Vintage (e)book appearance -- Your preference?

GrannyGrump · 05-08-2013, 04:48 AM

I read somewhere a forum post or blog, by someone discussing finding "aged-paper" for a background image to go with the battered typeface font he had found, to use in preparing an ebook of an old novel.

I started thinking, perhaps I should try that for my next public domain rehab project, maybe some folks would like that. Thus, the birth of this poll.

So, what's YOUR preferance? (Ignore the fact of what your Reader does or doesn't support, what do you really like?)

1) I want it to show its age, with battered typeface and torn-paper background with soup-stains (scratch-and-sniff mildew, too, please?)

2) I want it just like the first edition, but looking clean and spanky new, hot off the press, newly delivered by the postman.

3) I want it with modern layout and punctuation and (sometimes) modern fonts for titles and headings.

4) I don't care; if I want to read it, I'll take it as it comes.

5) I don't care; I will rip out the illustrations and fonts and standardize it to match the rest of my collection.

6) I am not the demographic you are looking for. I don't read books published before I was born.

What do you like? Chime in.

Turtle91 · 05-08-2013, 04:56 AM

Picked old fashioned/aged...but mostly because I would like to see how the CSS/effects were done.
I know my kids tend NOT to read a book if it looks worn - they think it is too "old and boring"... So I trick 'em and put a new cover and clean pages and they love them!

theducks · 05-08-2013, 05:03 AM

Background 'Paper' effects reduce contrast on 8 level EINK displays and make it tiresome for these 'vintage' and worn eyes

crossi · 05-08-2013, 05:15 AM

What's the point? I read for the text. I want the sharpest text and the clearest pages possible. And I want to make the font the size and style that is easiest for me to read. I don't want my options locked in by the publisher which is what this would need.

Like fake page turns. Pointless waste of programming and memory space.

GrannyGrump · 05-08-2013, 05:19 AM

Well, early results are showing a trend towards ... eclectic tastes? (One vote each for the first 4 choices)

@turtle, it is mean to trick little kids that way!

Not really, anything that encourages reading is good strategy.

@theducks, yeah, I've noticed that too. I'll bet my eyes are more vintage than yours.

GrannyGrump · 05-08-2013, 05:24 AM

@crossi, I agree with you, as far as my own tastes are concerned. I made the poll, because "maybe some folks would like that", and it might make an interesting one-off project.

jersysman · 05-08-2013, 07:40 AM

I picked old-fashioned and aged because I'm just that way.

elemenoP · 05-08-2013, 08:15 AM

I have an e-ink reader so aged paper would never work. But can you specify your own backgrounds on the standard reading apps on tablets, like Kindle and iBooks? Or would you have to create an app for this, or (shudder) make each page an image?

eP

DrNefario · 05-08-2013, 08:46 AM

I don't very much care, but I like to think it should use typefaces from its own era.

exaltedwombat · 05-08-2013, 08:55 AM

This isn't an eBook project. Make a set of web pages or a PDF. My personal opinion is that a reader will find it tiresome after a very few pages. But don't let me stop you trying!

tubemonkey · 05-08-2013, 08:56 AM

#4

I never change the font of the books I read. To me, a font is a font is a font. When I turn my K4 on, I read. I never use the dictionaries, never take notes, never underline or highlight passages, etc. Those features are wasted on me.

exaltedwombat · 05-08-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

#4

I never change the font of the books I read. To me, a font is a font is a font.

Unless it's Comic Sans :-)

BWinmill · 05-08-2013, 09:54 AM

Just use modern logical markup and let the reader decide. As many have mentioned, background images don't work well for ereaders. If you're attempting to read in sunlight, background images don't work well for tablets either (since it diminishes what little contrast you do have). On top of that, there are ereading apps for tablets that let you change the font and background image, to give you a vintage or modern appearance.

For what it's worth, I agree with tubemonkey: a font is a font. They only time the font annoys me is when it's hard to read.

EowynCarter · 05-08-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi

What's the point? I read for the text. I want the sharpest text and the clearest pages possible. And I want to make the font the size and style that is easiest for me to read. I don't want my options locked in by the publisher which is what this would need.

Like fake page turns. Pointless waste of programming and memory space.

