Preventing Sigil embedded font files from user access

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Wolfie:

Amazon has outright stated NOT to use one font: Charis SIL. I believe that you persist in this for the same reason that some people feel compelled to turn left on a "no left turn" area. Why pick the ONLY font that Amazon has expressly said not to use?

Hitch

I do so because of Amazon's obsession to remove it. Yet I have seen samples from eBooks on Amazon that use Charis SIL. So (IMHO), it's unfair for a BPH to get away with using Charis SIL and not allow the little guy to use it.

[DiapDealer]

That'll show 'em!

Myself, I wouldn't use Charis for a book report, let alone a novel.
(and yes, I know you've got your own customized, super-duper, ereader-optimized version of Charis you like to use)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

That'll show 'em!

Myself, I wouldn't use Charis for a book report, let alone a novel.
(and yes, I know you've got your own customized, super-duper, ereader-optimized version of Charis you like to use)

What makes no sense is that Amazon is banning a font that (without any mods) looks better then a lot of other used fonts on an eInk screen. I've seen Adobe Garamond used many times and it's too thin for eInk.

[DiapDealer]

I find Charis horrid. The main reason for its ridiculous viral-like propagation is because it's free.

Thankfully it seems like its widespread commercial use is on the decline, now.

[theducks]

I used to leave it in.

I find CHARIS SIL has no advantage over the native fonts on my devices.

'Off with their heads (arms, feet and the rest)'

[eschwartz]

I cannot stand any font other than the default. It is the default, so why the heck does anyone feel the need to override it with their own special-snowflake fonts?

I guess that is a moral objection though... although I do note that pretty much everyone who violates my rule is using horribly thin fonts that do not belong on an ereader.

[theducks]

I find no reason to use Charis SIL over the device's standard fonts. and now, I selectively remove if found embedded

OTOH Embedded font make for fun (chapter) titles and in very rare cases, special purposes (ransom notes, old typewriter...). Those stay

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by theducks

OTOH Embedded font make for fun (chapter) titles and in very rare cases, special purposes (ransom notes, old typewriter...). Those stay

Agreed... on that rare occasion.

[Toxaris]

I actually like Sabon... Bonus would be that there is a smallcaps variant available, so real smallcaps are possible. Then again, I usually don't embed it anyway.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

I actually like Sabon... Bonus would be that there is a smallcaps variant available, so real smallcaps are possible. Then again, I usually don't embed it anyway.

I like Sabon. I like some others, as well. There's nothing "wrong" with Charis, per se, but Amazon expressly states that they have other system fonts that are optimized to provide a better reading experience. It's a weird thing, kerplunked right there in the midst of the Formatting Guidelines--to single out a sole font like that, but...there 'tis.

Hitch

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

It's a weird thing, kerplunked right there in the midst of the Formatting Guidelines--to single out a sole font like that, but...there 'tis.

I think it was likely a reaction to being entirely swamped with Charis when font-embeddding via KF8 first became possible. I swear everybody and their brothers were embedding Charis SIL shortly after that--from indie to big pub.

"We can include fonts now ... it's free ... and we're control freaks ... ship it!!"

The saturation level of Charis SIL was absolutely insane there for a while. Nobody loves a font THAT much. It was like a big ol' monkey-see-monkey-do thing happening, I think.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I think it was likely a reaction to being entirely swamped with Charis when font-embeddding via KF8 first became possible. I swear everybody and their brothers were embedding Charis SIL shortly after that--from indie to big pub.

"We can include fonts now ... it's free ... and we're control freaks ... ship it!!"

The saturation level of Charis SIL was absolutely insane there for a while. Nobody loves a font THAT much. It was like a big ol' monkey-see-monkey-do thing happening, I think.

I must be losing my mind. I'm 99% sure that we never embedded Charis, and I don't think I remember seeing ANY that had it. I knew that Jon was Charis-obsessed (no offense, Wolfie, mon sweetie) but I just missed that whole craze. I guess I was busy embedding other things. My big font-embedding adventures, initally, were mostly for chapter heads, and that type of thing. AND, of course, typewritten notes, newspaper articles/clues, the usual. Now, with all the white-label stuff, hoish! We are embedding fools. (And no: I don't need to hear it, but thanks!).

Hitch

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I must be losing my mind. I'm 99% sure that we never embedded Charis, and I don't think I remember seeing ANY that had it. I knew that Jon was Charis-obsessed (no offense, Wolfie, mon sweetie) but I just missed that whole craze. I guess I was busy embedding other things. My big font-embedding adventures, initally, were mostly for chapter heads, and that type of thing. AND, of course, typewritten notes, newspaper articles/clues, the usual. Now, with all the white-label stuff, hoish! We are embedding fools. (And no: I don't need to hear it, but thanks!).

Hitch

Maybe it was just a run of bad luck I had, but there for a while, it seemed every book I bought and downloaded had Charis SIL embedded and applied to the book's body. Wore me out it did!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I cannot stand any font other than the default. It is the default, so why the heck does anyone feel the need to override it with their own special-snowflake fonts?

One reason is to give the same look on all devices. Another reason is that Caecilia is an ugly font and a rather bad choice for a default font. And finally, because the default font does not have all the characters needed in the book and just willy-nilly removing embedded fonts could give you words that you won't be able to read.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I must be losing my mind. I'm 99% sure that we never embedded Charis, and I don't think I remember seeing ANY that had it. I knew that Jon was Charis-obsessed (no offense, Wolfie, mon sweetie) but I just missed that whole craze. I guess I was busy embedding other things. My big font-embedding adventures, initally, were mostly for chapter heads, and that type of thing. AND, of course, typewritten notes, newspaper articles/clues, the usual. Now, with all the white-label stuff, hoish! We are embedding fools. (And no: I don't need to hear it, but thanks!).

Hitch

One reason to embed is that if you are using a monospace font and you actually want a monospace font to display on a Kobo Reader. The only way to get a monospace font on a Kobo is to embed one. Dark Courier looks pretty good. But any monospace font that looks good on eInk will do.