Aura HD Another dumb question regarding font colour

MJLee · 03-28-2017, 09:16 AM

Me again, hopefully you guys can help since obviously my google failed. So, the font on my Kobo is grey and the background is lighter grey. This has never happened to me on any previous e-reader, Kobo or Sony. For the sake of my sanity please tell me there is a solution to this, I want black font and white background. Help?

I am tearing my hair over this.

AnemicOak · 03-28-2017, 10:01 AM

No eInk screen has a truly white background (very light gray) or truly black font (very dark gray), but as you mention having had other devices I suspect you know that and are seeing something abnormal to that.

Are the books giving you problems direct downloads from Kobo? Sideloaded ePub's? Sideloaded kePub's? All of the above? Are the menu's and stuff affected too?

MJLee · 03-28-2017, 11:22 AM

Well, it's dark grey on light grey independent of which book I try and read, and while I realise no background is truly white, ditto black font, it's extremely noticeable on the KBO which it hasn't been on previously readers. Since the main reason for using an e-reader is that my sight is very bad and I can increase the backlight and also font size, the greyness of font especially is very frustrating since it makes reading more difficult. Gaaah. Please is there a way of at least improving the darkness of the font? I have tried getting in touch with Kobo service but unfortunately I live in a backwater (Sweden) so no Kobo service here.

Edit: Finally talked to Kobo Service in the UK and no there is nothing to do except use 100% backlight which does help a bit. Of course the problem then is that it will drain the battery a lot faster. We'll see just how much faster after I've put all the books onto the reader and recharged it. I did tell her that in the next firmware update please try and solve this problem. She promised to forward it to the development team. Doubtful it will help, but hey, why not?

No not sideloaded, some retail, a lot of fanfic. Same problem. And yeah, all the text on the reader is the same, eg, dark grey/light grey. Well, in the meantime I guess I'll just use the 100% backlight and hope it doesn't shorten the battery too much.

AnemicOak · 03-28-2017, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJLee

Please is there a way of at least improving the darkness of the font?

Have you tried using the advanced font controls to make the font bolder (won't help with the interface, but will help inside the actual books)? I find I like my font to be bolder than the default on my Kobo and the extra boldness makes it appear darker.

In my experience all readers with a light layer aren't as good contrast wise as devices without and cranking up the light is going to make the font appear lighter as well.

ZodWallop · 03-28-2017, 11:49 AM

Is this your first lighted reader? As Anemic mentioned, all lighted e-readers have slightly worse contrast than non-lighted readers. It's not a huge difference, but maybe you are more sensitive to it?

The Kindle Voyage is said to have better contrast because of its glass screen. I haven't compared myself.

Also, can you compare your Kobo to others of the same model? Are they all like that? Is it possible yours is just off?

JSWolf · 03-28-2017, 11:51 AM

Do you know how to side load fonts? If you do, I can point you to a font you can side load that does not show up as gray.

MJLee · 03-28-2017, 12:37 PM

Will try and bold the font and see if that helps (it did marginally). No, have never tried to sideload a font, but am willing to learn! And no, not first backlight device, I had and treasured a H20 for years before it started freezing and I sent it in for repair, they did not have a replacement so I got a refund. Unfortunately I do not know anyone else that has a Kobo Aura One, but possibly I can take it back to the store and ask them to check. Probably more happy to do that than having to refund me.

JSWolf · 03-28-2017, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJLee

Will try and bold the font and see if that helps (it did marginally). No, have never tried to sideload a font, but am willing to learn! And no, not first backlight device, I had and treasured a H20 for years before it started freezing and I sent it in for repair, they did not have a replacement so I got a refund. Unfortunately I do not know anyone else that has a Kobo Aura One, but possibly I can take it back to the store and ask them to check. Probably more happy to do that than having to refund me.

The font you want is available as an attachment in the first post. The one you want is titled ChareInk v1.1.zip. Unzip the contents of the ZIP file and then follow the directions below.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=184056

To side load fonts...
1. Plug in your Kobo to your computer
2. Create a directory called fonts in the root of your Kobo
3. Copy the four font files into the fonts directory
4. Eject your Kobo
5. Reboot your Kobo
6. Select a book and then select ChareInk as the font.

Pajamaman · 03-28-2017, 01:06 PM

I found the same problem with the Aura HD. I got rid of it.

I don't see why ChareInk will be any darker than bold Caecilia.

MJLee · 03-28-2017, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I found the same problem with the Aura HD. I got rid of it.

I don't see why ChareInk will be any darker than bold Caecilia.

Same approach just different font, eg Caecilla?

MJLee · 03-28-2017, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The font you want is available as an attachment in the first post. The one you want is titled ChareInk v1.1.zip. Unzip the contents of the ZIP file and then follow the directions below.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=184056

To side load fonts...
1. Plug in your Kobo to your computer
2. Create a directory called fonts in the root of your Kobo
3. Copy the four font files into the fonts directory
4. Eject your Kobo
5. Reboot your Kobo
6. Select a book and then select ChareInk as the font.

