Using custom fonts in Libby

[Lykke]

I recently got my hands on a Poke 3 and am trying it out to see whether it can become my go-to eReader. So far, after learning how to use the UI, I am quite impressed with the experience.

However, I depend on Libby for some of my reading (I read a lot of library books), and am not very satisfied with the font display. If possible I would like to use a custom font with it, but in Libby's reading settings there are no custom fonts to choose from other than 'sans' and 'serif'. Is it not possible to use a sideloaded font with Libby? (I realize this is kind of a niche requirement).

I have sideloaded ttf fonts successfully by placing them in the Fonts folder in storage, and they are recognized fine by Neoreader. I tried using an app called Zfonts to install fonts to the system, but it throws an 'device not supported' error, so no luck there.

[JSWolf]

One thing you can do is find an app for Android that supports the ePub DRM used by Overdrive and allows custom fonts. Libby does not.

[Renate]

On the Poke3, you can change the "serif" font (if you're rooted).
In /system/etc/fonts.xml:

    <family name="serif">
        <font weight="400" style="normal">NotoSerif-Regular.ttf</font>
        <font weight="700" style="normal">NotoSerif-Bold.ttf</font>
        <font weight="400" style="italic">NotoSerif-Italic.ttf</font>
        <font weight="700" style="italic">NotoSerif-BoldItalic.ttf</font>
    </family>

The least confusing way is to change the names here rather than renaming files.
Of course this will change the serif font for everything on your device.

Or you could use a different reading app.

Or you could hack Libby.

[Lykke]

Thank you! I found that Pocketbook's app reads Adobe DRM and allows displaying sideloaded fonts. I can't seem to change the font weight, neither in the app nor from the optimization menu, but that's a different matter.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Lykke

Thank you! I found that Pocketbook's app reads Adobe DRM and allows displaying sideloaded fonts. I can't seem to change the font weight, neither in the app nor from the optimization menu, but that's a different matter.

You can use a font editor such as FontForge (free) to add weight to the fonts you want to use.

[Lykke]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can use a font editor such as FontForge (free) to add weight to the fonts you want to use.

I guess that would work, though it seems like a really unnecessary step. However, I tried your ChareInk weighted font and that is a big difference. And with Normal mode the font display is fine, and with animation filter set to 0 page turn speed is ok.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Lykke

I guess that would work, though it seems like a really unnecessary step. However, I tried your ChareInk weighted font and that is a big difference. And with Normal mode the font display is fine, and with animation filter set to 0 page turn speed is ok.

The increase weight to ChareInk was done with a font editor. Pocketbook really needs to add the ability to increase the weight of fonts. Most fonts are not suitable for eInk screens as they are too light. Semibold is not a good solution as it's too close to bold and some may not notice bold.

[Lykke]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You can use a font editor such as FontForge (free) to add weight to the fonts you want to use.

Sorry to ask, but is there some script that could do this faster? I have searched but have not found any (except ReadifyFont, which doesn't seem to work any longer). Editing file by file with Fontforge seems quite tedious (especially when I have little idea what I'm doing).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Lykke

Sorry to ask, but is there some script that could do this faster? I have searched but have not found any (except ReadifyFont, which doesn't seem to work any longer). Editing file by file with Fontforge seems quite tedious (especially when I have little idea what I'm doing).

I know of no script to do this. You are best to learn to use FontForge or find a different font editor. But most are not free.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One thing you can do is find an app for Android that supports the ePub DRM used by Overdrive and allows custom fonts. Libby does not.

Do you have a list of such apps?

( Android+ overdrive DRM support + custom fonts support )

I would like to try any that exist

Or even just a longer list of apps that work with android 11, 12 AND allow custom fonts to be added.

Google search is strangely unhelpful, or maybe the query is hard to formulate

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by stumped

Do you have a list of such apps?

( Android+ overdrive DRM support + custom fonts support )

I would like to try any that exist

Or even just a longer list of apps that work with android 11, 12 AND allow custom fonts to be added.

Google search is strangely unhelpful, or maybe the query is hard to formulate

I don't use a phone or tablet with Android so I've never looked into the ePub apps that support ADE's DRM and custom fonts.

[Lykke]

Originally Posted by stumped

Do you have a list of such apps?

( Android+ overdrive DRM support + custom fonts support )

I would like to try any that exist

Or even just a longer list of apps that work with android 11, 12 AND allow custom fonts to be added.

Google search is strangely unhelpful, or maybe the query is hard to formulate

Pocketbook
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....obreey.reader

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Lykke

Pocketbook
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....obreey.reader

Please explain how to add custom fonts to the android pocketbook app without uninstalling it. There are no menu options for that.

The only, and very silly. Solution I found was to uninstall the app. Then add in u in fonts to the device, then reinstall the app. It seems to scan for fonts once only as part of the install.

And there is no way to remove the many built in fonts i dont want to see. They are hidden and not user accessible.