Content Adding fonts

[Waylander]

For some reason, I can't seem to get the custom fonts feature to work on my Kindle PW 4. It's on fw 5.10.0.2, so it should work. I created the folder 'fonts' in the root of the kindle as instructed, added my fonts to the folder, but when I go to the Aa menu in the ebook I don't see anything. Any ideas?

[JimmyR]

5.10.0.2 I believe is one of the early initial factory firmware versions that ship with the PW4 and doesn't support that feature. You need to update your firmware.

Edit: when you install a firmware version that supports custom fonts, the fonts folder will be created with a readme.txt file:

Spoiler:

===============
1. English
===============

You can now install your favorite fonts on your Kindle and choose one of them to read your eBooks.

Any font you install must be either an OpenType (OTF) or a TrueType (TTF) font. All other font formats are unsupported. Also, fonts are usually available as a font family and may consist of several files for different font styles - one each for Regular, Italic, Bold, BoldItalic, etc. For the best reading experience, we recommend you install all the files in the font family. Supported font files will have .ttf, .otf, or .ttc file extensions.

How to install fonts on your Kindle:

1. If the font is packaged into a compressed file (such as a ZIP file), uncompress the files using your favorite file extracting program

2. Copy the font files into the “fonts” folder on your Kindle

3. Disconnect your Kindle from the computer

4. You can now choose a custom font in addition to the Kindle fonts from the Display Settings (Aa) menu

Once you choose a custom font from the Display Settings (Aa) menu, your Kindle will render the book content using that font for most books. If the font is not able to be used for rendering the book’s content, your Kindle will use the default system font instead. This can happen if the font does not support the characters in the book or if the font is damaged.

Amazon respects the intellectual property of others. You are responsible for ensuring you have obtained the necessary rights and permissions to use any fonts you upload to your Kindle. By using the font upload functionality on Kindle, you agree that your use of the fonts you upload will not infringe or violate the rights of any third party, and that you will indemnify Amazon for all claims resulting from your use of the fonts you upload.

For further help, please visit: http://amzn.to/2F2DhMK

[Waylander]

Originally Posted by JimmyR

5.10.0.2 I believe is one of the factory firmware versions that ship with the PW4 and doesn't support that feature. You need to update your firmware.

Edit: when you install a firmware version that supports custom fonts, the fonts folder will be created with a readme.txt file:

Spoiler:

===============
1. English
===============

You can now install your favorite fonts on your Kindle and choose one of them to read your eBooks.

Any font you install must be either an OpenType (OTF) or a TrueType (TTF) font. All other font formats are unsupported. Also, fonts are usually available as a font family and may consist of several files for different font styles - one each for Regular, Italic, Bold, BoldItalic, etc. For the best reading experience, we recommend you install all the files in the font family. Supported font files will have .ttf, .otf, or .ttc file extensions.

How to install fonts on your Kindle:

1. If the font is packaged into a compressed file (such as a ZIP file), uncompress the files using your favorite file extracting program

2. Copy the font files into the “fonts” folder on your Kindle

3. Disconnect your Kindle from the computer

4. You can now choose a custom font in addition to the Kindle fonts from the Display Settings (Aa) menu

Once you choose a custom font from the Display Settings (Aa) menu, your Kindle will render the book content using that font for most books. If the font is not able to be used for rendering the book’s content, your Kindle will use the default system font instead. This can happen if the font does not support the characters in the book or if the font is damaged.

Amazon respects the intellectual property of others. You are responsible for ensuring you have obtained the necessary rights and permissions to use any fonts you upload to your Kindle. By using the font upload functionality on Kindle, you agree that your use of the fonts you upload will not infringe or violate the rights of any third party, and that you will indemnify Amazon for all claims resulting from your use of the fonts you upload.

For further help, please visit: http://amzn.to/2F2DhMK

Hi, thanks for the advice. I'vd read that 10.12.3 fw doesn't work so well for custom fonts. Is there somewhere I can get an earlier fw update, like 10.12.1 0r 10.12.2?

[JimmyR]

I currently use 5.10.3:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredow..._v2_5.10.3.bin
That supports custom fonts and themes:

If you want a different version, just replace the 5.10.3 at the end of the link.

[Waylander]

Thanks for the link. Also for the tip about changing the end of the link. That's useful to know.

[hius07]

Custom fonts support added in 5.9.6.
The feature depends on the ebook format. Try your fonts with the User Guide.

[JimmyR]

Factory firmware versions are limited in functionality. I remember my PW4 didn't support that feature with 5.10.0.1 factory.

[Waylander]

Thanks for the help everyone. All working fine now on fw 5.10.3.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by hius07

Custom fonts support added in 5.9.6.
The feature depends on the ebook format. Try your fonts with the User Guide.

Originally Posted by JimmyR

Factory firmware versions are limited in functionality. I remember my PW4 didn't support that feature with 5.10.0.1 factory.

As knc1 frequently points out, the same firmware versions on different devices have different code bases.

A corollary is that the same feature (and maturity level) first appears in different firmware versions on different devices.

[dordale]

Sounds like you solved your font issue--but just want to point out for anyone having trouble with sideloaded fonts not appearing that sideloaded fonts don't work with mobi format.

I had a few older books in the mobi format and it took me a while to determine that I wasn't seeing my sideloaded fonts because of the book format. I converted the books to AZW3 with Calibre and reloaded them on to my Kindle and the new side loaded font options appeared.

[JSWolf]

What is wrong with side loaded fonts with 5.12.3? I'd like to know before I install it on someone's PW3. Thanks.

[JimmyR]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is wrong with side loaded fonts with 5.12.3? I'd like to know before I install it on someone's PW3. Thanks.

There have been a couple of reports of crashes with custom fonts--nothing official:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=325847

[BookCat]

I've just received a used PW3 which has 5.12.3 Is there any way I can put older firmware on it, preferably 5.9.7. ?

This would bring it into line with my PW2 and make changing from reader to reader less confusing. Custom fonts are extremely important to me because I like to change the font according to the mood of the book which I'm reading; it adds to the whole experience.

Or is it totally impossible to roll back the font? If it's not possible to achieve parity with my PW2, can I at least move to a custom font friendly firmware?

Thanks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BookCat

I've just received a used PW3 which has 5.12.3 Is there any way I can put older firmware on it, preferably 5.9.7. ?

This would bring it into line with my PW2 and make changing from reader to reader less confusing. Custom fonts are extremely important to me because I like to change the font according to the mood of the book which I'm reading; it adds to the whole experience.

Or is it totally impossible to roll back the font? If it's not possible to achieve parity with my PW2, can I at least move to a custom font friendly firmware?

Thanks.

Just try the fonts you want and if it works, no need to go back. Do you actually know if you need to go back? Thing is, I read about problems that others have be it with Kobo, Windows, Calibre, etc. that I don't have. So maybe that's the case and the fonts will work for you.