Force sans serif on Kindle apps and devices

[shalym]

Originally Posted by scruffs

Yep, JH, that's it. Some text books really demand special formatting and I am trying to avoid embedded fonts as it is so problematic.

Yeah...thankfully, I don't think there's a way to do what you want to do. (at least I hope not )

This is coming from a reader who *always* chooses to read in a sans serif font, but recognizes that most other people don't choose that option.

Please don't do this.

Shari

[scruffs]

With fixed layout epubs, fonts are embedded, of course, and book design is unfettered.

With reflowable, I could always embed sans fonts if I wanted, but it is less trouble to default to sans for a particular book.

Sans is actually easier to read on a device, particularly for users with certain visual or cognitive conditions.

[JSWolf]

As I've not tested this, if you have your normal profile set to use Bookerly. If the eBook you've just chosen sets serif in the body style, will you get a serif font? Can it be overridden by choosing Bookerly again?

[JSWolf]

@scruffs, can you come up with 10 pBooks that use a serif font? Five fiction and five non-fiction.

[scruffs]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

As I've not tested this, if you have your normal profile set to use Bookerly. If the eBook you've just chosen sets serif in the body style, will you get a serif font? Can it be overridden by choosing Bookerly again?

Well, my tests show sans in KP3 and mobi. I publish, and the Look Inside shows serif.

:-/

[shalym]

Originally Posted by scruffs

With fixed layout epubs, fonts are embedded, of course, and book design is unfettered.

With reflowable, I could always embed sans fonts if I wanted, but it is less trouble to default to sans for a particular book.

Sans is actually easier to read on a device, particularly for users with certain visual or cognitive conditions.

I agree that sans is easier for me to read, but I would *never* presume to decide for someone else. That's what makes ebooks so great--we can choose the font and style for the books we want to read. If you *really* want to force people to read in the style that you choose, your best bet is to use fixed layout. It will also be easier for those of us who want choices to avoid that way

Shari

[scruffs]

Thanks, but I don't want to force them to use sans - just that sans would be the default for the book. Should just be a matter of CSS, but I am getting inconsistent results across KP3, mobi and Look Inside. :-/

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by scruffs

Thanks, but I don't want to force them to use sans - just that sans would be the default for the book. Should just be a matter of CSS, but I am getting inconsistent results across KP3, mobi and Look Inside. :-/

Most won;t be going into the CSS to change things. They will read the eBook as is. Can they change the font in the AA menu to a different font?

[John F]

Originally Posted by scruffs

That's the point exactly, John. Do you know how to set those defaults?

No, I do not.

[John F]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Currently if you have selected a default font for reading and open a new book you will be reading with your previously selected font unless you choose to switch to the Publisher Font.

...

How do you select a default font? Just curious.

[scruffs]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can they change the font in the AA menu to a different font?

I don't want to interfere with native functionality. I just had it in mind that a given book could open in sans, even though serif is the Kindle default.

Works in KP3 and the device app. When I publish and Look Inside, it goes back to serif!

[Deskisamess]

If the book in question is best read with a sans-serif font, perhaps a note in the front matter explaining that would be a good idea.

[scruffs]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

If the book in question is best read with a sans-serif font, perhaps a note in the front matter explaining that would be a good idea.

So you know no way of achieving this?

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by scruffs

So you know no way of achieving this?

I know virtually nothing about CSS and formatting digital books.

Many books that contain mathematical formulas etc. are published in Print Replica format, making them more well suited to larger screens, such a iPads or android tablets. If your book will suffer from font variables, maybe a fixed format is the answer.

Again, I have no practical knowledge of this topic, aside from what I read here. I don't read textbooks, but do know that books with complex pictures, and formats such as PDF's are best viewed on larger screens.

After 40+ posts, if someone knew how to tell you to accomplish what you're after, I'd think it would have been posted by know. I'm not sure your meaning has been clear.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by scruffs

Not every single book - a book.

Allowing a publisher to override user settings opens the door for every book to do so.

Originally Posted by John F

I don't mean to be dense, maybe this is particular to Kindles, but how is this different than normal functionality with "Use publisher defaults"?

I either use publisher defaults and get what the book specifies, or I pick a font that I want?

If the user has set use publisher as the default permission has been given, if some specific font has been selected then that font should be used.