Kindle ignorant question

[CharlieBird]

Without forcing me to search this very extensive site, someone tell if the Kindle permits changing to a black background w/white lettering? I think it's called "inverse" format.
Thx, d

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by CharlieBird

Without forcing me to search this very extensive site, someone tell if the Kindle permits changing to a black background w/white lettering?

Perhaps it's something that may one day show up, but currently, no.

Kindle for PC might let you do it, though, and possibly Kindle for iPhone/iPad (I think I read about font/colour-adjustment options for those, but someone else with the relevant hardware will have to confirm/deny).

[RiverY]

I don't know about the new Kindles, but versions 1 and 2 do not. The Kindle app for the Itouch does have that option, as I assume so do the other applications.

The Kindle devices, as they are, are really very easy on the eyes. I do use the white lettering on my touch when reading in the dark or outside.

[suecsi]

Kindle for PC does let you do this, but not the Kindle device itself.

I'm not sure an e-Ink screen inverted (night mode) would make a lot of sense because the screen is not backlit. I think it would probably just require more lamp lighting to read. It does make sense with backlit LCD screens because you can turn down the brightness and read in near darkness without much glare.

If someone wanted to test whether inverting an e-Ink screen improves reading in low light areas, they could creat a simple html file and set the CSS for the body tag to:


body { color: white; background-color: black; }

That would set the page color to black and the text color to white. Or you could add this tag in calibre when you convert a book.

[susan_cassidy]

For me (my eyes are not the best), I find that, with white letters on a dark background, the darkness tends to overwhelm the light letters. I read much better with dark letters on a white background. To each his/her own, though.

[CharlieBird]

Well, that is disappointing. I have been waiting for my bank to update my mailing address so I could order one of the new Kindles, but I'm not so sure now.

This has become a near essential option for me (together w/dictionary lookup, which the Astak doesn't have). The PPro does not allow it in DRM format but I use it all the time in everything else.

I never thought about Calibre. Good thought, Jack. Oh, and it does not take more light. It has become my preferred mode day or night. Have tried to analyze why but haven't figured it out yet.

Thanks, all, for your quick responses. d

[ProfCrash]

If you can comfortably read a paper book you should be able to comfortably read on an ereader with e-ink.

I created an inverted file with black page and white text. I created a simple HTML file then used calibre to convert it to MOBI and ePub. The ePub works great on my Sony Pocket edition (see attached photo). However, the MOBI just shows up as a white page with white text, in other words a blank page. I loaded it on my Kindle DXG along with the *.HTML file renamed to *.TXT. The MOBI showed up blank and the TXT file looked like a normal book, that is black text on white page. Apparently the Kindle overrides a back page and turns it white. I attached the files for anyone who might want to test this out. I really don't think it looks good in low light siutuations, but someone else might.

...

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I created an inverted file with black page and white text. I created a simple HTML file then used calibre to convert it to MOBI and ePub. The ePub works great on my Sony Pocket edition (see attached photo). However, the MOBI just shows up as a white page with white text, in other words a blank page. I loaded it on my Kindle DXG along with the *.HTML file renamed to *.TXT. The MOBI showed up blank and the TXT file looked like a normal book, that is black text on white page. Apparently the Kindle overrides a back page and turns it white. I attached the files for anyone who might want to test this out. I really don't think it looks good in low light siutuations, but someone else might.

...

My EYES! Teh Burnses, teh does! Whay a gawd-awful way to display text!

Derek

[CharlieBird]

Your examples don't look at all like the FB2 and ePub on my PPro. When I use night mode on FBReader or Cool Reader I prefer a very, very dark blue background with very light yellow text.

It may have something to do with the radial keratotomy I had done many, many years ago. My eyes are light sensitive, although bright sunlight doesn't bother me. Don't know. I guess we all are just different.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

If you can comfortably read a paper book you should be able to comfortably read on an ereader with e-ink.

I really don't have any trouble reading paperbacks or e-ink...just prefer night mode.
d

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by CharlieBird

Your examples don't look at all like the FB2 and ePub on my PPro. When I use night mode on FBReader or Cool Reader I prefer a very, very dark blue background with very light yellow text.

It may have something to do with the radial keratotomy I had done many, many years ago. My eyes are light sensitive, although bright sunlight doesn't bother me. Don't know. I guess we all are just different.



I really don't have any trouble reading paperbacks or e-ink...just prefer night mode.
d

Honestly... You'd probably do better on the K2/K3 by jacking up the font size. I know that helps me under less-than-optimal lighting.

Your examples don't look at all like the FB2 and ePub on my PPro. When I use night mode on FBReader or Cool Reader I prefer a very, very dark blue background with very light yellow text.

Since e-Ink screens are greyscale, there won't be any way to create a blue background with yellow text. To do that will require a color screen. And unless that screen is backlit, it will be difficult to read the text.

If I were you I would find someone with a new Kindle DXG, or wait until the K3s arrive, and take a look at the Pearl (3rd generation) e-Ink screens. They are greatly improved over the 2nd generation e-Ink screens. Plus the K3 is supposed to allow you to select from a few fonts. You might find that reading on the K3 is much better than previous e-Ink readers.

My EYES! Teh Burnses, teh does! Whay a gawd-awful way to display text!

I definitely agree with that. I hate websites that have a dark background and light text. Not only is it hard on my eyes to read, but when you look away from the screen your eyes still have the negative image for a while. However, with a backlit screen on low brightness some people find it useful at night, though personally I find it difficult to read.

[CharlieBird]

Now that it is interesting, Jack, because I also dislike websites w/dark backgrounds and light text. I'd not thought of it before you mentioned it. I spent quite a bit of time the past week on Darkreverser's site and really found it difficult. Maybe it's because websites are full screen and I seldom if ever open an eReader up full except on my two small screens. I also never read full length books on my PC, just long articles that I've saved with Web2FB2.

It was the font choices, dictionary lookup and the new design that finally got me to consider a Kindle. Well, plus everyone that has one seems well satisfied. I just never liked the way it looked. Don't know what the DXG is, but will go take a look.
d

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by CharlieBird

Now that it is interesting, Jack, because I also dislike websites w/dark backgrounds and light text. I'd not thought of it before you mentioned it. I spent quite a bit of time the past week on Darkreverser's site and really found it difficult. Maybe it's because websites are full screen and I seldom if ever open an eReader up full except on my two small screens. I also never read full length books on my PC, just long articles that I've saved with Web2FB2.

It was the font choices, dictionary lookup and the new design that finally got me to consider a Kindle. Well, plus everyone that has one seems well satisfied. I just never liked the way it looked. Don't know what the DXG is, but will go take a look.
d

The Kindle DX is the large (9.7") screen version. The DXG is the graphite-gray, thinner and lighter *NEW* DX. Better (more contrasty) display.

Derek