BeBook font sizes and types

Ea · 01-08-2009, 04:33 AM

I've browsed this forum and the BeBook support forums, but I haven't been able to find much information about font sizes and font types, so I have a few questions.

I'm asking because I prefer relatively large font sizes, like Times in 14 pt. or Georgia in 13 pt., and I prefer a serif font (Georgia - though I can live with Times New Roman)

I'm looking at the BeBook because it supports a wider range of file formats, but I'm especially interested in font support for HTML, mobi, PDF and rtf/doc.

How well is font resizing supported for these formats and is resizing settings saved when I turn off the device?

I've read on the BeBook site that there's three 'sizes' for font settings. Does anyone know what the sizes correspond to in less relative terms, such as point height?

I understand, I can "install" other fonts by saving them in a special folder on an SD card and that this will change the fonts used in the interface. I don't mind that it changes fonts overall, but I'm concerned about how well this option of using my own fonts is supported for the individual file formats - especially those I mentioned.

I'm going to post this to Bebooks own forums as well, but I hoped I might get some additional help here

DDHarriman · 01-08-2009, 07:06 AM

Hi

Have you considered the Cybook?

The support for fonts (any) and sizes (12) will care for all your needs.

Best,

Ea · 01-08-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

Hi

Have you considered the Cybook?

The support for fonts (any) and sizes (12) will care for all your needs.

Best,

I used to have a Cybook, but I broke the screen. I really didn't like the button placement, and the HTML and PDF support didn't impress me. Plus, Bookeen's commitment to further development and upgrading of the software doesn't impress me either. The BeBook looks like it might be a little better in these respects. If it was only about the fonts, I'd go with Cybook though, so I understand your suggestion - thanks!

Right now I have an iLiad, which is okay, but it's a bit heavy and clunky and slow to start up, so I'm considering my options. BeBook seems the overall best possible option, except regarding fonts.

slayda · 01-08-2009, 09:01 AM

I have the US version of the BeBook (EZ Reader) as well as a Cybook Gen3. Almost all of my books are Mobipocket and I have very limited experience with the other formats on the EZ Reader. With Mobipocket you do have only three sizes for the font (either Times roman or Ariel). You can add fonts but they are not used by the EZ Reader's Mobipocket implementation.

I also prefer larger font sizes and usually use either the middle or largest font, depending on the lighting and how tired my eyes are. The Cybook's font capability is vastly superior to the EZ Reader's. That said, I understand about the buttons and I find that I am using the EZ Reader almost exclusively. I like it much better. Hopefully there will be improvements in its firmware.

Some of the other formats have 5 font sizes but I'm not sure which. wallcraft (on this forum) has more experience on those, I believe

DDHarriman · 01-08-2009, 02:49 PM

Sorry about your experience with the Cybook, and yes, costumer service from Bookeen at any level is... better I stop here...

Hope you find your solution, and btw I like your Cat's avatar!

Good reading,

wallcraft · 01-08-2009, 11:28 PM

For MOBI there are only 3 font sizes and only 3 font choices. The first two attachments are 100 ppi scans of MOBI on the EZ Reader, medium and large. These are low res scans, so they are fuzzier than the actual screen. Some of the other formats allow user provided fonts and have 5 font sizes. The 3rd and 4th attachments are large and extra large for a FB2 ebook. With the latest Hanlin firmware the same display software is used for RTF. I don't have scans of PDF, but it does not reflow but rather zooms in landscape mode. The same is true of some other formats (e.g. ePub).

There is also an alternative Open Source firmware, OpenInkPot, which is still under development but is based on FBReader and so supports a wide range of reflowable formats. It has user installable fonts and last two attached scans are from OpenInkPot using 14 pt and 18 pt Liberation (18 pt is the largest available currently). Assuming OIP is correctly identifying the 14 pt font size, MOBI large (2nd image) is a bit bigger than that.

leandroide · 01-09-2009, 04:33 AM

Installing new fonts for reading fb2 and rtf files is easy:

In your SD card, create a directory named "crengine" with a subdirectory named "fonts".

In /crengine/fonts, copy the ttf files of the font you want to use. It is important that you include all the files of the font. For example, for using verdana, I have verdana.ttf, verdanab.ttf, verdanai.ttf and verdanaz.ttf

Now, if you are reading a book, select "settings" and choose the font you want to use. There are 5 sizes for each font.