That !

theducks · 05-08-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

Unless it's Comic Sans :-)

View Poll Results: Vintage (e)book appearance -- Your preference?
Old-fashioned and "aged"	10	7.41%
Old-fashioned but clean	36	26.67%
Modern appearance	39	28.89%
Don't care - I'll read it as-is	28	20.74%
Don't care - I'll change it anyway	19	14.07%
I don't read "vintage" books	3	2.22%
Voters: 135. You may not vote on this poll

05-08-2013, 04:48 AM	#1
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,200 Karma: 34977896 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	Vintage (e)book appearance -- Your preference? I read somewhere a forum post or blog, by someone discussing finding "aged-paper" for a background image to go with the battered typeface font he had found, to use in preparing an ebook of an old novel. I started thinking, perhaps I should try that for my next public domain rehab project, maybe some folks would like that. Thus, the birth of this poll. So, what's YOUR preferance? (Ignore the fact of what your Reader does or doesn't support, what do you really like?) 1) I want it to show its age, with battered typeface and torn-paper background with soup-stains (scratch-and-sniff mildew, too, please?) 2) I want it just like the first edition, but looking clean and spanky new, hot off the press, newly delivered by the postman. 3) I want it with modern layout and punctuation and (sometimes) modern fonts for titles and headings. 4) I don't care; if I want to read it, I'll take it as it comes. 5) I don't care; I will rip out the illustrations and fonts and standardize it to match the rest of my collection. 6) I am not the demographic you are looking for. I don't read books published before I was born. What do you like? Chime in.

05-08-2013, 08:55 AM	#10
exaltedwombat Guru Posts: 878 Karma: 2457540 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	This isn't an eBook project. Make a set of web pages or a PDF. My personal opinion is that a reader will find it tiresome after a very few pages. But don't let me stop you trying! Last edited by exaltedwombat; 05-08-2013 at 09:06 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best appearance font	danielcork1	Which one should I buy?	1	07-28-2011 06:33 AM
Need Add Book Preference Help	akmatov	Library Management	5	06-22-2011 01:58 PM
Sigil Appearance	chrisparker	Sigil	12	05-23-2011 05:36 AM
Free book (DRM-free) - Fodor's 1936 On the Continent [Vintage Travel Planning]	ATDrake	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	11	05-06-2011 12:28 PM
Free book (DRM-free, multiple formats) - The Cross of Love [Vintage Romance]	ATDrake	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	7	04-14-2011 04:19 PM

05-08-2013, 04:56 AM	#2
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,093 Karma: 18727053 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Picked old fashioned/aged...but mostly because I would like to see how the CSS/effects were done. I know my kids tend NOT to read a book if it looks worn - they think it is too "old and boring"... So I trick 'em and put a new cover and clean pages and they love them!

05-08-2013, 05:03 AM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,778 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Background 'Paper' effects reduce contrast on 8 level EINK displays and make it tiresome for these 'vintage' and worn eyes

05-08-2013, 05:15 AM	#4
crossi Guru Posts: 992 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	What's the point? I read for the text. I want the sharpest text and the clearest pages possible. And I want to make the font the size and style that is easiest for me to read. I don't want my options locked in by the publisher which is what this would need. Like fake page turns. Pointless waste of programming and memory space.

05-08-2013, 05:19 AM	#5
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,200 Karma: 34977896 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	Well, early results are showing a trend towards ... eclectic tastes? (One vote each for the first 4 choices) @turtle, it is mean to trick little kids that way! Not really, anything that encourages reading is good strategy. @theducks, yeah, I've noticed that too. I'll bet my eyes are more vintage than yours.

05-08-2013, 05:24 AM	#6
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,200 Karma: 34977896 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	@crossi, I agree with you, as far as my own tastes are concerned. I made the poll, because "maybe some folks would like that", and it might make an interesting one-off project.

05-08-2013, 07:40 AM	#7
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	I picked old-fashioned and aged because I'm just that way.

05-08-2013, 08:15 AM	#8
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I have an e-ink reader so aged paper would never work. But can you specify your own backgrounds on the standard reading apps on tablets, like Kindle and iBooks? Or would you have to create an app for this, or (shudder) make each page an image? eP

05-08-2013, 08:46 AM	#9
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,099 Karma: 11315768 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I don't very much care, but I like to think it should use typefaces from its own era.

05-08-2013, 08:56 AM	#11
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	#4 I never change the font of the books I read. To me, a font is a font is a font. When I turn my K4 on, I read. I never use the dictionaries, never take notes, never underline or highlight passages, etc. Those features are wasted on me.

05-08-2013, 09:54 AM	#13
BWinmill Nameless Being	Just use modern logical markup and let the reader decide. As many have mentioned, background images don't work well for ereaders. If you're attempting to read in sunlight, background images don't work well for tablets either (since it diminishes what little contrast you do have). On top of that, there are ereading apps for tablets that let you change the font and background image, to give you a vintage or modern appearance. For what it's worth, I agree with tubemonkey: a font is a font. They only time the font annoys me is when it's hard to read.

Advert

Advert