Is it possible to replace Sony font? [350 & 650]

Fbone · 11-02-2010, 06:28 PM

Is there a way to replace the font directly in the device?

Thanks.

Added: On the 350 and 650 models.

induna · 11-02-2010, 09:07 PM

This has been discussed several times recently. May I suggest you do a search?

Xanthe · 11-02-2010, 09:53 PM

It seems that there is a way to replace the font, but it involves creating a font folder on the Sony, adding a font(s) to it, and then adding CSS coding to each book that you want to use that specific font. As far as I can tell, you just can't add fonts to the Sony and just switch a book among various fonts.

I have to say, I attempted the font change for a specific book on the PRS-350 and it didn't work for me.

jswinden · 11-02-2010, 10:10 PM

It works on my 350, but the CSS is a bit tricky. Once you get the hang of it it is pretty nice to use.

I think there is a way to do a one time replacement on the older models rather than using CSS. But that means substituting a single set of fonts for another--no changing fonts at will. It might work on the newer models too. Do a search.

...

Cpl Punishment · 11-02-2010, 10:16 PM

I tried changing the font and somehow messed up my 650 !!! I had to do a restore and lost the content that came with the Sony...I ended up returning it and went with the Kindle, even tho I like the Sony system, just not the font !!

Fbone · 11-03-2010, 12:06 AM

Yes, I did a search and found jswindon's and dminoz's written instructions on how to change the epub CSS code. They are very nicely written but the technique doesnt always work. Plus it has to be repeated each and every time.

I was hoping the new models had a way to replace the built-in font. It's unfortunate the Sonys have just one font.

Cpl, I don't care for it either.

AlexBell · 11-03-2010, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

It's unfortunate the Sonys have just one font.

No, that's just not so.
- I've never added fonts to my PRS 650.
- I've done a few hand produced ebooks, have set the font-family to sans-serif, and certainly have not embedded any font.
- When I read the ebooks I've produced on my Sony I see a sans-serif font.

So there must be a sans-serif font available on the Sony if the CSS calls for one.

If anyone wants to test this assertion you can download The War Prayer by Mark Twain, or Promise, Prophecy, and Politics by David Teeter, or Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore, or a few others that I've uploaded to the MobileRead Forums library.

Regards, Alex

Geppetto · 11-03-2010, 08:12 AM

If you're handling your do-it-yourself ebook, the easiest thing is making a .rtf ebook - just change it giving your favourite font to your document, and save it.

You can alternatively manage it with Calibre: just turn it into a .lrf file - if I remember well you can choose your font.

igorsk · 11-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

It's unfortunate the Sonys have just one font.

Actually, they have three fonts (serif, sans-serif and monotype).

jswinden · 11-03-2010, 04:03 PM

Using the adding fonts and referencing them in the CSS method is tedious but it does work, although it is kluge. The problem people sometimes encounter is when the original CSS calls a particular font or font type from a tag other than the BODY tag or P tag. If the technique doesn't work, examine the original CSS to see if font attributes occur in other tags and change them accordingly.

Keep in mind that many publishers don't use clean HTML to publish their books as ebooks. They often convert print version texts and depending on the software they use they might wind up with some terrible looking and convoluted HTML. As an example, convert a *.doc or *.rtf file to HTML using Microsoft Office and then take a look at the ridiculously complicated HTML code that is generated.

Like I said this is tedious and kluge. I do wish Sony and Amazon (and other manufacturers) would add a easy to use font changing method similar to what some of the apps available for iPhone, Android, and Windows use.

elemenoP · 11-03-2010, 04:16 PM

The Sony font is atrocious. Yes, I said "font" singular, I'm talking about the one and only default font that is used for displaying text in epubs. The serif one. What good is it to have 3 (wow, 3) fonts on the device, if I can't change fonts on the device? The Sony serif too skinny, the kerning (or lack of kerning) is terrible, and there is a big space after apostrophes. It looks like Sony didn't want to pony up a license fee for a real font so they let an intern create one instead.

The first library book I read on my Sony (all of a few days ago) looked beautiful. The formatting and the font were fantastic. I was so happy, I thought all library books would look like that. It turns out, that particular epub had an embedded font. The next library book I checked out looked like amateur crap. Now I am a little less happy. Why should I have to go through all the hoops (legal and otherwise) of un-drm, change CSS, etc., to a book I don't even own, when Sony could have just put a better font on the device? Or a few to choose from?