Thanks will definitely do it, as soon as my blasted ebooks in calibre has finished converting to kepub. You know those I removed when I was sans Kobo to save space.

AnemicOak · 03-28-2017, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJLee

Thanks will definitely do it, as soon as my blasted ebooks in calibre has finished converting to kepub. You know those I removed when I was sans Kobo to save space.

You know you can have Calibre convert to kePub on the fly while sending and ePub to the device and not have a kePub taking up space on your computer?

ZodWallop · 03-28-2017, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

You know you can have Calibre convert to kePub on the fly while sending and ePub to the device and not have a kePub taking up space on your computer?

Yes this. All the books in my Calibre library are epub. But all the files on my Kobo are kepub

MJLee · 03-29-2017, 03:19 AM

Thanks! Hopefully this will solve the problem at least partly. Yeah I know about the converting on the fly, that's what I did with the H20 but for some reason my piece of crap computer freezes if I do it that way. So I've had to reconvert every bloody book (in batches or again it would freeze) before ul to KA1. Yay.

Oh, have any of you guys come across a mention of a battery drain issue with the KA1, I found some mentions of it when I was googling?

Again thanks a ton for all the help and support.

Cheers

Bald Eagle · 03-29-2017, 05:44 AM

When you convert do you maybe include css that sets font and background color?

03-28-2017, 09:16 AM	#1
MJLee Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	Another dumb question regarding font colour Me again, hopefully you guys can help since obviously my google failed. So, the font on my Kobo is grey and the background is lighter grey. This has never happened to me on any previous e-reader, Kobo or Sony. For the sake of my sanity please tell me there is a solution to this, I want black font and white background. Help? I am tearing my hair over this.

03-28-2017, 11:22 AM	#3
MJLee Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	Well, it's dark grey on light grey independent of which book I try and read, and while I realise no background is truly white, ditto black font, it's extremely noticeable on the KBO which it hasn't been on previously readers. Since the main reason for using an e-reader is that my sight is very bad and I can increase the backlight and also font size, the greyness of font especially is very frustrating since it makes reading more difficult. Gaaah. Please is there a way of at least improving the darkness of the font? I have tried getting in touch with Kobo service but unfortunately I live in a backwater (Sweden) so no Kobo service here. Edit: Finally talked to Kobo Service in the UK and no there is nothing to do except use 100% backlight which does help a bit. Of course the problem then is that it will drain the battery a lot faster. We'll see just how much faster after I've put all the books onto the reader and recharged it. I did tell her that in the next firmware update please try and solve this problem. She promised to forward it to the development team. Doubtful it will help, but hey, why not? No not sideloaded, some retail, a lot of fanfic. Same problem. And yeah, all the text on the reader is the same, eg, dark grey/light grey. Well, in the meantime I guess I'll just use the 100% backlight and hope it doesn't shorten the battery too much. Last edited by MJLee; 03-28-2017 at 11:25 AM.

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03-28-2017, 10:01 AM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	No eInk screen has a truly white background (very light gray) or truly black font (very dark gray), but as you mention having had other devices I suspect you know that and are seeing something abnormal to that. Are the books giving you problems direct downloads from Kobo? Sideloaded ePub's? Sideloaded kePub's? All of the above? Are the menu's and stuff affected too?

03-28-2017, 11:49 AM	#5
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,479 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	Is this your first lighted reader? As Anemic mentioned, all lighted e-readers have slightly worse contrast than non-lighted readers. It's not a huge difference, but maybe you are more sensitive to it? The Kindle Voyage is said to have better contrast because of its glass screen. I haven't compared myself. Also, can you compare your Kobo to others of the same model? Are they all like that? Is it possible yours is just off?

03-28-2017, 11:51 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,750 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Do you know how to side load fonts? If you do, I can point you to a font you can side load that does not show up as gray.

03-28-2017, 12:37 PM	#7
MJLee Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	Will try and bold the font and see if that helps (it did marginally). No, have never tried to sideload a font, but am willing to learn! And no, not first backlight device, I had and treasured a H20 for years before it started freezing and I sent it in for repair, they did not have a replacement so I got a refund. Unfortunately I do not know anyone else that has a Kobo Aura One, but possibly I can take it back to the store and ask them to check. Probably more happy to do that than having to refund me.

03-28-2017, 01:06 PM	#9
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,861 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	I found the same problem with the Aura HD. I got rid of it. I don't see why ChareInk will be any darker than bold Caecilia.

03-29-2017, 03:19 AM	#14
MJLee Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: none	Thanks! Hopefully this will solve the problem at least partly. Yeah I know about the converting on the fly, that's what I did with the H20 but for some reason my piece of crap computer freezes if I do it that way. So I've had to reconvert every bloody book (in batches or again it would freeze) before ul to KA1. Yay. Oh, have any of you guys come across a mention of a battery drain issue with the KA1, I found some mentions of it when I was googling? Again thanks a ton for all the help and support. Cheers

03-29-2017, 05:44 AM	#15
Bald Eagle Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 1228255 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Aura H2O, Aura One, Libra Colour	When you convert do you maybe include css that sets font and background color?

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