Adding a font to an ebook

[michaelpc]

I am trying to add a font to an epub document, it is a ttf file that I have added to linux (ubuntu.) Any suggestions to wrapping the font in with the epub? I have tried most of the software and some how tos with no success.

Thank you

Mick

[Toxaris]

You would probably be best off with an editor like Sigil or the Calibre editor. Those will handle several things for you. In short, this is what needs to be done.

1. Add the font(s) to the ePUB (it is a zip, but add, do not remake if you have not done it before)
2. Add the font to the OPF file
3. Ensure the font is defined in the stylesheet (@font-face) and actually used for certain classes (font-family)
4. Ensure the classes are used in the actual XHTML files by using the classes and the stylesheet.

An editor will help you with 1, 2 and partially with 4.

[michaelpc]

Ok, so, I downloaded calibre and it actually converted the file properly and (it) included the font. But when I upload it to Amazon and preview it, the font is not there!?

Thank you

Mick

Edit, I did check and 1-4 seems to be correct, but I am new to this.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by michaelpc

Ok, so, I downloaded calibre and it actually converted the file properly and (it) included the font. But when I upload it to Amazon and preview it, the font is not there!?

Thank you

Mick

Edit, I did check and 1-4 seems to be correct, but I am new to this.

Mobi does not support fonts
You can't UPLOAD AZW3 to your device via Amazon. You can Sideload AZW3

[Notjohn]

Originally Posted by michaelpc

I am trying to add a font to an epub document, it is a ttf file that I have added to linux (ubuntu.) Any suggestions to wrapping the font in with the epub? I have tried most of the software and some how tos with no success.

Thank you

Mick

Follow the instructions given and upload the epub. KDP will convert a valid epub flawlessly in my experience.

(However, I don't believe in embedding fonts. I fear they will annoy some people and fail to display for others who have older e-ink readers.)

[JSWolf]

The problem is if you have to embed a font in order to properly display something, then there is going to be an issue as your font will be stripped out by Amazon and even if it wasn't, it wouldn't display in Mobi since Mobi doesn't work with embedded fonts.

Also, you would need to place a notice in the beginning of the eBook to say that you need to turn on publisher default fonts or it won't display.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is if you have to embed a font in order to properly display something, then there is going to be an issue as your font will be stripped out by Amazon and even if it wasn't, it wouldn't display in Mobi since Mobi doesn't work with embedded fonts.

Jon:

No, sweetie, you are mis-remembering, that's not right. Not all fonts are stripped; MANY aren't. Hell, MOST aren't. As you know, we provide white-label service for numerous print layout houses, creating eBooks with fonts, and we only run into a font-stripping problem VERY OCCASIONALLY. When we do, it's almost never, mind you, in a commercially-done book (in terms of layout, interestingly)...it seems to be those sort of whacky-layout, "I designed this myself!" kind of books, from self-pubs. (This isn't a crack about self-pubs, but as one of the larger Indy firms of eBook producers, we get some outright doozies).

And it's almost always a scenario involving an embedded serif, san-serif and a third "fancy" font, like a handwriting font, or something else that is a particular or "special" font. We had this with a book with two (not one, but Two!) Lucida fonts (handwriting AND Calligraphy, gods help us) and a book with "Chiller." PLUS the "normal" serif and sans-serifs. Now, you can't blame a book for balking over those types of things, now, can ya?

Also, you would need to place a notice in the beginning of the eBook to say that you need to turn on publisher default fonts or it won't display.

For the Paperwhite, this is accurate. I don't remember if it's also right for the Voyage--methinks not. It's not right for any of the others, as far as I know.

Hitch

[dickloraine]

Originally Posted by Hitch

And it's almost always a scenario involving an embedded serif, san-serif and a third "fancy" font, like a handwriting font, or something else that is a particular or "special" font. We had this with a book with two (not one, but Two!) Lucida fonts (handwriting AND Calligraphy, gods help us) and a book with "Chiller." PLUS the "normal" serif and sans-serifs. Now, you can't blame a book for balking over those types of things, now, can ya?

