How to format ebooks?

GERGE · 04-29-2015, 03:29 AM

What do you think about ebooks formatted by the publishers?

I recently bought The Grace of Kings from Google, supposed to be the biggest fantasy debut of the year, but line spacing and typeface were set by the publisher. I couldn't change them.

Of course, I know enought about CSS and thus freed typeface and line spacing of body portion while leaving other parts as is; the book had very good design apart from this problem. Embedded Hoefler Text instead of the faded Palatino the book has. Photos:

http://drop.muratcansimsek.com/IMG_20150429_095521.jpg
http://drop.muratcansimsek.com/IMG_20150429_095532.jpg

I think best kind of ebooks are like the ebook I have on my hands now. Books should be styled beautifully, The Grace of Kings has good design for other parts like title pages, part pages and such too. Poems within the text should have different margins and all that but the paragraph text should be left alone.

What do you think? I hate it when I can't change paragraph's line spacing and typeface but other styling is pretty cool when done well.

Also, The Grace of Kings were almost unreadable without fixes, the font was so faded, the line spacing was so big you could almost fit another line between. I wonder what the publisher actually thought when they published a book this terrible. I know how to fix it, most don't.

PS. I just notices the title, an ebooks. I feel terrible =(
PSS. Thanks for the title =)

mr ploppy · 04-29-2015, 05:51 AM

If I wanted to read someone else's choice of font, size and spacing I'd buy a paperback. I always strip out all that nonsense, and comment on it in any review I might write later.

pdurrant · 04-29-2015, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERGE

PS. I just notices the title, an ebooks. I feel terrible =(

Now fixed for you. Although it seems this thread is not so much about 'how to format ebooks' as 'how should ebooks be formatted?'.

And I agree - it should be possible to over-ride the base paragraph formatting, but front matter, chapter titles, special text should be done well by the publisher.

faltradl · 04-29-2015, 07:34 AM

I guess the most publisher still think ebooks are the same as printed books. So they still whant to rule all aspects of layout. They must learn to loose one's hold on parts of the layout.

Ghitulescu · 04-29-2015, 08:14 AM

I wonder why would one use flash against a backlit surface, not enough light?

Turtle91 · 04-29-2015, 08:24 AM

Good devices/apps should be able to override those kind of settings - paragraph spacing, indent, font size, font type, etc. However, the publishers need to put some kind of initial setting for those devices/apps that can't override. Unfortunately what looks good to one person won't look good to all...

Users need to upgrade their device/app to take advantage of the latest features, or learn to edit css!

Sirtel · 04-29-2015, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERGE

I recently bought The Grace of Kings from Google, supposed to be the biggest fantasy debut of the year, but line spacing and typeface were set by the publisher. I couldn't change them.

Yes, the font was awful in that book. I also changed it immediately, but then I always fix terrible fonts, line spacing, huge paragraph indents etc. in every book I buy.
The biggest problems are with self-published books, though, tradpubs are usually pretty well done.

Katsunami · 04-29-2015, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faltradl

I guess the most publisher still think ebooks are the same as printed books. So they still whant to rule all aspects of layout. They must learn to loose one's hold on parts of the layout.

It was the same with many websites. For some designers, it still is; they're just digital, clickable posters instead of websites.

The one thing I always wonder about is why so many publishers embed the font Charis SIL into the book. The default version is terrible for use on e-readers (IMHO).

jgaiser · 04-29-2015, 10:20 AM

Interesting. On my Kindle Voyage, the line spacing is just fine, I can change to any of the available fonts (serif and non-serif) and over all a nice read. Could this be a Kobo problem?

GERGE · 04-29-2015, 10:21 AM

ePub problem, I read the CSS.

DreamWriter · 04-29-2015, 10:24 AM

Personally, I appreciate special fonts for titles and chapters, but readers should be able to select their preferred paragraph font.

jackie_w · 04-29-2015, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

The one thing I always wonder about is why so many publishers embed the font Charis SIL into the book. The default version is terrible for use on e-readers (IMHO).

