::registerComponent(this);
+
+	mPath = path;
+	mSize = size;
+
+	onInit();
+}
+
+void Font::onInit()
+{
+	if(!libraryInitialized)
+		initLibrary();
+
 	mMaxGlyphHeight = 0;
 
-	if(FT_New_Face(sLibrary, path.c_str(), 0, &face))
+	if(FT_New_Face(sLibrary, mPath.c_str(), 0, &face))
 	{
-		std::cerr << "Error creating font face! (path: " << path.c_str() << "\n";
-		while(true);
+		std::cerr << "Error creating font face! (path: " << mPath.c_str() << "\n";
+		return;
 	}
 
-	FT_Set_Char_Size(face, 0, size * 64, getDpiX(), getDpiY());
+	//FT_Set_Char_Size(face, 0, size * 64, getDpiX(), getDpiY());
+	FT_Set_Pixel_Sizes(face, 0, mSize);
 
 	buildAtlas();
+
+	FT_Done_Face(face);
+}
+
+void Font::onDeinit()
+{
+	if(textureID)
+		glDeleteTextures(1, &textureID);
 }
 
 void Font::buildAtlas()
@@ -130,9 +156,10 @@ void Font::buildAtlas()
 
 Font::~Font()
 {
-	FT_Done_Face(face);
+	Renderer::unregisterComponent(this);
 
-	glDeleteTextures(1, &textureID);
+	if(textureID)
+		glDeleteTextures(1, &textureID);
 }
 
 
@@ -167,6 +194,13 @@ struct tex {
 
 void Font::drawText(std::string text, int startx, int starty, int color)
 {
+	if(!textureID)
+	{
+		std::cerr << "Error - tried to draw with Font that has no texture loaded!\n";
+		return;
+	}
+
+
 	starty += mMaxGlyphHeight;
 
 	//padding (another 0.5% is added to the bottom through the sizeText function)
@@ -255,7 +289,7 @@ void Font::sizeText(std::string text, int* w, int* h)
 	{
 		unsigned char letter = text[i];
 		if(letter < 32 || letter >= 128)
-			continue;
+			letter = 127;
 
 		cwidth += charData[letter].advX;
 	}
@@ -267,3 +301,8 @@ void Font::sizeText(std::string text, int* w, int* h)
 	if(h != NULL)
 		*h = mMaxGlyphHeight + mMaxGlyphHeight * 0.5;
 }
+
+int Font::getHeight()
+{
+	return mMaxGlyphHeight * 1.5;
+}
diff --git a/src/Font.h b/src/Font.h
index 4311006c6..2d08f0ea7 100644
--- a/src/Font.h
+++ b/src/Font.h
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 #define _FONT_H_
 
 #include <string>
+#include "GuiComponent.h"
 #include "platform.h"
 #include GLHEADER
 #include <ft2build.h>
 #include FT_FREETYPE_H
 
 //A TrueType Font renderer that uses FreeType and OpenGL. initLibrary() MUST be called before using it.
-class Font
+class Font : GuiComponent
 {
 public:
 	static void initLibrary();
@@ -37,17 +38,26 @@ public:
 
 	void drawText(std::string text, int startx, int starty, int color); //Render some text using this font.
 	void sizeText(std::string text, int* w, int* h); //Sets the width and height of a given string to given pointers. Skipped if pointer is NULL.
+	int getHeight();
+
+	void onInit();
+	void onDeinit();
 
 private:
 	static int getDpiX();
 	static int getDpiY();
+
 	static FT_Library sLibrary;
+	static bool libraryInitialized;
 
 	void buildAtlas(); //Builds a "texture atlas," one big OpenGL texture with glyphs 32 to 128.
 
 	int textureWidth; //OpenGL texture width
 	int textureHeight; //OpenGL texture height
 	int mMaxGlyphHeight;
+
+	std::string mPath;
+	int mSize;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Renderer.h b/src/Renderer.h
index 1b748d2bc..8250bba7a 100644
--- a/src/Renderer.h
+++ b/src/Renderer.h
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <string>
-#include "Font.h"
+#include "platform.h"
+#include GLHEADER
+//#include "Font.h"
 
 class GuiComponent;
+class Font;
 
