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AppA
Known Participant
March 28, 2020
Answered

How to embed a font in Epub format

  • March 28, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 19947 views

Hello

 

1

I want to make an e-book in the fixed layout format. The file format should be Epub. I am exporting my file from Indesign, but I do not find any option or setting to embed a font. So how do I embed a font in Indesign, or is it done automatically when I export to Indesign?

 

2

And of course I need my chosen font to be seen by the end users on their Epub-readers, without any conversion of the font, that I am using in the file.

 

Are all Adobe fonts embeddable? And how about TTF and OTF, are these font types also embeddable?

 

I am using the font Foco (an Adobe font) and I have a license to Adobe Creative Cloud, but does this license allow me to use and distribute an Adobe font embedded inside a file in the Epub format.

 

3

And if you have any other advise on what to take note of, then please share it. 

 

Does making an Epub require skills in CSS and HTML or any other programming language?

 

Thank you

Correct answer manal shanableh

Sorry, I missed that this thread was about FXL EPUB.

 

Fixed layout EPUB, at least as exported from InDesign, always embeds the fonts. There is no export or menu option to control or manage it. 

 

CSS is the document style sheet. It can define fonts used for each style, and include font loading directives, but the actual inclusion of font files in the EPUB document is managed by the export process. CSS has nothing to do with that aspect. 


 

i just solved the issue for css, edited it and fixed the issue with RTL style to be readed well in an epub reader, last days, i had to fix the arabic text i fixed epub with OUTLINE the text. but now its DONE 

 

2 replies

rob day
rob day
Community Expert
March 28, 2020

Are all Adobe fonts embeddable? And how about TTF and OTF, are these font types also embeddable?

 

Yes, Adobe fonts are included with the .epub package and are listed in the ePub’s CSS style sheet.

 

 

Does making an Epub require skills in CSS and HTML or any other programming language?

 

There is the option to add additional CSS style sheets, but that’s not a requirement.

    A
    AndrewC1264
    Known Participant
    February 7, 2022

    So... once again - extremely let down by Adobe apps.

     

    I have two books I have created for authors - gorgeous 250 and 480 page books that can only be handled as fixed layout epubs. InDesign handles this remarkably well.

     

    I saw a few issues with overlapping images - looks great in print - but doesn't export. This needed to be in CMYK colour for print, so PNG was not possible in the print layouts, and updating both books given the amount of images... not possible. So the authors were OK with opaque overlaying in the epubs.

     

    But where InDesign fails miserably - yet again - it's always something... embedding fonts. Why is there no checkbox in the export process that specifically requests embedding fonts?

     

    So, of course I look up all of the help online and find many complaints and a few resources. Adobe cannot possibly not know this shortcoming in their flagship software. Why is this Adobe?

     

    Anyways, if a simple little app like Sigil [www.sigil-ebook.com] actually worked I wouldn't be pulling my hair out, but Apple deems it as malware.

     

    So - appears the only solution is to hack it open and inject custom css. Adobe can't even provide within its own app a simple "embed font" css stylesheet. Do I risk using a template from online only to find out it has hundreds of lines of code that adversely affect my book in other ways? Nope.

     

    Adobe [and I know Adobe is not listening - I've posted in these forums before, Adobe is nowhere to be found due to their extreme lack of support, i.e. - if I wanted the manual read to me I would get my nephew to do so.

     

    I need to embed fonts in two major book projects and once again, Adobe has let me down.

     

    Need to stop paying all this money for such lacking software.

      James Gifford—NitroPress
      James Gifford—NitroPress
      Brainiac
      February 7, 2022

      Very few tools do a good job with EPUB, which is a 12-year-old standard no one has ever really implemented correctly. ID does an adequate job but to bridge the gap, yes, you have to get into some CSS fine-tuning. It's not that hard, and is all the freeware/shareware editor-builder-managers enable anyway.

       

      You can embed fonts with reflowable EPUB, which is the only version that should be used in the modern era anyway.

       

      Fixed-page EPUB is, IMHO, a largely obsolete format. If you want fixed pages that preserve all your layout and presentation, use PDF.

       

      Derek Cross
      Derek Cross
      Community Expert
      March 28, 2020

      Adobe Fonts are licenced for use on ePubs. OTF fonts are recommended.

      Linkedin Learning has some excellent online video tutorials on creating ePubs with InDesign. You can get a 30-day free trial.

      Knowing a bit of HTML and CSS is helpful in creating ePubs. 

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