Low-vision fonts

maddz · 10-04-2026, 07:01 AM

Somebody I know came across this link for a hyper-legible font designed for people with low vision: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/#download

There's instructions for computer use; I'm wondering if it's loadable on an ereader. Has anyone tried it?

Leonatus · 10-04-2026, 07:30 AM

Downloaded .zip-archive, extracted files and copied them to the .fonts-folder of my Kobo Clara 2E. Works without issues, but I can't see many advantages in relation to my custom font (Bookerly).

JSWolf · 10-04-2026, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonatus

Downloaded .zip-archive, extracted files and copied them to the .fonts-folder of my Kobo Clara 2E. Works without issues, but I can't see many advantages in relation to my custom font (Bookerly).

For low vision, sans-serif is better then serif. There's a big difference between this font and Bookerly. Bookerly is not a good at all for low vision.

jackie_w · 10-04-2026, 01:25 PM

FWIW, this font, Atkinson Hyperlegible, is one of the sans-serif fonts included as part of standard firmware on all the newest Kobo models (released in 2024).

JSWolf · 10-04-2026, 01:54 PM

If you have dyslexia, a good sans-serif font is proven to (overall) be better then the dyslexia font or a serif or slab serif font.

Martinoptic · 10-04-2026, 03:20 PM

Atkinson hyperlegible is very good in low contrast situations - cataracts or corneal haze for example. Not much difference in legibility noticed in high contrast situations though. I like it.

Frogm4n · 10-04-2026, 03:43 PM

I use Atkinson-Hyperlegible where ever it's practical. I read the vast majority of my non-scanned content in it. It works well at the same size held at arms length with glasses on, or held close without.

maddz · 10-04-2026, 04:19 PM

What about Kindles? Or are they too locked down now?

Doitsu · 10-04-2026, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

What about Kindles? Or are they too locked down now?

Amazon added custom font support a long time ago. It even works on my ancient Kindle Paperwhite 2. All you have to do is copy the font files to the fonts folder on the Kindle.

Quoth · 10-05-2026, 06:03 AM

Custom fonts are supported by the K3, if you have them in an azw3/kf8 ebook.
So only the K1, K2 and DX / DXG family have no support as they have no kF8 or later.

Obviously PDF might have custom fonts, but it's totally inflexible.

10-04-2026, 07:01 AM	#1
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,664 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Low-vision fonts Somebody I know came across this link for a hyper-legible font designed for people with low vision: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/#download There's instructions for computer use; I'm wondering if it's loadable on an ereader. Has anyone tried it?

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10-04-2026, 07:30 AM	#2
Leonatus Wizard Posts: 1,149 Karma: 12417943 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Clara 2E, Tolino Shine 3	Downloaded .zip-archive, extracted files and copied them to the .fonts-folder of my Kobo Clara 2E. Works without issues, but I can't see many advantages in relation to my custom font (Bookerly).

10-04-2026, 01:25 PM	#4
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,343 Karma: 16800000 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	FWIW, this font, Atkinson Hyperlegible, is one of the sans-serif fonts included as part of standard firmware on all the newest Kobo models (released in 2024).

10-04-2026, 01:54 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 85,243 Karma: 154365101 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you have dyslexia, a good sans-serif font is proven to (overall) be better then the dyslexia font or a serif or slab serif font.

10-04-2026, 03:20 PM	#6
Martinoptic Bibliophist Posts: 9,273 Karma: 8582523 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: England Device: none	Atkinson hyperlegible is very good in low contrast situations - cataracts or corneal haze for example. Not much difference in legibility noticed in high contrast situations though. I like it.

10-04-2026, 03:43 PM	#7
Frogm4n Guru Posts: 706 Karma: 4500001 Join Date: Jul 2023 Device: Scribe 2022, OA2, PRS-350	I use Atkinson-Hyperlegible where ever it's practical. I read the vast majority of my non-scanned content in it. It works well at the same size held at arms length with glasses on, or held close without.

10-04-2026, 04:19 PM	#8
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,664 Karma: 30496938 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	What about Kindles? Or are they too locked down now?

10-05-2026, 06:03 AM	#10
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,691 Karma: 114630515 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Custom fonts are supported by the K3, if you have them in an azw3/kf8 ebook. So only the K1, K2 and DX / DXG family have no support as they have no kF8 or later. Obviously PDF might have custom fonts, but it's totally inflexible.