 //The Renderer provides several higher-level functions for drawing (rectangles, text, etc.).
 //Defined in multiple files - Renderer.cpp has the GuiComponent stuff, Renderer_draw_* includes renderer-specific drawing implementations, and Renderer_init_* includes renderer-specific init/deinit.
@@ -26,15 +29,15 @@ namespace Renderer
 	unsigned int getScreenHeight();
 
 	enum FontSize { SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE };
-	int getFontHeight(FontSize size); //sometimes font size is needed before fonts have been loaded; this takes care of that
+	Font* getDefaultFont(FontSize size);
 	void buildGLColorArray(GLubyte* ptr, unsigned int color, unsigned int vertCount);
 
 	//drawing commands
 	void swapBuffers();
 	void drawRect(int x, int y, int w, int h, unsigned int color);
-	void drawText(std::string text, int x, int y, unsigned int color, FontSize fontsize = MEDIUM);
-	void drawCenteredText(std::string text, int xOffset, int y, unsigned int color, FontSize fontsize = MEDIUM);
-	void drawWrappedText(std::string text, int xStart, int yStart, int xLen, unsigned int color, FontSize fontsize = MEDIUM);
+	void drawText(std::string text, int x, int y, unsigned int color, Font* font);
+	void drawCenteredText(std::string text, int xOffset, int y, unsigned int color, Font* font);
+	void drawWrappedText(std::string text, int xStart, int yStart, int xLen, unsigned int color, Font* font);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Renderer_draw_gl.cpp b/src/Renderer_draw_gl.cpp
index 3291747ac..c19963e7f 100644
--- a/src/Renderer_draw_gl.cpp
+++ b/src/Renderer_draw_gl.cpp
@@ -57,10 +57,29 @@ namespace Renderer {
 
 
 
-
 	Font* fonts[3] = {NULL, NULL, NULL};
+
+	//this is never really used, but is here "just in case"
+	void unloadFonts()
+	{
+		std::cout << "unloading fonts...";
+
+		for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
+		{
+			delete fonts[i];
+			fonts[i] = NULL;
+		}
+
+		loadedFonts = false;
+
+		std::cout << "done.\n";
+	}
+
 	void loadFonts()
 	{
+		if(loadedFonts)
+			unloadFonts();
+
 		std::cout << "loading fonts...";
 
 		std::string fontPath = "LinLibertine_R.ttf";
@@ -77,10 +96,10 @@ namespace Renderer {
 			}
 		}
 
-		float fontSizes[] = {0.004, 0.006, 0.009};
+		float fontSizes[] = {0.035, 0.05, 0.1};
 		for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
 		{
-			fonts[i] = new Font(fontPath, (unsigned int)(fontSizes[i] * getScreenWidth()));
+			fonts[i] = new Font(fontPath, (unsigned int)(fontSizes[i] * getScreenHeight()));
 		}
 
 		loadedFonts = true;
@@ -88,22 +107,7 @@ namespace Renderer {
 		std::cout << "done\n";
 	}
 
-	void unloadFonts()
-	{
-		std::cout << "unloading fonts...";
-
-		for(unsigned int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
-		{
-			delete fonts[i];
-			fonts[i] = NULL;
-		}
-
-		loadedFonts = false;
-
-		std::cout << "done.\n";
-	}
-
-	Font* getFont(FontSize size)
+	Font* getDefaultFont(FontSize size)
 	{
 		if(!loadedFonts)
 			loadFonts();
@@ -111,36 +115,13 @@ namespace Renderer {
 		return fonts[size];
 	}
 
-
-	int getFontHeight(FontSize size)
+	void drawText(std::string text, int x, int y, unsigned int color, Font* font)
 	{
-		if(!loadedFonts)
-			loadFonts();
-
-		int h;
-		getFont(size)->sizeText("HEIGHT", NULL, &h);
-
-		return h;
+		font->drawText(text, x, y, color);
 	}
 
