HT202372: Use custom fonts in iBooks Author

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Alistair Gunn

Q: Font substitution in iBooks Author

Hi All

 

The font I'm using (HelveticaNeue Thin) at first appears in my iBook on my iPad, when I hit the Preview button, but when the preview has finished loading the font defaults to a different font (possibly Helvetica Regular?). Consequently the ends of each of my lines of text are being cropped.

The font being I've selected is an Open Type font and it was chosen from the font format bar, so should be supported.

Could it be conflicting with a font with the same name on my iPad?

 

The other font I've used is fine.

 

Any help to rectify this problem gratefully received.

 

Thanks

Posted on Jun 21, 2013 12:46 AM

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Q: Font substitution in iBooks Author

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  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Jun 21, 2013 2:55 AM in response to Alistair Gunn
    Level 9 (79,469 points)
    Jun 21, 2013 2:55 AM in response to Alistair Gunn

    Try testing by actually exporting to .ibooks format and transferring the file to your iPad.  I think Preview may not always be reliable for things like this.

  • by presentperfect,

    presentperfect presentperfect Sep 10, 2013 6:57 AM in response to Alistair Gunn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 6:57 AM in response to Alistair Gunn

    Same issue here. My web site has a .ttf font called Gentium, and I wanted to use it in my iBook. So I downloaded the font (no copyright issue) and, using Format=>Fonts=>Show Fonts (or shortcut Command+T), I substituted the new font into the book.

     

    But Preview on iPad does not show my new font. Here's what to do: File=>Export=>iBooks, and send it to someplace like Dropbox. Using your iPad, go to your Dropbox, find the file (extension .ibooks), and click the icon in the far upper right, which shows an arrow pointing down. Then click Open in iBooks.

     

    That should do it. You will now see your book with your replacement font.

     

    Apple "obfuscates" your font when you export (and eventually publish) your iBook. They "protect" it from being changed back to the generic font. I'm an English teacher, and it took me awhie to figure out what they meant.

  • by dbrekke,

    dbrekke dbrekke Nov 4, 2013 7:18 AM in response to presentperfect
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 7:18 AM in response to presentperfect

    I have the same problem as describe above, and have tried most ways of moving and previewing/opening the book on my iPad (also via Dropbox), but always with the same problem, the fonts are substituted ... annoying....

    I think the problem started with iOS7...  Books created earlier still works fine.

    So the question is still open, - why does it happen and how to fix it...?

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Nov 4, 2013 7:43 AM in response to dbrekke
    Level 9 (79,469 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 7:43 AM in response to dbrekke

    dbrekke wrote:

     

    always with the same problem, the fonts are substituted

     

    Have you updated your iBooks Author to 2.1.1?  That should fix the problem.  Nothing to do with iOS or OS X.

  • by dbrekke,

    dbrekke dbrekke Nov 4, 2013 11:36 AM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 11:36 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

    It solved just a little part of the problem. Of three fonts that I use, only one is now previewed correctly, and one weight (500) of the second is shown. The rest of that font and the third font is still substituted to something like helvetica, except for in the TOC and the chapter frontpage where they are shown correct. Weird... and rather unreliable.

    The TOC shows correct fonts in the miniatures, but substitutes as soon as I open a page.

    Seems like the iBA 2.1.1 update was a bit premature...?


    DaGB

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Nov 4, 2013 11:45 AM in response to dbrekke
    Level 9 (79,469 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 11:45 AM in response to dbrekke

    Are you using the Preview function?  If so, that is not valid for testing this. You must export to .ibooks format and transfer your file to your device manually and open in iBooks to see what is happening.

     

    What is the full filename of the font which is not working at all?

     

    Have you found anyone else reporting 2.1.1 not working for this since it was released 10/30/13?

  • by dbrekke,

    dbrekke dbrekke Nov 4, 2013 11:55 AM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 11:55 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Maybe a bit much work to go all that way for testing preview? Not like it should be, - or like it was earlier ... and it would increase my time spent on making these books so much that I will consider dropping iBA and go for standard epub. The books will not look as good, but the price is to high...

    The non-working fonts full filename is Veneer.ttf, and is describes as an Open type true Type in  FontBook.l

     

    DaGB

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Nov 4, 2013 12:02 PM in response to dbrekke
    Level 9 (79,469 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 12:02 PM in response to dbrekke

    dbrekke wrote:

     

    Maybe a bit much work to go all that way for testing preview?

     

    You can ask Apple to fix the Preview function via

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback

     

    By all means go for standard epub if it meets your needs.  That way your book can be read everywhere and not just on an iPad or OS 10.9.

  • by dbrekke,

    dbrekke dbrekke Nov 4, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 12:11 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

    Well, we'll see...  Thanks for the response and help, anyway.

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Nov 4, 2013 12:13 PM in response to dbrekke
    Level 9 (79,469 points)
    Nov 4, 2013 12:13 PM in response to dbrekke

    If you want to send me a copy of that font I will try it on my system (tom at bluesky dot org).