My little 650 is a marvel of hardware, the touchscreen is fantastic, the screen so clear, why did they have to screw up the font so badly?

elcreative · 11-03-2010, 04:52 PM

Try complaining to the publishers as well... if they can't be bothered to do a proper job to produce a typographically pleasing product then the fault is hardly all Sony's... I agree that font choices would be nice (or ability to easily add your own) but the actual content provision doesn't come from Sony, they are just selling what the publisher provides. Some produce excellent books (or their authors insist on it) but a lot think that just providing it in eFormat is all that's required.

Equally this is still a very immature market with lots of people feeling their way to what makes an acceptable product... just wish they'd speed the process up or consult people who actually know something, you know, typesetters... oh yes, how about readers as well...

doreenjoy · 11-03-2010, 07:21 PM

Personally I like the Sony serif font better than most of the other readers' default fonts.

induna · 11-03-2010, 08:46 PM

OK, here is a very brief guide to changing the font for ALL EPUBs even DRM'd ones, except those with embedded fonts, on the new Sony readers:

1. Download and flash the "Boroda" firmware from the Russian site. Here is the Google Translate link:
http://translate.google.com/translat...a3&sl=ru&tl=en
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK
2. The Russian firmware will automatically replace the default Sony font with the Droid font. If that makes you happy, you're done.
3. If you want to use another font, the Russian firmware creates a folder called 'epub' on the READER volume of your device. You can browse to it in the file browser of your choice when the reader is connected to your PC.
4. The 'epub' folder contains three .css files. called 'userstyle', 'userstyle.dflt', and 'userstyle.droid'. 'Userstyle.css' is the one the reader uses to pick the default font. The other two are for the Sony default font and the Droid font respectively.
5. The 'epub' folder also contains a 'FONT' folder. Create a subdirectory under this folder and copy the True Type or Open type fonts you want to use to it.
6. Edit the 'Userstyle.css' file with any text editor to point to your preferred font in the folder you just created. (you might want to copy the original file first). The .css file itself is pretty self-explanatory, but jswinden's guide covers how it works.
7. Enjoy your new font.

My reader is currently using Cambria.

The hardest part is flashing the firmware, and that is really easy if you follow the directions. Don't do this if you are uncomfortable with any of the steps.

Jason Green · 11-03-2010, 10:32 PM

You would have thought it would have been a good idea to have a menu option to change the font you want to read all books in.

11-02-2010, 06:28 PM	#1
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,282 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Is it possible to replace Sony font? [350 & 650] Is there a way to replace the font directly in the device? Thanks. Added: On the 350 and 650 models. Last edited by Fbone; 11-02-2010 at 07:02 PM.

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11-02-2010, 09:07 PM	#2
induna Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica Device: Sony PRS-500, 505, 600, 350, T1 Amazon Kindle PW1, PW2, Voyage	This has been discussed several times recently. May I suggest you do a search?

11-02-2010, 09:53 PM	#3
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	It seems that there is a way to replace the font, but it involves creating a font folder on the Sony, adding a font(s) to it, and then adding CSS coding to each book that you want to use that specific font. As far as I can tell, you just can't add fonts to the Sony and just switch a book among various fonts. I have to say, I attempted the font change for a specific book on the PRS-350 and it didn't work for me.

11-02-2010, 10:16 PM	#5
Cpl Punishment Guru Posts: 682 Karma: 4156546 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: On The Move Device: Ipad 103rd Gen	I tried changing the font and somehow messed up my 650 !!! I had to do a restore and lost the content that came with the Sony...I ended up returning it and went with the Kindle, even tho I like the Sony system, just not the font !!

11-03-2010, 12:06 AM	#6
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,282 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Yes, I did a search and found jswindon's and dminoz's written instructions on how to change the epub CSS code. They are very nicely written but the technique doesnt always work. Plus it has to be repeated each and every time. I was hoping the new models had a way to replace the built-in font. It's unfortunate the Sonys have just one font. Cpl, I don't care for it either.

11-03-2010, 08:12 AM	#8
Geppetto Addict Posts: 232 Karma: 748 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS600, Cybook, Hanvon N520, Sony PRS300, Onyx Boox, Kindle 3	If you're handling your do-it-yourself ebook, the easiest thing is making a .rtf ebook - just change it giving your favourite font to your document, and save it. You can alternatively manage it with Calibre: just turn it into a .lrf file - if I remember well you can choose your font.