-	void drawText(std::string text, int x, int y, unsigned int color, FontSize font)
+	void drawCenteredText(std::string text, int xOffset, int y, unsigned int color, Font* font)
 	{
-		if(!loadedFonts)
-			loadFonts();
-
-		//if(x < 0)
-		//	std::cout << "drawing at " << x << std::endl;
-
-		getFont(font)->drawText(text, x, y, color);
-	}
-
-	void drawCenteredText(std::string text, int xOffset, int y, unsigned int color, FontSize fontsize)
-	{
-		if(!loadedFonts)
-			loadFonts();
-
-		Font* font = getFont(fontsize);
-
 		int w, h;
 		font->sizeText(text, &w, &h);
 
@@ -149,18 +130,13 @@ namespace Renderer {
 
 		x += xOffset * 0.5;
 
-		drawText(text, x, y, color, fontsize);
+		drawText(text, x, y, color, font);
 	}
 
 	//this could probably be optimized
 	//draws text and ensures it's never longer than xLen
-	void drawWrappedText(std::string text, int xStart, int yStart, int xLen, unsigned int color, FontSize fontsize)
+	void drawWrappedText(std::string text, int xStart, int yStart, int xLen, unsigned int color, Font* font)
 	{
-		if(!loadedFonts)
-			loadFonts();
-
-		Font* font = getFont(fontsize);
-
 		int y = yStart;
 
 		std::string line, word, temp;
@@ -203,7 +179,7 @@ namespace Renderer {
 			{
 				//render line now
 				if(w > 0) //make sure it's not blank
-					drawText(line, xStart, y, color, fontsize);
+					drawText(line, xStart, y, color, font);
 
 				//increment y by height and some extra padding for the next line
 				y += h + 4;
diff --git a/src/Renderer_init_rpi.cpp b/src/Renderer_init_rpi.cpp
index 94942b907..a4c66539d 100644
--- a/src/Renderer_init_rpi.cpp
+++ b/src/Renderer_init_rpi.cpp
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ namespace Renderer
 	{
 		onDeinit();
 
-		unloadFonts();
+		//unloadFonts();
 		destroySurface();
 	}
 };
diff --git a/src/Renderer_init_sdlgl.cpp b/src/Renderer_init_sdlgl.cpp
index 2253ca7a5..13d3d4b97 100644
--- a/src/Renderer_init_sdlgl.cpp
+++ b/src/Renderer_init_sdlgl.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ namespace Renderer
 		if(!createdSurface)
 			return false;
 
-		Font::initLibrary();
+		//Font::initLibrary();
 
 		glViewport(0, 0, display_width, display_height);
 		glOrtho(0, display_width, display_height, 0, -1.0, 1.0);
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace Renderer
 	{
 		onDeinit();
 
-		unloadFonts();
+		//unloadFonts();
 		destroySurface();
 	}
 };
diff --git a/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp b/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
index 96a594599..4823fed07 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void GuiFastSelect::onRender()
 
 	mBox->render();
 
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText(LETTERS.substr(mLetterID, 1), 0, sh * 0.5 - (Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) * 0.5), mTextColor, Renderer::LARGE);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText(LETTERS.substr(mLetterID, 1), 0, sh * 0.5 - (Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() * 0.5), mTextColor, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE));
 }
 
 void GuiFastSelect::onInput(InputManager::InputButton button, bool keyDown)
diff --git a/src/components/GuiGameList.cpp b/src/components/GuiGameList.cpp
index 1d0218c2f..c011e80cd 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiGameList.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiGameList.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ GuiGameList::GuiGameList(bool useDetail)
 	//Those with smaller displays may prefer the older view.
 	if(mDetailed)
 	{
-		mList = new GuiList<FileData*>(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * sInfoWidth, Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) + 2);
+		mList = new GuiList<FileData*>(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * sInfoWidth, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() + 2);
 
 		mScreenshot = new GuiImage(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * sInfoWidth * 0.5, Renderer::getScreenHeight() * mTheme->getGameImageOffsetY(), "", Renderer::getScreenWidth() * sInfoWidth * 0.7, 0, false);
 		mScreenshot->setOrigin(mTheme->getGameImageOriginX(), mTheme->getGameImageOriginY());
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ GuiGameList::GuiGameList(bool useDetail)
 		mImageAnimation->addChild(mScreenshot);
 		addChild(mImageAnimation);
 	}else{
-		mList = new GuiList<FileData*>(0, Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) + 2);
+		mList = new GuiList<FileData*>(0, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() + 2);
 		mScreenshot = NULL;
 		mImageAnimation = NULL;
 	}
@@ -93,13 +93,13 @@ void GuiGameList::onRender()
 
