diff --git a/include/mapnik/font_engine_freetype.hpp b/include/mapnik/font_engine_freetype.hpp
index 5754e6471d..fcdbb97405 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/font_engine_freetype.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/font_engine_freetype.hpp
@@ -119,7 +119,13 @@ class font_face : boost::noncopyable
     {
         if (! FT_Set_Pixel_Sizes( face_, 0, size ))
             return true;
+        return false;
+    }
 
+    bool set_character_sizes(float size)
+    {
+        if ( !FT_Set_Char_Size(face_,0,(FT_F26Dot6)(size * (1<<6)),0,0))
+            return true;
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -184,6 +190,14 @@ class MAPNIK_DECL font_face_set : private boost::noncopyable
             (*face)->set_pixel_sizes(size);
         }
     }
+    
+    void set_character_sizes(float size)
+    {
+        for (std::vector<face_ptr>::iterator face = faces_.begin(); face != faces_.end(); ++face)
+        {
+            (*face)->set_character_sizes(size);
+        }
+    }
 private:
     std::vector<face_ptr> faces_;
     std::map<unsigned, dimension_t> dimension_cache_;
@@ -198,7 +212,7 @@ class stroker : boost::noncopyable
     
     void init(double radius)
     {
-        FT_Stroker_Set(s_, (FT_Fixed) radius * (1<<6), 
+        FT_Stroker_Set(s_, (FT_Fixed) (radius * (1<<6)), 
                        FT_STROKER_LINECAP_ROUND, 
                        FT_STROKER_LINEJOIN_ROUND, 
                        0);    
@@ -332,11 +346,17 @@ struct text_renderer : private boost::noncopyable
           halo_radius_(0.0),
           opacity_(1.0) {}
 
+
     void set_pixel_size(unsigned size)
     {
         faces_->set_pixel_sizes(size);
     }
-
+    
+    void set_character_size(float size)
+    {
+        faces_->set_character_sizes(size);
+    }
+    
     void set_fill(mapnik::color const& fill)
     {
         fill_=fill;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
index b8b3bfe473..847bff663f 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ struct MAPNIK_DECL shield_symbolizer : public text_symbolizer,
 {
     shield_symbolizer(expression_ptr name,
                       std::string const& face_name,
-                      unsigned size,
+                      float size,
                       color const& fill,
                       path_expression_ptr file);
     shield_symbolizer(expression_ptr name,
-                      unsigned size,
+                      float size,
                       color const& fill,
                       path_expression_ptr file);
     
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text_placements.hpp b/include/mapnik/text_placements.hpp
index 47c0886360..383bbcb33d 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text_placements.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text_placements.hpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class text_placement_info : boost::noncopyable
 
     /* NOTE: Values are public and non-virtual to avoid any performance problems. */
     position displacement;
-    unsigned text_size;
+    float text_size;
     horizontal_alignment_e halign;
     justify_alignment_e jalign;
     vertical_alignment_e valign;
@@ -127,9 +127,9 @@ class text_placements
         text_size_(10), halign_(H_MIDDLE), jalign_(J_MIDDLE), valign_(V_MIDDLE) {}
     virtual text_placement_info_ptr get_placement_info() const =0;
 
-    virtual void set_default_text_size(unsigned size) { text_size_ = size; }
-    unsigned get_default_text_size() const { return text_size_; }
-
+    virtual void set_default_text_size(float size) { text_size_ = size; }
+    float get_default_text_size() const { return text_size_; }
+    
     virtual void set_default_displacement(position const& displacement) { displacement_ = displacement;}
     position const& get_default_displacement() { return displacement_; }
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class text_placements
 
