Force sans serif on Kindle apps and devices - Page 2

Deskisamess · 06-28-2020, 04:36 PM

One of the top benefits of digital books is the ability of the reader being able to set fonts etc. in a way that makes their reading experience the best it can be. Users with vision issues are a prime example. There are a multitude of vision issues and a multitude of what works for those users.

What works for you may not work for me, and so on. Locking out user input is a mistake of the largest kind. It was that ability of the user, me, to make changes to the font face, size, and line spacing, that prompted me to try a Kindle in the first place. It is also what made me a convert to e-books. It gave reading back to me.

Any author or publisher that opted to force their settings on me in a book is an author/publisher I would avoid. Especially if those settings couldn't be overruled using Calibre.

Deskisamess · 06-28-2020, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffs

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. I base mine on 30 years' experience in design and understanding what users want.

Sold lots of books have you? Run a successful publishing house?

Sirtel · 06-28-2020, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffs

You are entitled to your opinion, of course. I base mine on 30 years' experience in design and understanding what users want.

Thinking what users want is less choice for said users and that all users want the same thing is another very common mistake. Also a very irritating one. And I'm sorry, but ebooks are not 30 years old and so you cannot have 30 years' experience in designing them.

scruffs · 06-28-2020, 05:07 PM

Interesting comments.

Design is more than 30 years old, I promise you.
And yes, thank you, I have sold a lot of books.

I shall leave you to your echo chamber. Unfortunately, you have tarnished the reputation of this forum.

Deskisamess · 06-28-2020, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffs

Interesting comments.

Design is more than 30 years old, I promise you.
And yes, thank you, I have sold a lot of books.

I shall leave you to your echo chamber. Unfortunately, you have tarnished the reputation of this forum.

To whom are you speaking?

Sirtel · 06-28-2020, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scruffs

Unfortunately, you have tarnished the reputation of this forum.

If we tarnished this forum for the "users-are-stupid-and-we-know-better-what's-good for-them" designer wannabes like you seem to be, that can only be a good thing. There's nothing more annoying than that "my way or highway" stance and the less there is of it in this forum, the better.

j.p.s · 06-28-2020, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Also, when I see an eBook that is set to use a sans-serif font, I think that whoever made it hasn't a clue.

I think that any publisher that sets any aspect of the body text is clueless.

John F · 06-28-2020, 06:25 PM

I am rather ignorant on this subject, but other than the first post, it sounds like the OP wants to set the Publisher default font to sans serif, which the user could than pick a different font if they so desired?

scruffs · 06-28-2020, 06:30 PM

You are correct. John F.

It should be a simple matter of CSS, but I am getting variable results.

j.p.s · 06-28-2020, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

I am rather ignorant on this subject, but other than the first post, it sounds like the OP wants to set the Publisher default font to sans serif, which the user could than pick a different font if they so desired?

Why should a user have to redo customizations for every single book?

scruffs · 06-29-2020, 01:06 AM

Not every single book - a book.

John F · 06-29-2020, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Why should a user have to redo customizations for every single book?

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?

scruffs · 06-29-2020, 07:35 AM

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

jhowell · 06-29-2020, 07:37 AM

Quote:

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?

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.

My understanding of what the OP wants is that opening his book will automatically switch you to the Publisher Font no matter what you had selected previously. You would then have to switch back to your preferred font if you want to use that instead.

scruffs · 06-29-2020, 07:40 AM

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.

06-29-2020, 01:06 AM	#26
scruffs Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: ePUB Kindle and iBooks	Not *every single* book - a book. Last edited by scruffs; 06-29-2020 at 02:46 AM.

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06-28-2020, 04:36 PM	#16
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,607 Karma: 42697471 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"	One of the top benefits of digital books is the ability of the reader being able to set fonts etc. in a way that makes their reading experience the best it can be. Users with vision issues are a prime example. There are a multitude of vision issues and a multitude of what works for those users. What works for you may not work for me, and so on. Locking out user input is a mistake of the largest kind. It was that ability of the user, me, to make changes to the font face, size, and line spacing, that prompted me to try a Kindle in the first place. It is also what made me a convert to e-books. It gave reading back to me. Any author or publisher that opted to force their settings on me in a book is an author/publisher I would avoid. Especially if those settings couldn't be overruled using Calibre.

06-28-2020, 05:07 PM	#19
scruffs Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: ePUB Kindle and iBooks	Interesting comments. Design is more than 30 years old, I promise you. And yes, thank you, I have sold a lot of books. I shall leave you to your echo chamber. Unfortunately, you have tarnished the reputation of this forum.

06-28-2020, 06:25 PM	#23
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,157 Karma: 63764653 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Glo HD	I am rather ignorant on this subject, but other than the first post, it sounds like the OP wants to set the Publisher default font to sans serif, which the user could than pick a different font if they so desired?

06-28-2020, 06:30 PM	#24
scruffs Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: ePUB Kindle and iBooks	You are correct. John F. It should be a simple matter of CSS, but I am getting variable results.

06-29-2020, 07:35 AM	#28
scruffs Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: ePUB Kindle and iBooks	That's the point exactly, John. Do you know how to set those defaults?

06-29-2020, 07:40 AM	#30
scruffs Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: ePUB Kindle and iBooks	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.

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