Everytime I hear something like this, I ask myself, have these author actually ever read books? Aside from "The neverending story", some glyphs in Tolkiens books and a handful of literary fiction like Sfoer, no book has anything like that. Why do they think this is a good idea? It just screams "amateur" to me.

[eschwartz]

Well, I can at least see where they are coming from in limited circumstances. For instance, recently I had to decontaminate H.I.V.E (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) which had way too many fonts and images (and backads, G-d help me), but it also had some headings which used some angular font or other (same as in the pbook) that was supposed to tie in with the computers theme.

They were also using some special font and demented CSS to make a weird colored panel for the Author Bio.

[JSWolf]

One recent eBook I had to clean of all of the fonts is The Martian. It has FreeMono, FreeSans, and FreeSerif embedded. These fonts are just way too light for use on an eInk Reader. I think whoever decided to embed those rather poor fonts has neve viewed that eBook on any eInk Reader or they would not have been used. Even with the front light on, it's still hard to read. The sans font was not too too bad as it was just for chapter titles and readable (not as good as it should be). The serif font was hard to see and the mono font nearly impossible to see.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One recent eBook I had to clean of all of the fonts is The Martian. It has FreeMono, FreeSans, and FreeSerif embedded. These fonts are just way too light for use on an eInk Reader. I think whoever decided to embed those rather poor fonts has neve viewed that eBook on any eInk Reader or they would not have been used. Even with the front light on, it's still hard to read. The sans font was not too too bad as it was just for chapter titles and readable (not as good as it should be). The serif font was hard to see and the mono font nearly impossible to see.

Yes...I see that fairly often. Folks think that a font (for example, Adobe Palatino) is lovely in print, but it's FAAAAAAAAAAR too light for e-ink. I suspect you're right, whomever made it didn't have a real device.

Hitch

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Yes...I see that fairly often. Folks think that a font (for example, Adobe Palatino) is lovely in print, but it's FAAAAAAAAAAR too light for e-ink. I suspect you're right, whomever made it didn't have a real device.

Hitch

I just took a look at The Martian in ADE on my Surface Pro 2 and FreeSans and FreeSerif are not too bad. But FreeMon is still way too light. On eInk, I had trouble reading FreeMono with the front light on.

Using LCD to view a font is in no way a proper substitute to viewing on an eInk screen. I do thinkt hat these days, it would be prudent to have different devices because of the different screens to test the eBooks.

[Notjohn]

Originally Posted by dickloraine

Everytime I hear something like this, I ask myself, have these author actually ever read books? Aside from "The neverending story", some glyphs in Tolkiens books and a handful of literary fiction like Sfoer, no book has anything like that. Why do they think this is a good idea? It just screams "amateur" to me.

I spend more time than I should on the KDP "Ask the Community" forum, and I am convinced that a significant minority of self-pubbers do not have a personal library, do not read books for pleasure, and (more astonishing, actually) haven't much looked at e-books either.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Notjohn

I spend more time than I should on the KDP "Ask the Community" forum, and I am convinced that a significant minority of self-pubbers do not have a personal library, do not read books for pleasure, and (more astonishing, actually) haven't much looked at e-books either.

And given your list:
have not hired a 'Pro' with a good track record.

It is not Rocket science (for basic books), but you do need to be able to recognize a rocket if you trip on one in the alley.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Yes...I see that fairly often. Folks think that a font (for example, Adobe Palatino) is lovely in print, but it's FAAAAAAAAAAR too light for e-ink. I suspect you're right, whomever made it didn't have a real device.

Hitch

It's worse
The tolino (a German crappy reader) has Linux Libertine
(as we remember a TNR replacement designed! for being printed)
As a built-in font to be chosen from.

*hands gloves of epic facepalm out*