11-03-2010, 04:03 PM	#10
jswinden Nameless Being	Using the adding fonts and referencing them in the CSS method is tedious but it does work, although it is kluge. The problem people sometimes encounter is when the original CSS calls a particular font or font type from a tag other than the BODY tag or P tag. If the technique doesn't work, examine the original CSS to see if font attributes occur in other tags and change them accordingly. Keep in mind that many publishers don't use clean HTML to publish their books as ebooks. They often convert print version texts and depending on the software they use they might wind up with some terrible looking and convoluted HTML. As an example, convert a .doc or .rtf file to HTML using Microsoft Office and then take a look at the ridiculously complicated HTML code that is generated. Like I said this is tedious and kluge. I do wish Sony and Amazon (and other manufacturers) would add a easy to use font changing method similar to what some of the apps available for iPhone, Android, and Windows use.

11-03-2010, 04:16 PM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	The Sony font is atrocious. Yes, I said "font" singular, I'm talking about the one and only default font that is used for displaying text in epubs. The serif one. What good is it to have 3 (wow, 3) fonts on the device, if I can't change fonts on the device? The Sony serif too skinny, the kerning (or lack of kerning) is terrible, and there is a big space after apostrophes. It looks like Sony didn't want to pony up a license fee for a real font so they let an intern create one instead. The first library book I read on my Sony (all of a few days ago) looked beautiful. The formatting and the font were fantastic. I was so happy, I thought all library books would look like that. It turns out, that particular epub had an embedded font. The next library book I checked out looked like amateur crap. Now I am a little less happy. Why should I have to go through all the hoops (legal and otherwise) of un-drm, change CSS, etc., to a book I don't even own, when Sony could have just put a better font on the device? Or a few to choose from? My little 650 is a marvel of hardware, the touchscreen is fantastic, the screen so clear, why did they have to screw up the font so badly?

11-03-2010, 04:52 PM	#12
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	Try complaining to the publishers as well... if they can't be bothered to do a proper job to produce a typographically pleasing product then the fault is hardly all Sony's... I agree that font choices would be nice (or ability to easily add your own) but the actual content provision doesn't come from Sony, they are just selling what the publisher provides. Some produce excellent books (or their authors insist on it) but a lot think that just providing it in eFormat is all that's required. Equally this is still a very immature market with lots of people feeling their way to what makes an acceptable product... just wish they'd speed the process up or consult people who actually know something, you know, typesetters... oh yes, how about readers as well...

11-03-2010, 07:21 PM	#13
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Personally I like the Sony serif font better than most of the other readers' default fonts.

11-03-2010, 08:46 PM	#14
induna Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Vito de Coto Brus, Costa Rica Device: Sony PRS-500, 505, 600, 350, T1 Amazon Kindle PW1, PW2, Voyage	OK, here is a very brief guide to changing the font for ALL EPUBs even DRM'd ones, except those with embedded fonts, on the new Sony readers: 1. Download and flash the "Boroda" firmware from the Russian site. Here is the Google Translate link: http://translate.google.com/translat...a3&sl=ru&tl=en DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK 2. The Russian firmware will automatically replace the default Sony font with the Droid font. If that makes you happy, you're done. 3. If you want to use another font, the Russian firmware creates a folder called 'epub' on the READER volume of your device. You can browse to it in the file browser of your choice when the reader is connected to your PC. 4. The 'epub' folder contains three .css files. called 'userstyle', 'userstyle.dflt', and 'userstyle.droid'. 'Userstyle.css' is the one the reader uses to pick the default font. The other two are for the Sony default font and the Droid font respectively. 5. The 'epub' folder also contains a 'FONT' folder. Create a subdirectory under this folder and copy the True Type or Open type fonts you want to use to it. 6. Edit the 'Userstyle.css' file with any text editor to point to your preferred font in the folder you just created. (you might want to copy the original file first). The .css file itself is pretty self-explanatory, but jswinden's guide covers how it works. 7. Enjoy your new font. My reader is currently using Cambria. The hardest part is flashing the firmware, and that is really easy if you follow the directions. Don't do this if you are uncomfortable with any of the steps.

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11-03-2010, 10:32 PM	#15
Jason Green Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	You would have thought it would have been a good idea to have a menu option to change the font you want to read all books in.