What is the best font on kobo for reading and why?

HLS · 09-25-2018, 07:17 PM

just a poll

I have not a clue on how to upload fonts so I am sticking to the ones already there

rcentros · 09-25-2018, 07:23 PM

You don't have my favorite ... DejaVu Serif E-Book. My favorite because it's nice and dark and sharp. (You don't have to add weight to it to make it darker, like you do with most of the other fonts — at least for my eyes.)

ZodWallop · 09-25-2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcladyz

I have not a clue on how to upload fonts so I am sticking to the ones already there

I have no opinion on the poll as my favorite font is Google's Noto Serif. As for uploading a font to your Kobo, that is easy peasy.

Just create a folder called fonts and add your fonts to it.

Here is a fairly detailed walkthrough: How to add fonts

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

How to add fonts

Fonts can be be very easily added to the Kobo family of eReaders. With the Kobo attached to your computer, create a new directory called fonts in the root directory of the device (the same location as the .kobo, .adobe-digital-editions and Digital Editions directories.

Once this directory has been created, simply copy entire font families into it.

A font family consists of four files; one each for Regular, Italic, Bold and BoldItalic.

Here's a link to Noto Serif, to give you a font to experiment with: Noto Serif (just click the purple Download TTF button). You'll download a .zip file. Double click on that and there will be four files: NotoSerif-Bold.ttf, NotoSerif-BoldItalic.ttf, NotoSerif-Italic.ttf and NotoSerif-Regular.ttf. Just dump those in the fonts folder and you're done.

Adding fonts to an ereader was one of Kobo's best selling points, before Amazon updated the Kindle to do the same.

HLS · 09-25-2018, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I have no opinion on the poll as my favorite font is Google's Noto Serif. As for uploading a font to your Kobo, that is easy peasy.

Just create a folder called fonts and add your fonts to it.

Here is a fairly detailed walkthrough: How to add fonts

Here's a link to Noto Serif, to give you a font to experiment with: Noto Serif (just click the purple Download TTF button). You'll download a .zip file. Double click on that and there will be four files: NotoSerif-Bold.ttf, NotoSerif-BoldItalic.ttf, NotoSerif-Italic.ttf and NotoSerif-Regular.ttf. Just dump those in the fonts folder and you're done.

Adding fonts to an ereader was one of Kobo's best selling points, before Amazon updated the Kindle to do the same.

Cool. Got them loaded

rcentros · 09-25-2018, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcladyz

Cool. Got them loaded

If you like these fonts they can also now be added to your Oasis and Paperwhite.

Barbara1955 · 09-25-2018, 08:14 PM

Hard to Pick whats best. Best for me might be the Worst for You.

davidfor · 09-25-2018, 09:10 PM

Of the fonts on the device, my preferred font is Georgia. But, I usually have the font set to "Publishers Default". This defaults to Georgia if there isn't a font in the book. And if there is, then I want to at least give it a chance. If the book is well styled, then I want to see it. And like a little variety.

DNSB · 09-25-2018, 10:05 PM

My favourite font is Jon Wolf's modified Charis Sil font. Not a builtin font but adding fonts to a Kobo is so easy that discussing only builtin fonts is a bit silly (IMNSHO).

Ksquared · 09-25-2018, 10:28 PM

Georgia for me - periodically I try other fonts, but I revert back to Georgia after a couple of days. For my eyes it is clear and nicely separated, nothing distracting.

mystika1 · 09-25-2018, 10:58 PM

I like
https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/diavlo
But I only use the bold or black version. I just prefer really dark fonts.

Hth,

Penny

Ripplinger · 09-25-2018, 11:16 PM

The best font is completely subjective. It depends mostly on the eyesight of the individual reading. You don't have my font either, I've been using Roboto Slab the last few years and love it. Before that, Lexia DaMa. Those 2 are about the only fonts I find comfortable for my reading on any reader.

GeoffR · 09-26-2018, 12:28 AM

What I would call best changes with time and conditions, but at the moment I like Amasis best of the built-in fonts, and most often use Gentium Plus of the sideloaded fonts. Both are fairly tightly-spaced fonts so more words per line, but still very readable at small font sizes on my old Glo. I like the upright italics in Gentium Plus. EB Garamond 12pt is another favourite, but it is a bit fancier and so I need to use a larger font size for it to be as readable.

anacreon · 09-26-2018, 04:33 AM

None of the installed fonts.

My favorites presently are Bookman Old Style for most books, Roboto for Calibre catalogs, and if I want a narrow font, Tinos. I'm always looking for new fonts for when I want a change and I keep previous favorites active, like Palatino and Linux Biolinum.

Calibri, Caudex, Dejavu Serif, Linux Biolinum, Noto Sans, Noto Serif, Palatino and Tinos are good for glyphs outside the common range (none of the installed fonts are).

