Bookerly standard font weight

[Waylander]

The font scale I'm using means that Bookerly size 3 is perfect size-wise and leaves only a small space at the bottom margin at its standard weight. When I set it to boldness level 1, however, it reduces the density of words per page slightly and leaves a bigger bottom margin space. Is there a way to make a Bookerly font with the same weight as Bookerly bold level 1 without using the boldness feature? This would be the best option.

[shamanNS]

This description reminded me about "Dalton Maag" modified Bookerly font posted somewhere here on MobileRead... and funnily enough you were using that font in the past

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...53#post4136253

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...70#post3977470

[Waylander]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

This description reminded me about "Dalton Maag" modified Bookerly font posted somewhere here on MobileRead... and funnily enough you were using that font in the past

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...53#post4136253

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...70#post3977470

I'd forgotten about that post. Anyway, I'm looking to boost the weight of Bookerly so I don't have to use the bold setting. Would something like FontForge allow me to do that? Bookerly is available for download from Amazon itself so sideloading it wouldn't be a problem.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Waylander

I'd forgotten about that post. Anyway, I'm looking to boost the weight of Bookerly so I don't have to use the bold setting. Would something like FontForge allow me to do that? Bookerly is available for download from Amazon itself so sideloading it wouldn't be a problem.

Personally, I would suggest download the latest firmware package for a Kindle and extracting the fonts from fonts.sqsh. There are several improvements and extra glyphs in the newer Bookerly font versions.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Personally, I would suggest download the latest firmware package for a Kindle and extracting the fonts from fonts.sqsh. There are several improvements and extra glyphs in the newer Bookerly font versions.

Does the current Bookerly still lack hinting?

[jackm8]

Originally Posted by Waylander

I'd forgotten about that post. Anyway, I'm looking to boost the weight of Bookerly so I don't have to use the bold setting. Would something like FontForge allow me to do that? Bookerly is available for download from Amazon itself so sideloading it wouldn't be a problem.

FortForge can be used to do what you wish. Read its documentation, mainly this page:
https://fontforge.org/docs/ui/dialogs/Styles.html

Process should go something like this:

File—Open (your font);
ctrl-a (to select all glyphs);
Element—Style—Change Weight;
Then modify "Embolden By" value;

It'd be best to also change font's name, so it's not clashing with default Bookerly:
Element—Font
Only thing that needs changing is in PS Names tab. Adding something like v2 at the end of the first three entries should be enough.
Documentation for that:
https://fontforge.org/docs/ui/dialogs/fontinfo.html

After it's processed, you will then need to export the font:

File—Generate Fonts (select true type or open type,name file as v2 or similar)

[DNSB]

And take a good look at the font after changing the weight. Even a minor change can cause some of the glyphs to look rather malformed.

[JSWolf]

Don;t forget to add hinting to the new version of Bookerly as the Kindle needs hinting.

[Waylander]

Thanks to everyone here for being so patient and helpful. I know it's a finicky thing to ask about, it's just that Bookerly size 3 as 8.55 on the font scale is perfect, but it leaves too much space at the bottom when it's on bold. On standard weight, the bottom space is just right, but the font weight isn't enough. The instructions/tips here will help get the weight right.

[shamanNS]

+- 1 row of text doesn't really make THAT much of a difference on a device that already wastes soooo much screen space with terrible margins on all 4 sides.