 	//header
 	if(!mTheme->getHeaderHidden())
-		Renderer::drawCenteredText(mSystem->getName(), 0, 1, 0xFF0000FF, Renderer::LARGE);
+		Renderer::drawCenteredText(mSystem->getName(), 0, 1, 0xFF0000FF, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE));
 
 	if(mDetailed)
 	{
 		//divider
 		if(!mTheme->getDividersHidden())
-			Renderer::drawRect(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * mTheme->getListOffsetX() - 4, Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) + 2, 8, Renderer::getScreenHeight(), 0x0000FFFF);
+			Renderer::drawRect(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * mTheme->getListOffsetX() - 4, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() + 2, 8, Renderer::getScreenHeight(), 0x0000FFFF);
 
 		//if we're not scrolling and we have selected a non-folder
 		if(!mList->isScrolling() && mList->getSelectedObject() && !mList->getSelectedObject()->isFolder())
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ void GuiGameList::onRender()
 
 			std::string desc = game->getDescription();
 			if(!desc.empty())
-				Renderer::drawWrappedText(desc, Renderer::getScreenWidth() * 0.03, mScreenshot->getOffsetY() + mScreenshot->getHeight() + 12, Renderer::getScreenWidth() * (mTheme->getListOffsetX() - 0.03), mTheme->getDescColor(), Renderer::SMALL);
+				Renderer::drawWrappedText(desc, Renderer::getScreenWidth() * 0.03, mScreenshot->getOffsetY() + mScreenshot->getHeight() + 12, Renderer::getScreenWidth() * (mTheme->getListOffsetX() - 0.03), mTheme->getDescColor(), Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::SMALL));
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/components/GuiInputConfig.cpp b/src/components/GuiInputConfig.cpp
index eb2294e26..a9d99585c 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiInputConfig.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiInputConfig.cpp
@@ -38,19 +38,22 @@ void GuiInputConfig::onRender()
 {
 	Renderer::drawRect(0, 0, Renderer::getScreenWidth(), Renderer::getScreenHeight(), 0xFFFFFFFF);
 
-	int height = Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::MEDIUM) + 6;
+	Font* font = Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::MEDIUM);
 
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("It looks like you have a joystick plugged in!", 0, 2, 0x000000FF);
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("POV hats (some D-Pads) are automatically mapped to directions.", 0, height, 0x000000FF);
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("You can press a keyboard key to skip any input.", 0, height * 2, 0x000000FF);
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("If you want to remap later, just delete ~/.es_input.cfg.", 0, height * 3, 0x000000FF);
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("This interface only configures the first joystick plugged in.", 0, height * 4, 0x000000FF);
-	Renderer::drawCenteredText("Remember - you'll need to set up your emulator separately!", 0, Renderer::getScreenHeight() - height, 0x000000FF);
+	int height = font->getHeight() + 6;
+
+
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("It looks like you have a joystick plugged in!", 0, 2, 0x000000FF, font);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("POV hats (some D-Pads) are automatically mapped to directions.", 0, height, 0x000000FF, font);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("You can press a keyboard key to skip any input.", 0, height * 2, 0x000000FF, font);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("If you want to remap later, just delete ~/.es_input.cfg.", 0, height * 3, 0x000000FF, font);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("This interface only configures the first joystick plugged in.", 0, height * 4, 0x000000FF, font);
+	Renderer::drawCenteredText("Remember - you'll need to set up your emulator separately!", 0, Renderer::getScreenHeight() - height, 0x000000FF, font);
 
