Kobo H2O Hackability

[robko]

Originally Posted by doxallday

Sweet. I'm expecting mine in less than a week, can't wait to begin a marathon.
By the by, how many of you employ installation of new fonts? Is there an advantage to the default set out of the box? If so, which ones would you recommend?

The only real advantage to the built in fonts is the ability to adjust the weight (makes them fatter/darker). Other than that it shouldn't matter if they are stack or side loaded. Try them all and see which looks best to you.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by doxallday

Sweet. I'm expecting mine in less than a week, can't wait to begin a marathon.
By the by, how many of you employ installation of new fonts? Is there an advantage to the default set out of the box? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I would highly recommend my modified Charis SIL compact Hinted or my Charis SIL Compact Larger Hinted.

In the photograph showing three different Kobo Readers with the H2O in the middle, the font used is the Charis SIL Compact Larger and I have a newer hinted version.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by robko

The only real advantage to the built in fonts is the ability to adjust the weight (makes them fatter/darker). Other than that it shouldn't matter if they are stack or side loaded. Try them all and see which looks best to you.

One of the patches allows the firmware to also allow adjustments to side loaded fonts.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by doxallday

Sweet. I'm expecting mine in less than a week, can't wait to begin a marathon.
By the by, how many of you employ installation of new fonts? Is there an advantage to the default set out of the box? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I keep several fonts installed. Two of them (Code 2000 and Arial Unicode MS) are there mainly for handling ebooks with non-Latin character sets used. Otherwise, JSWolf's Charis SIL modified is my main font with DejaVu Serif for books that use Greek and Cyrillic characters that are not in the Charis SIL glyph set. There is also HP's Courier Dark which is handy for those occasions when I want an old style monospace font (computer output, etc.). Other fonts come and go but those 5 are my goto font set.

I have the patch to allow modifying weight/sharpness on all fonts instead of the subset of the factory supplied fonts but find that I seldom use them as Charis SIL and Deja Vu are both modified so the normal font weight is a demi-bold.

[doxallday]

Originally Posted by robko

The only real advantage to the built in fonts is the ability to adjust the weight (makes them fatter/darker). Other than that it shouldn't matter if they are stack or side loaded. Try them all and see which looks best to you.

Indeed. I noticed the 'Advanced Settings' disappear for the manually installed fonts, although it doesn't really ruin the experience for me.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I would highly recommend my modified Charis SIL compact Hinted or my Charis SIL Compact Larger Hinted.

In the photograph showing three different Kobo Readers with the H2O in the middle, the font used is the Charis SIL Compact Larger and I have a newer hinted version.

I have dug about last night, but couldn't find that 'Hinted' version you speak of. The 'Modified' is very pleasing to the eye, and the 'Larger' I still need to test. Thanks for putting the fonts out here

Originally Posted by DNSB

I keep several fonts installed. Two of them (Code 2000 and Arial Unicode MS) are there mainly for handling ebooks with non-Latin character sets used. Otherwise, JSWolf's Charis SIL modified is my main font with DejaVu Serif for books that use Greek and Cyrillic characters that are not in the Charis SIL glyph set. There is also HP's Courier Dark which is handy for those occasions when I want an old style monospace font (computer output, etc.). Other fonts come and go but those 5 are my goto font set.

I have the patch to allow modifying weight/sharpness on all fonts instead of the subset of the factory supplied fonts but find that I seldom use them as Charis SIL and Deja Vu are both modified so the normal font weight is a demi-bold.

Most of what you listed is unfamiliar to me, which is great, cause I hope to find a semi-permanent substitution to 'Georgia'; I should probably try out some monospaced fonts as well. I do have a question regarding the last bit; how do you patch the weight adjustment for new fonts? Thanks.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by doxallday

I do have a question regarding the last bit; how do you patch the weight adjustment for new fonts? Thanks.

Assuming you're using firmware 3.8.0, you use the Kobo Patcher for 3.8.0, see here for instructions. Make sure you enable the patch labelled:

patch_name = `Freedom to advanced fonts control`

There are lots of other good patches you can also enable.

[doxallday]

Originally Posted by jackie_w

Assuming you're using firmware 3.8.0, you use the Kobo Patcher for 3.8.0, see here for instructions. Make sure you enable the patch labelled:

patch_name = `Freedom to advanced fonts control`

There are lots of other good patches you can also enable.

Thanks jackie!

[slantybard]

Originally Posted by doxallday

Sweet. I'm expecting mine in less than a week, can't wait to begin a marathon.
By the by, how many of you employ installation of new fonts? Is there an advantage to the default set out of the box? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I always install custom fonts. I find the stock fonts of the Kobo and Kindle devices lacking since I like heavier weights for better contrast.

There is a modified fonts thread that can be found here. If you don't want to make your own font, I would highly suggest JSWolf's Charis Sil fonts.

If you are adventurous or just really picky you can take a look at my post about modifying your own font. I find a custom modified font renders better than the Kobo rendered advanced font changes you can make on the device. The other advantage of modifying your own fonts is that you can always use calibre to embed the modified fonts as a publisher font for devices that don't have the modified font on them (ie Kindle PW)

[doxallday]

Originally Posted by slantybard

I always install custom fonts. I find the stock fonts of the Kobo and Kindle devices lacking since I like heavier weights for better contrast.

There is a modified fonts thread that can be found here. If you don't want to make your own font, I would highly suggest JSWolf's Charis Sil fonts.

If you are adventurous or just really picky you can take a look at my post about modifying your own font. I find a custom modified font renders better than the Kobo rendered advanced font changes you can make on the device. The other advantage of modifying your own fonts is that you can always use calibre to embed the modified fonts as a publisher font for devices that don't have the modified font on them (ie Kindle PW)

That's quite in-depth for my needs, but good to know it can be tweaked that way; thanks for sharing I have settled on Charis SIL Compact and DejaVu Serif, the latter performing extremely well on the EPUB for testing purposes.