Perhaps because Charis SIL can be embedded legally for free? I suspect aesthetics have very little to do with it.

jgaiser · 04-29-2015, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERGE

What do you think about ebooks formatted by the publishers?

Completely off topic --- I've discovered another reddit /r/fantasy member. I do like running across folks in different venues.

Carry on...

GERGE · 04-29-2015, 12:14 PM

Libre Baskerville is a better solution if they are searching for gratis typefaces. It is one of the best free typefaces out there.

jackie_w · 04-29-2015, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GERGE

Libre Baskerville is a better solution if they are searching for gratis typefaces. It is one of the best free typefaces out there.

I only see 3 of the 4 files, i.e. Regular, Bold and Italic - no BoldItalic. Charis has a full set.

04-29-2015, 03:29 AM	#1
GERGE Guru Posts: 732 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	How to format ebooks? What do you think about ebooks formatted by the publishers? I recently bought The Grace of Kings from Google, supposed to be the biggest fantasy debut of the year, but line spacing and typeface were set by the publisher. I couldn't change them. Of course, I know enought about CSS and thus freed typeface and line spacing of body portion while leaving other parts as is; the book had very good design apart from this problem. Embedded Hoefler Text instead of the faded Palatino the book has. Photos: http://drop.muratcansimsek.com/IMG_20150429_095521.jpg http://drop.muratcansimsek.com/IMG_20150429_095532.jpg I think best kind of ebooks are like the ebook I have on my hands now. Books should be styled beautifully, The Grace of Kings has good design for other parts like title pages, part pages and such too. Poems within the text should have different margins and all that but the paragraph text should be left alone. What do you think? I hate it when I can't change paragraph's line spacing and typeface but other styling is pretty cool when done well. Also, The Grace of Kings were almost unreadable without fixes, the font was so faded, the line spacing was so big you could almost fit another line between. I wonder what the publisher actually thought when they published a book this terrible. I know how to fix it, most don't. PS. I just notices the title, an ebooks. I feel terrible =( PSS. Thanks for the title =) Last edited by GERGE; 04-29-2015 at 06:26 AM.

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04-29-2015, 05:51 AM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	If I wanted to read someone else's choice of font, size and spacing I'd buy a paperback. I always strip out all that nonsense, and comment on it in any review I might write later.

04-29-2015, 07:34 AM	#4
faltradl Guru Posts: 602 Karma: 1712372 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: germany Device: PocketBook Touch	I guess the most publisher still think ebooks are the same as printed books. So they still whant to rule all aspects of layout. They must learn to loose one's hold on parts of the layout.

04-29-2015, 08:14 AM	#5
Ghitulescu Fanatic Posts: 563 Karma: 403106 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: PRS-T1	I wonder why would one use flash against a backlit surface, not enough light?

04-29-2015, 08:24 AM	#6
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	Good devices/apps should be able to override those kind of settings - paragraph spacing, indent, font size, font type, etc. However, the publishers need to put some kind of initial setting for those devices/apps that can't override. Unfortunately what looks good to one person won't look good to all... Users need to upgrade their device/app to take advantage of the latest features, or learn to edit css!

04-29-2015, 10:20 AM	#9
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Interesting. On my Kindle Voyage, the line spacing is just fine, I can change to any of the available fonts (serif and non-serif) and over all a nice read. Could this be a Kobo problem?

04-29-2015, 10:21 AM	#10
GERGE Guru Posts: 732 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	ePub problem, I read the CSS.

04-29-2015, 10:24 AM	#11
DreamWriter Books are brain food. Posts: 2,950 Karma: 4836916 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Paperwhite · Fire HD6/HD8/HD10 · Galaxy Tab A7	Personally, I appreciate special fonts for titles and chapters, but readers should be able to select their preferred paragraph font.

04-29-2015, 12:14 PM	#14
GERGE Guru Posts: 732 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	Libre Baskerville is a better solution if they are searching for gratis typefaces. It is one of the best free typefaces out there.

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