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Indesign font changes size when published...need advice

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
March 14, 2023
2 replies
1289 views

I used Merriwether 12 pt type with 14 pt leading for my book. When I got the proof from Amazon KDP, the type was large, like 14 or 16 pt. I had to male a PDF from Indesign document but I'm not sure if that is the problem. Does anyone know what happened?

Type

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Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Well, to be fair, InDesign only did what you told it to do. 🙂

Did you not print out any pages before you sent it to KDP?

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

Did the page layouts from KDP match those of your PDF? The font size can't have changed without changes to the text flow and pagination.

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ricks87571966Author

Participating Frequently

Yes James, KDP layout matches the PDF. So you're onto the problem...it's not KDP or PDF...it's Indesign. Somehow, my 12 pt Merriweather needs to be change to at least 10 pt to accommodate the large type face. As Eugene above said, it is too big of a pt size. It looks fine as an E book but the physical book proof looks like a Dr Seuss book (not that there's anything wrong with his books - my audience isn't gtrade school kids). Do you think I need to do the book over in 8 or 10 pt Merriwether and sned a couple chapters into KDP to see actual proofs before revising the whole book?

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

I'd do a few sample pages and ask a local printers to print them off for you - might cost a minimal amount - but it would be worth it.

If only to check the type size is suitable.

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

How do you know it's 14pt?

12pt is quite large.

If it's 12pt in your document then it's 12 pt in print - unless the printed piece was scaled up in size which would account for the difference in size.

It's quite a 'large' font - here it is alongside Arial 12pt

As you can see 12pt Merriwehter font alongside another font at 12pt is quite large.

For a printed piece I wouldn't use 12pt for any body text.

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ricks87571966Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks Eugene, good question. I don't know if it's 14 pt. I used to have one of those clear pt size charts where you could lay it on top of type t determine the size. But your eaxample was revealing: Merriwhether is a heavier font but I liked the thickness of it. So It looks bigger than Arial 12 pt. Most revealing is "I wouldn't use 12pt for any body text". I thought that 12pt was the standard body tesxr for books, mags, etc.. I wish I had known this before I made a 153 book! I put a quarter on the printed page of the proof of the book so you can see my "12pt" Merriweather...which is too large and the leading is also way too big (14 pt).

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Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

12pt is quite large for body text.

The right font size is something that suits the content - you don't want it too small it can't be read. or too big that it looks childish - unless you're going for childrens' market - or perhaps visually impaired (where the visually impaired market would have guidelines).

Depends on what the content is and if that font size suits.

Typically you want about 60-80 characters per line for readability in a typical book.

Hard to know what way this is going to look.

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