I test them with a string of special characters: ½ÁǺÞĄÅἈ

forster01 · 09-26-2018, 06:51 AM

I like bitter lately, used to read on CIL and literata. i don't use built in fonts. As Ripplinger said

Quote:

The best font is completely subjective. It depends mostly on the eyesight of the individual reading.

rashkae · 09-26-2018, 09:43 AM

Malabar for 300DPI devices. The text is clear and very easy to read, it 'fits' together nicely (so text isn't wasting too much space, but doesn't look squished together either,), and overall, looks the closest to the style that has most often been used on the fantasy/sci-fi paper books I've read over the years. The caligraphic touches are nice, but not distracting.

That being said, the details are fine, and not really appropriate for lower resolution devices. For those, I would use either Georgia or Charis SIL. The simpler, blockier serif's and letter forms from those fonts will look good at lower resolution without as much visible aliasing.

View Poll Results: Best preinstalled fonts on KOBO
Publishers Default	20	12.50%
Amasis	29	18.13%
Avenir Next	9	5.63%
Caecilia	18	11.25%
Georgia	43	26.88%
Gill Sans	5	3.13%
Kobo Nickel	10	6.25%
Malabar	18	11.25%
Kobo UD Kakugo	6	3.75%
Open Dyslexic	2	1.25%
Voters: 160. You may not vote on this poll

09-25-2018, 07:17 PM	#1
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,134 Karma: 16342480 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	What is the best font on kobo for reading and why? just a poll I have not a clue on how to upload fonts so I am sticking to the ones already there Last edited by HLS; 09-25-2018 at 07:21 PM.

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09-25-2018, 07:23 PM	#2
rcentros eReader Wrangler Posts: 7,956 Karma: 53555555 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Boise, ID Device: PB HD3, GL3, Voyage	You don't have my favorite ... DejaVu Serif E-Book. My favorite because it's nice and dark and sharp. (You don't have to add weight to it to make it darker, like you do with most of the other fonts — at least for my eyes.)

09-25-2018, 08:14 PM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Hard to Pick whats best. Best for me might be the Worst for You.

09-25-2018, 09:10 PM	#7
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Of the fonts on the device, my preferred font is Georgia. But, I usually have the font set to "Publishers Default". This defaults to Georgia if there isn't a font in the book. And if there is, then I want to at least give it a chance. If the book is well styled, then I want to see it. And like a little variety.

09-25-2018, 10:05 PM	#8
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,175 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	My favourite font is Jon Wolf's modified Charis Sil font. Not a builtin font but adding fonts to a Kobo is so easy that discussing only builtin fonts is a bit silly (IMNSHO).

09-25-2018, 10:28 PM	#9
Ksquared Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 2635236 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA Device: Original Kobo Aura 6", Libra H2O	Georgia for me - periodically I try other fonts, but I revert back to Georgia after a couple of days. For my eyes it is clear and nicely separated, nothing distracting.

09-25-2018, 10:58 PM	#10
mystika1 Addict Posts: 353 Karma: 1360168 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Louisiana Device: IPad Air 2, , Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Aura H2Ov1, Kobo Mini	I like https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/diavlo But I only use the bold or black version. I just prefer really dark fonts. Hth, Penny

09-25-2018, 11:16 PM	#11
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,587 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	The best font is completely subjective. It depends mostly on the eyesight of the individual reading. You don't have my font either, I've been using Roboto Slab the last few years and love it. Before that, Lexia DaMa. Those 2 are about the only fonts I find comfortable for my reading on any reader.

09-26-2018, 12:28 AM	#12
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	What I would call best changes with time and conditions, but at the moment I like Amasis best of the built-in fonts, and most often use Gentium Plus of the sideloaded fonts. Both are fairly tightly-spaced fonts so more words per line, but still very readable at small font sizes on my old Glo. I like the upright italics in Gentium Plus. EB Garamond 12pt is another favourite, but it is a bit fancier and so I need to use a larger font size for it to be as readable.

09-26-2018, 04:33 AM	#13
anacreon Guru Posts: 978 Karma: 3475832 Join Date: May 2012 Location: France Device: Elipsa, Sage, Libra 2	None of the installed fonts. My favorites presently are Bookman Old Style for most books, Roboto for Calibre catalogs, and if I want a narrow font, Tinos. I'm always looking for new fonts for when I want a change and I keep previous favorites active, like Palatino and Linux Biolinum. Calibri, Caudex, Dejavu Serif, Linux Biolinum, Noto Sans, Noto Serif, Palatino and Tinos are good for glyphs outside the common range (none of the installed fonts are). I test them with a string of special characters: ½ÁǺÞĄÅἈ

09-26-2018, 09:43 AM	#15
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,277 Karma: 5935030 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	Malabar for 300DPI devices. The text is clear and very easy to read, it 'fits' together nicely (so text isn't wasting too much space, but doesn't look squished together either,), and overall, looks the closest to the style that has most often been used on the fantasy/sci-fi paper books I've read over the years. The caligraphic touches are nice, but not distracting. That being said, the details are fine, and not really appropriate for lower resolution devices. For those, I would use either Georgia or Charis SIL. The simpler, blockier serif's and letter forms from those fonts will look good at lower resolution without as much visible aliasing.

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