Aditionally, in /crengine/fb2.css you can control how the text is displayed (margins, line size, indentation, etc.). In this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...hlight=fb2.css you can find a fb2.css file to play with.

Regards,

L.

Ea · 01-12-2009, 08:48 AM

Thanks to all for the answers. I'm still in 'thinking about it' mode, and it's really nice to get an impression of how things will work (or not

)

01-08-2009, 04:33 AM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	BeBook font sizes and types I've browsed this forum and the BeBook support forums, but I haven't been able to find much information about font sizes and font types, so I have a few questions. I'm asking because I prefer relatively large font sizes, like Times in 14 pt. or Georgia in 13 pt., and I prefer a serif font (Georgia - though I can live with Times New Roman) I'm looking at the BeBook because it supports a wider range of file formats, but I'm especially interested in font support for HTML, mobi, PDF and rtf/doc. How well is font resizing supported for these formats and is resizing settings saved when I turn off the device? I've read on the BeBook site that there's three 'sizes' for font settings. Does anyone know what the sizes correspond to in less relative terms, such as point height? I understand, I can "install" other fonts by saving them in a special folder on an SD card and that this will change the fonts used in the interface. I don't mind that it changes fonts overall, but I'm concerned about how well this option of using my own fonts is supported for the individual file formats - especially those I mentioned. I'm going to post this to Bebooks own forums as well, but I hoped I might get some additional help here

01-08-2009, 11:28 PM	#6
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	For MOBI there are only 3 font sizes and only 3 font choices. The first two attachments are 100 ppi scans of MOBI on the EZ Reader, medium and large. These are low res scans, so they are fuzzier than the actual screen. Some of the other formats allow user provided fonts and have 5 font sizes. The 3rd and 4th attachments are large and extra large for a FB2 ebook. With the latest Hanlin firmware the same display software is used for RTF. I don't have scans of PDF, but it does not reflow but rather zooms in landscape mode. The same is true of some other formats (e.g. ePub). There is also an alternative Open Source firmware, OpenInkPot, which is still under development but is based on FBReader and so supports a wide range of reflowable formats. It has user installable fonts and last two attached scans are from OpenInkPot using 14 pt and 18 pt Liberation (18 pt is the largest available currently). Assuming OIP is correctly identifying the 14 pt font size, MOBI large (2nd image) is a bit bigger than that. Attached Thumbnails

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01-08-2009, 07:06 AM	#2
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Have you considered the Cybook? The support for fonts (any) and sizes (12) will care for all your needs. Best,

01-08-2009, 09:01 AM	#4
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	I have the US version of the BeBook (EZ Reader) as well as a Cybook Gen3. Almost all of my books are Mobipocket and I have very limited experience with the other formats on the EZ Reader. With Mobipocket you do have only three sizes for the font (either Times roman or Ariel). You can add fonts but they are not used by the EZ Reader's Mobipocket implementation. I also prefer larger font sizes and usually use either the middle or largest font, depending on the lighting and how tired my eyes are. The Cybook's font capability is vastly superior to the EZ Reader's. That said, I understand about the buttons and I find that I am using the EZ Reader almost exclusively. I like it much better. Hopefully there will be improvements in its firmware. Some of the other formats have 5 font sizes but I'm not sure which. wallcraft (on this forum) has more experience on those, I believe

01-08-2009, 02:49 PM	#5
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Sorry about your experience with the Cybook, and yes, costumer service from Bookeen at any level is... better I stop here... Hope you find your solution, and btw I like your Cat's avatar! Good reading,

01-09-2009, 04:33 AM	#7
leandroide Zealot Posts: 144 Karma: 92 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vigo, Spain Device: Papyre 6.1 (Hanlin V3)	Installing new fonts for reading fb2 and rtf files is easy: In your SD card, create a directory named "crengine" with a subdirectory named "fonts". In /crengine/fonts, copy the ttf files of the font you want to use. It is important that you include all the files of the font. For example, for using verdana, I have verdana.ttf, verdanab.ttf, verdanai.ttf and verdanaz.ttf Now, if you are reading a book, select "settings" and choose the font you want to use. There are 5 sizes for each font. Aditionally, in /crengine/fb2.css you can control how the text is displayed (margins, line size, indentation, etc.). In this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...hlight=fb2.css you can find a fb2.css file to play with. Regards, L.

01-12-2009, 08:48 AM	#8
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Thanks to all for the answers. I'm still in 'thinking about it' mode, and it's really nice to get an impression of how things will work (or not )