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Bedazzled532
Bedazzled532
Inspiring
June 26, 2023
Answered

ePub font issues in Indesign

  • June 26, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 1791 views

Hello

 

I have created an epub using Indesign. Its showing proper font in Adobe Digital Edition but for some reason it is not showing the desired font in Kindle previewer 3 in my Windows PC.

Earlier it was not showing the desired font in Adobe Digital Edition also but I opened the epub in Sigil and it modified something. I saved it back and it worked in ADE. I need to make this work in KDP for Windows.

 

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks

I have attached 2 screenshots. One for ADE and one for KDP3

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

    The answer is above: use Calibre, and make sure your client does as well, so that you are both looking at exactly the same result.

     

    Most EPUB readers cut corners or have "better ideas" that mean they don't display documents the same way as any other reader. The only two I trust to give a standard display are Calibre (which still has a few quirks), or Thorium, which should be the industry standard but is presently plagued by a font-sizing glitch. Viewing an EPUB in any other reader will show a different result. It's inherent in using EPUB, and a huge problem for designers. A bigger problem when clients or buyers use another reader and get substandard results.

    1 reply

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    June 26, 2023

    First, ADE is such a poor EPUB viewer that you should never use it — really, for anything. Use a more standard EPUB viewer such as Thorium or (my current choice) Calibre. These will give you a much more conventional view of your export. (EPUB viewers vary enormously; most common ones are non-standard and will display confusing results if you're trying to create or optimize an export.)

     

    Sigil is rarely needed for InDesign EPUB development. It's a tool for the old model of "build a book" one component at a time.

     

    And Kindle is not EPUB. It imports EPUB very well but has many of its own rules and quirks, so it's rare to have an EPUB that displays optimally on a good EPUB reader and on Kindle (Previewer).

     

    You don't say if your export is to fixed-layout (FXL) or reflowable. If the latter, know that Kindle strongly resists using embedded and specified fonts. It can be done, but among other things it comes down to the user selecting "Publisher Font" in their font list... and I know from experience and feedback very few user ever change the reader font from one of the internal options. Basically, don't specify fonts and don't embed them in reflowable EPUB. You can get plenty of artistic and graphic range from basic sans and serif, with well-optimized spacing and judicious use of color.

     

    FXL is inherently font-based, so if you're using fixed layout and not getting the fonts, there are other solutions.

    Bedazzled532
    Bedazzled532Author
    Inspiring
    June 26, 2023

    @James Gifford—NitroPress Thank you so much for the reply.

    I have attached some of the screenshot while exporting my text to epub. 

    If ADE is not good and KDP will not help then how do I check epub before sending it to my client.

    I want to make sure all is working fine before even showing him the first proof.

    Thanks

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPressCorrect answer
    Legend
    June 26, 2023

    The answer is above: use Calibre, and make sure your client does as well, so that you are both looking at exactly the same result.

     

    Most EPUB readers cut corners or have "better ideas" that mean they don't display documents the same way as any other reader. The only two I trust to give a standard display are Calibre (which still has a few quirks), or Thorium, which should be the industry standard but is presently plagued by a font-sizing glitch. Viewing an EPUB in any other reader will show a different result. It's inherent in using EPUB, and a huge problem for designers. A bigger problem when clients or buyers use another reader and get substandard results.

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