     virtual ~text_placements() {}
 protected:
-    unsigned text_size_;
+    float text_size_;
     position displacement_;
     horizontal_alignment_e halign_;
     justify_alignment_e jalign_;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
index e4d57d8ed7..5ad9f7f449 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ namespace mapnik
 struct MAPNIK_DECL text_symbolizer : public symbolizer_base
 {
     text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, std::string const& face_name,
-                    unsigned size, color const& fill,
+                    float size, color const& fill,
                     text_placements_ptr placements = boost::make_shared<text_placements_dummy>()
                     );
-    text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, unsigned size, color const& fill,
+    text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, float size, color const& fill,
                     text_placements_ptr placements = boost::make_shared<text_placements_dummy>()
                     );
     text_symbolizer(text_symbolizer const& rhs);
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ struct MAPNIK_DECL text_symbolizer : public symbolizer_base
     void set_force_odd_labels(bool force);
     double get_max_char_angle_delta() const; // maximum change in angle between adjacent characters
     void set_max_char_angle_delta(double angle);
-    unsigned get_text_size() const;
-    void set_text_size(unsigned size);
+    float get_text_size() const;
+    void set_text_size(float size);
     std::string const& get_face_name() const;
     void set_face_name(std::string face_name);
     font_set const& get_fontset() const;
diff --git a/src/agg/process_glyph_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_glyph_symbolizer.cpp
index 276db2668e..4a82cdb4ba 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_glyph_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_glyph_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(glyph_symbolizer const& sym,
         }
 
         // set font size
-        unsigned size = sym.eval_size(feature);
-        ren.set_pixel_size(size * scale_factor_);
-        faces->set_pixel_sizes(size * scale_factor_);
+        float size = sym.eval_size(feature);
+        ren.set_character_size(size * scale_factor_);
+        faces->set_character_sizes(size * scale_factor_);
 
         // Get and render text path
         //
diff --git a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 94a9caeec3..7d2c02741a 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ void  agg_renderer<T>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
         {
             text_renderer<T> ren(pixmap_, faces, *strk);
 
-            ren.set_pixel_size(sym.get_text_size() * scale_factor_);
+            ren.set_character_size(sym.get_text_size() * scale_factor_);
             ren.set_fill(sym.get_fill());
             ren.set_halo_fill(sym.get_halo_fill());
             ren.set_halo_radius(sym.get_halo_radius() * scale_factor_);
diff --git a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index c45e05c46c..f58d732891 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -103,12 +103,13 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
             throw config_error("Unable to find specified font face '" + sym.get_face_name() + "'");
         }
         text_renderer<T> ren(pixmap_, faces, *strk);
-        ren.set_pixel_size(placement_options->text_size * scale_factor_);
+        
+        ren.set_character_size(placement_options->text_size * scale_factor_);
         ren.set_fill(fill);
         ren.set_halo_fill(sym.get_halo_fill());
         ren.set_halo_radius(sym.get_halo_radius() * scale_factor_);
         ren.set_opacity(sym.get_text_opacity());
-
+        
         box2d<double> dims(0,0,width_,height_);
         placement_finder<label_collision_detector4> finder(*detector_,dims);
 
diff --git a/src/cairo_renderer.cpp b/src/cairo_renderer.cpp
index 3939d49a65..668c8ebbda 100644
--- a/src/cairo_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo_renderer.cpp
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ void cairo_renderer_base::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
 
             placement_finder<label_collision_detector4> finder(detector_);
 
-            faces->set_pixel_sizes(placement_options->text_size);
+            faces->set_character_sizes(placement_options->text_size);
             faces->get_string_info(info);
 
             int w = (*marker)->width();
@@ -1466,7 +1466,7 @@ void cairo_renderer_base::process(glyph_symbolizer const& sym,
 
         // set font size
         unsigned size = sym.eval_size(feature);
-        faces->set_pixel_sizes(size);
+        faces->set_character_sizes(size);
 
         // Get and render text path
         //
@@ -1563,7 +1563,7 @@ void cairo_renderer_base::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
         cairo_context context(context_);
         string_info info(text);
 
-        faces->set_pixel_sizes(placement_options->text_size);
+        faces->set_character_sizes(placement_options->text_size);
         faces->get_string_info(info);
 
         placement_finder<label_collision_detector4> finder(detector_);
diff --git a/src/glyph_symbolizer.cpp b/src/glyph_symbolizer.cpp
index b94bb7766a..8ef41c638f 100644
--- a/src/glyph_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/glyph_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ unsigned glyph_symbolizer::eval_size(Feature const& feature) const
 #ifdef MAPNIK_DEBUG
     std::clog << "size_result=" << result.to_string() << "\n";
 #endif
-    unsigned size = static_cast<unsigned>(result.to_int());
+    float size = static_cast<float>(result.to_double());
 #ifdef MAPNIK_DEBUG
     std::clog << "size=" << size << "\n";
 #endif
diff --git a/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 182412f229..d0f61cd672 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ void  grid_renderer<T>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
         {
             text_renderer<T> ren(pixmap_, faces, *strk);
 
