Hacks Changing the reader font without a hack [K3]

NiLuJe · 09-20-2010, 01:05 PM

Hello again! In this quick little post I'll explain how to change the font used in the reader to use a custom font, without having to use the proper full-fledged font hack.

Note: FW 3.x/4.x only.

It's not as complete/powerful as the full hack, you'll only be able to change the reader font, exactly the same way as the official font switch in the [Aa] menu.

First, make sure your Kindle is on the Home screen before plugging it to your computer.

You'll have to edit the reader config file, which is located, once your Kindle is plugged to your computer, in the system\com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader folder. (Att, Windows users: depending on your Windows Explorer settings, this folder might be hidden. To workaround this without messing with Windows Explorer settings, just enter the folder name in the address bar). Once you're there, open the reader.pref file in your favorite UNIX-aware text editor. (Yes, it's the same file where you can tweak the horizontal margins)

In there, just before the

Code:

FONT_FAMILY=

line, add:

Code:

ALLOW_USER_FONT=true

and replace the FONT_FAMILY= line with:

Code:

FONT_FAMILY=alt

Once that's done, we'll have to put our custom fonts where the Kindle expects them...

In the root of your Kindle, create a folder named fonts. In this new folder, you'll have to put your custom fonts with very specific names, according to their style, kinda like with the Fonts hack.

Regular: alt-Regular.ttf
Bold: alt-Bold.ttf
Italic: alt-Italic.ttf
Bold Italic: alt-BoldItalic.ttf

And that's it! Eject your Kindle, and Restart it. (Or, if you can, just restart the framework).

You Kindle should now be using your custom font instead of the usual Serif/Serif Condensed/Sans Serif

.

As always with this kind of tinkering, it won't survive if you try to change this specific setting (font choice) in the [Aa] menu. But every other setting (ie. font size) in the menu should be fine

.

On a sidenote, Amazon also has user screensavers ready under their sleeves, but I haven't been able to enable this without a jailbreak... (Cf. this & that).

Note that the Kindle software now uses TrueType bytecode hinting instructions, and hint at the strongest level possible. (In terms of FT/FC settings: hintstyle=hintfull, hinting=true & autohint=false).

OpenType CFF fonts work fine too, without converting them

.

bojzi · 09-20-2010, 01:34 PM

Thank you!

This works great, even allows you to change back to default fonts very easy.

[Ahmed] · 09-20-2010, 01:55 PM

Works.

You don't even have to stay away from the aA-menu. Changing font size etc works perfectly fine. Only changing the fonts will revert the change.

edit: Now I just have to find a good looking Garamond that comes as a TTF.

DAVID FION · 09-20-2010, 02:22 PM

merci beaucoup !

911jason · 09-20-2010, 04:13 PM

You continue to amaze NiLuJe!!! Going font shopping now...

P.S. I like the K3's sans-serif font quite a bit, but the customizer in me has to at least give this a try! =)

diokdin · 09-20-2010, 05:36 PM

thanks for this, I might try this out thouh I like the san serif fine.

But it's still wonderful to have this option.

daffy4u · 09-20-2010, 07:01 PM

This one isn't working for me. I used notepad++ to edit the file. After adding the fonts in the new font folder, ejecting and restarting I had the same font (which I could not change via Aa) and none of my content would open.

Even after reverting back to the original version of reader.pref file, I still could not open any content. I've just done a factory reset and all is well again.

Here are some images, maybe someone could tell me where I made my misstep.

TomF · 09-20-2010, 08:38 PM

Edit: post deleted

flandroid · 09-20-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Here are some images, maybe someone could tell me where I made my misstep.

Hyphens, not underscores, chief.

daffy4u · 09-20-2010, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flandroid

Hyphens, not underscores, chief.

Ah-ha!

Thanks, I'll give it another try.

daffy4u · 09-20-2010, 10:52 PM

Still no font changing love.

NiLuJe · 09-21-2010, 04:40 AM

Hmm, a few things to check:

* Make sure you're on the Home screen before plugging the Kindle
* Yep, hyphens, not underscores ;P
* Make sure the font is valid.
* Restart your Kindle afterwards, *without* trying to open a book before that.

Richey79 · 09-21-2010, 05:07 AM

Trying this.

Thanks again, NiLuJe.

(P.S. I couldn't find K:\system/com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader , might be an idea to change the OP to reference system\com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader

.)

Yup, my scripting abilities extend about as far as proofreading

.

Edit: Working. You can even use normal Notepad to edit the profile - you just need to press enter so that FONT_FAMILY=alt and ALLOW_USER_FONT=true are on their own lines in the file.

Amazon's font isn't pretty (to my eyes), but is readable at a tiny size. Don't think I'll go back, though.

NiLuJe · 09-21-2010, 05:08 AM

@Richey79: Argh, damn Windows path separators. I'll never get used to that.

Thanks

.

[Ahmed] · 09-21-2010, 10:16 AM

Blegh, finding a nice TTF is harder than I thought. Theoretically I'd have a nice TTF Garamond, but it's either too small and thin (bad contrast then) or too big for my taste.

What fonts do you guys use?

