The invention provides a system and method for providing a variable character size in an on-screen display application. The system includes logic means and a font memory means adapted to store a plurality of bitmaps corresponding to a plurality of characters. A mapping memory means is adapted to map the plurality of characters into the plurality of bitmaps. And a display means is adapted to display the plurality of bitmaps responsive to the logic means. The mapping memory comprises a width and a height associated with each of the plurality of characters. The mapping memory comprises a pointing means adapted to store an address associated with each of the plurality of bitmaps.