MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Question: How to display overwritten/overlapping text

ElMiko · 07-02-2025, 08:36 PM

I would like to simulate the effect of overwritten text, as one might seen on a typewriter where two (or more) characters have been struck over the other(s). Do existing epub2 and epub3 e-reader allow for this effect?

my current idea is to use "letter-spacing" like this:

Code:

.ow {
	letter-spacing: -0.65em;
 	margin: 0 0.25em;
	}
.ow2 {
	margin: 0 0.25em;
	}

Code:

<p>I have <span class="ow">tx</span><span class="ow">ox</span><span class="ow2"> </span>go.</p>

which produces text that reads "I have to go" with the "to" overlapped by "xx" in Preview and PageEdit. Obviously, the spacing is going to be sensitive to different font-families and kerning within the font-family itself (if it isn't monospace), but would this even render as desired in actual e-reading software/hardware in theory?

Alternately, is there a better CSS solution?

07-02-2025, 08:36 PM	#1
ElMiko Evangelist Posts: 471 Karma: 65460 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle	Question: How to display overwritten/overlapping text I would like to simulate the effect of overwritten text, as one might seen on a typewriter where two (or more) characters have been struck over the other(s). Do existing epub2 and epub3 e-reader allow for this effect? my current idea is to use "letter-spacing" like this: Code: .ow { letter-spacing: -0.65em; margin: 0 0.25em; } .ow2 { margin: 0 0.25em; } Code: <p>I have <span class="ow">tx</span><span class="ow">ox</span><span class="ow2"> </span>go.</p> which produces text that reads "I have to go" with the "to" overlapped by "xx" in Preview and PageEdit. Obviously, the spacing is going to be sensitive to different font-families and kerning within the font-family itself (if it isn't monospace), but would this even render as desired in actual e-reading software/hardware in theory? Alternately, is there a better CSS solution?