09-20-2010, 01:05 PM	#1
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,501 Karma: 26047188 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Changing the reader font without a hack [K3/K4] Hello again! In this quick little post I'll explain how to change the font used in the reader to use a custom font, without having to use the proper full-fledged font hack. Note: FW 3.x/4.x only. It's not as complete/powerful as the full hack, you'll only be able to change the reader font, exactly the same way as the official font switch in the [Aa] menu. First, make sure your Kindle is on the Home screen before plugging it to your computer. You'll have to edit the reader config file, which is located, once your Kindle is plugged to your computer, in the system\com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader folder. (Att, Windows users: depending on your Windows Explorer settings, this folder might be hidden. To workaround this without messing with Windows Explorer settings, just enter the folder name in the address bar). Once you're there, open the reader.pref file in your favorite UNIX-aware text editor. (Yes, it's the same file where you can tweak the horizontal margins) In there, just before the Code: FONT_FAMILY= line, add: Code: ALLOW_USER_FONT=true and replace the FONT_FAMILY= line with: Code: FONT_FAMILY=alt Once that's done, we'll have to put our custom fonts where the Kindle expects them... In the root of your Kindle, create a folder named fonts. In this new folder, you'll have to put your custom fonts with very specific names, according to their style, kinda like with the Fonts hack. Regular: alt-Regular.ttf Bold: alt-Bold.ttf Italic: alt-Italic.ttf Bold Italic: alt-BoldItalic.ttf And that's it! Eject your Kindle, and Restart it. (Or, if you can, just restart the framework). You Kindle should now be using your custom font instead of the usual Serif/Serif Condensed/Sans Serif . As always with this kind of tinkering, it won't survive if you try to change this specific setting (font choice) in the [Aa] menu. But every other setting (ie. font size) in the menu should be fine . On a sidenote, Amazon also has user screensavers ready under their sleeves, but I haven't been able to enable this without a jailbreak... (Cf. this & that). Note that the Kindle software now uses TrueType bytecode hinting instructions, and hint at the strongest level possible. (In terms of FT/FC settings: hintstyle=hintfull, hinting=true & autohint=false). OpenType CFF fonts work fine too, without converting them . Last edited by NiLuJe; 11-04-2011 at 02:40 PM. Reason: Yep, they do.

09-20-2010, 01:55 PM	#3
[Ahmed] Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle³	Works. You don't even have to stay away from the aA-menu. Changing font size etc works perfectly fine. Only changing the fonts will revert the change. edit: Now I just have to find a good looking Garamond that comes as a TTF. Last edited by [Ahmed]; 09-20-2010 at 02:08 PM.

09-20-2010, 07:01 PM	#7
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	This one isn't working for me. I used notepad++ to edit the file. After adding the fonts in the new font folder, ejecting and restarting I had the same font (which I could not change via Aa) and none of my content would open. Even after reverting back to the original version of reader.pref file, I still could not open any content. I've just done a factory reset and all is well again. Here are some images, maybe someone could tell me where I made my misstep. Attached Thumbnails

09-21-2010, 04:40 AM	#12
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,501 Karma: 26047188 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Hmm, a few things to check: * Make sure you're on the Home screen before plugging the Kindle * Yep, hyphens, not underscores ;P * Make sure the font is valid. * Restart your Kindle afterwards, without trying to open a book before that. Last edited by NiLuJe; 10-11-2010 at 11:07 PM.

09-21-2010, 05:07 AM	#13
Richey79 mrkrgnao Posts: 241 Karma: 237248 Join Date: May 2010 Device: PRS650, K3 Wireless, Galaxy S3, iPad 3.	Trying this. Thanks again, NiLuJe. (P.S. I couldn't find K:\system/com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader , might be an idea to change the OP to reference system\com.amazon.ebook.booklet.reader .) Yup, my scripting abilities extend about as far as proofreading . Edit: Working. You can even use normal Notepad to edit the profile - you just need to press enter so that FONT_FAMILY=alt and ALLOW_USER_FONT=true are on their own lines in the file. Amazon's font isn't pretty (to my eyes), but is readable at a tiny size. Don't think I'll go back, though. Last edited by Richey79; 09-21-2010 at 05:42 AM.

09-20-2010, 01:34 PM	#2
bojzi Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 13 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Device: Kindle 3	Thank you! This works great, even allows you to change back to default fonts very easy.

09-20-2010, 02:22 PM	#4
DAVID FION Snail eater Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Device: Kindle 3	merci beaucoup !

09-20-2010, 04:13 PM	#5
911jason Zealot Posts: 111 Karma: 128 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Simi Valley, CA Device: Kobo Libra Colour & Kindle Oasis	You continue to amaze NiLuJe!!! Going font shopping now... P.S. I like the K3's sans-serif font quite a bit, but the customizer in me has to at least give this a try! =)

09-20-2010, 05:36 PM	#6
diokdin Groupie Posts: 187 Karma: 46 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: TN, US Device: iPhone 4, Astak EZ Pocket Pro, Kindle 3 3G	thanks for this, I might try this out thouh I like the san serif fine. But it's still wonderful to have this option.

09-20-2010, 08:38 PM	#8
TomF Kindle Enthusiast Posts: 243 Karma: 1818 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Device: Kindle 3G Graphite, Kindle Fire	Edit: post deleted

09-20-2010, 10:52 PM	#11
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Still no font changing love.

09-21-2010, 05:08 AM	#14
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,501 Karma: 26047188 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	@Richey79: Argh, damn Windows path separators. I'll never get used to that. Thanks .

09-21-2010, 10:16 AM	#15
[Ahmed] Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle³	Blegh, finding a nice TTF is harder than I thought. Theoretically I'd have a nice TTF Garamond, but it's either too small and thin (bad contrast then) or too big for my taste. What fonts do you guys use?

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