-            ren.set_pixel_size(sym.get_text_size() * scale_factor_ * (1.0/pixmap_.get_resolution()));
+            ren.set_character_size(sym.get_text_size() * scale_factor_ * (1.0/pixmap_.get_resolution()));
             ren.set_fill(sym.get_fill());
             ren.set_halo_fill(sym.get_halo_fill());
             ren.set_halo_radius(sym.get_halo_radius() * scale_factor_);
diff --git a/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index 6e3c1b5dc3..e88aed6c59 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void grid_renderer<T>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
             throw config_error("Unable to find specified font face '" + sym.get_face_name() + "'");
         }
         text_renderer<T> ren(pixmap_, faces, *strk);
-        ren.set_pixel_size(placement_options->text_size * (scale_factor_ * (1.0/pixmap_.get_resolution())));
+        ren.set_character_size(placement_options->text_size * (scale_factor_ * (1.0/pixmap_.get_resolution())));
         ren.set_fill(fill);
         ren.set_halo_fill(sym.get_halo_fill());
         ren.set_halo_radius(sym.get_halo_radius() * scale_factor_);
diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index 381ac4bdb6..9b25dec5fe 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -1244,10 +1244,10 @@ void map_parser::parse_text_symbolizer( rule & rule, ptree const & sym )
         optional<std::string> fontset_name =
             get_opt_attr<std::string>(sym, "fontset-name");
 
-        unsigned size = get_attr(sym, "size", 10U);
-
+        float size = get_attr(sym, "size", 10.0f);
+        
         color c = get_attr(sym, "fill", color(0,0,0));
-
+        
         text_symbolizer text_symbol = text_symbolizer(parse_expression(name, "utf8"), size, c, placement_finder);
 
         optional<std::string> orientation = get_opt_attr<std::string>(sym, "orientation");
@@ -1486,7 +1486,7 @@ void map_parser::parse_shield_symbolizer( rule & rule, ptree const & sym )
         optional<std::string> fontset_name =
             get_opt_attr<std::string>(sym, "fontset-name");
 
-        unsigned size = get_attr(sym, "size", 10U);
+        float size = get_attr(sym, "size", 10.0f);
         color fill = get_attr(sym, "fill", color(0,0,0));
 
         std::string image_file = get_attr<std::string>(sym, "file");
diff --git a/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 6ef85788e7..fcf54a73ee 100644
--- a/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 shield_symbolizer::shield_symbolizer(
     expression_ptr name,
     std::string const& face_name,
-    unsigned size,
+    float size,
     color const& fill,
     path_expression_ptr file)
     : text_symbolizer(name, face_name, size, fill),
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ shield_symbolizer::shield_symbolizer(
 
 shield_symbolizer::shield_symbolizer(
     expression_ptr name,
-    unsigned size,
+    float size,
     color const& fill,
     path_expression_ptr file)
     : text_symbolizer(name, size, fill),
diff --git a/src/text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
index 8b2fcf21c3..a328c8f584 100644
--- a/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ IMPLEMENT_ENUM( text_transform_e, text_transform_strings )
 
 
 text_symbolizer::text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, std::string const& face_name,
-                                 unsigned size, color const& fill,
+                                 float size, color const& fill,
                                  text_placements_ptr placements)
     : symbolizer_base(),
       name_(name),
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ text_symbolizer::text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, std::string const& face_na
     set_text_size(size);
 }
 
-text_symbolizer::text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, unsigned size, color const& fill,
+text_symbolizer::text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, float size, color const& fill,
                                  text_placements_ptr placements)
     : symbolizer_base(),
       name_(name),
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ void text_symbolizer::set_max_char_angle_delta(double angle)
     max_char_angle_delta_ = angle;
 }
 
-void text_symbolizer::set_text_size(unsigned size)
+void text_symbolizer::set_text_size(float size)
 {
     placement_options_->set_default_text_size(size);
 }
 
-unsigned  text_symbolizer::get_text_size() const
+float text_symbolizer::get_text_size() const
 {
     return placement_options_->get_default_text_size();
 }