 	if(mDone)
-		Renderer::drawCenteredText("All done! Press a keyboard key to save.", 0, height * 5, 0x00BB00FF);
+		Renderer::drawCenteredText("All done! Press a keyboard key to save.", 0, height * 5, 0x00BB00FF, font);
 	else
-		Renderer::drawCenteredText("Please press the axis/button for " + sInputs[mInputNum], 0, height * 5, 0x00C000FF);
+		Renderer::drawCenteredText("Please press the axis/button for " + sInputs[mInputNum], 0, height * 5, 0x00C000FF, font);
 }
 
 void GuiInputConfig::onInput(InputManager::InputButton button, bool keyDown)
diff --git a/src/components/GuiList.cpp b/src/components/GuiList.cpp
index c5e43cc6e..35747aee6 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiList.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiList.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ GuiList<listType>::GuiList(int offsetX, int offsetY, Renderer::FontSize fontsize
 
 	mTextOffsetX = 0;
 
-	mFont = fontsize;
+	mFont = Renderer::getDefaultFont(fontsize);
 	mSelectorColor = 0x000000FF;
 	mSelectedTextColorOverride = 0x0000FF;
 	mScrollSound = NULL;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ template <typename listType>
 void GuiList<listType>::onRender()
 {
 	const int cutoff = getOffsetY();
-	const int entrySize = Renderer::getFontHeight(mFont) + 5;
+	const int entrySize = mFont->getHeight() + 5;
 
 	int startEntry = 0;
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ void GuiList<listType>::onRender()
 		//draw selector bar
 		if(mSelection == i)
 		{
-			Renderer::drawRect(getOffsetX(), y, Renderer::getScreenWidth(), Renderer::getFontHeight(mFont), mSelectorColor);
+			Renderer::drawRect(getOffsetX(), y, Renderer::getScreenWidth(), mFont->getHeight(), mSelectorColor);
 		}
 
 		ListRow row = mRowVector.at((unsigned int)i);
diff --git a/src/components/GuiList.h b/src/components/GuiList.h
index 22ae972a4..0b5e14155 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiList.h
+++ b/src/components/GuiList.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define _GUILIST_H_
 
 #include "../Renderer.h"
+#include "../Font.h"
 #include "../GuiComponent.h"
 #include "../InputManager.h"
 #include <vector>
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ private:
 	int mScrollDir, mScrollAccumulator;
 	bool mScrolling;
 
-	Renderer::FontSize mFont;
+	Font* mFont;
 	unsigned int mSelectorColor, mSelectedTextColorOverride;
 	bool mDrawCentered;
 
diff --git a/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp b/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
index 72a28ac53..c96984728 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ GuiMenu::GuiMenu(GuiComponent* parent)
 	mParent = parent;
 	parent->pause();
 
-	mList = new GuiList<std::string>(0, Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) + 2, Renderer::LARGE);
+	mList = new GuiList<std::string>(0, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() + 2, Renderer::LARGE);
 	populateList();
 	addChild(mList);
 
diff --git a/src/components/GuiTheme.cpp b/src/components/GuiTheme.cpp
index 3c1b5fc40..f51709c5d 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiTheme.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiTheme.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void GuiTheme::setDefaults()
 	mGameImageOriginX = 0.5;
 	mGameImageOriginY = 0;
 	mGameImageOffsetX = mListOffsetX / 2;
-	mGameImageOffsetY = (float)Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) / Renderer::getScreenHeight();
+	mGameImageOffsetY = (float)Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() / Renderer::getScreenHeight();
 	mGameImageWidth = mListOffsetX;
 	mGameImageHeight = 0;
 
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ float GuiTheme::resolveExp(std::string str, float defaultVal)
 	exp.setExpression(str);
 
 	//set variables
-	exp.setVariable("headerHeight", Renderer::getFontHeight(Renderer::LARGE) / Renderer::getScreenHeight());
+	exp.setVariable("headerHeight", Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::LARGE)->getHeight() / Renderer::getScreenHeight());
 	exp.setVariable("infoWidth", mListOffsetX);
 
 	return exp.eval();
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 23ad3b762..9639b4aeb 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 			ss << framerate;
 			std::string fps;
 			ss >> fps;
-			Renderer::drawText(fps, 50, 50, 0x00FF00);
+			Renderer::drawText(fps, 50, 50, 0x00FF00, Renderer::getDefaultFont(Renderer::MEDIUM));
 		}