Night mode problem with one book

Valkrider · 10-28-2018, 04:15 AM

I usually read in Night Mode on my iPad as I find it easier on my eyes.

I have just got a third book from one particular author for review. The TOC and forward all work perfectly in night mode, however, the main book content does not display as it seems that the font is hard-coded as black.

I have looked at the CSS within the book and can't see anything obvious, I have contacted the author and he doesn't know but has not told me what he uses to prepare his ePub books.

Anyone got any bright ideas?

MartyTX · 10-28-2018, 12:52 PM

Two things to try (not "bright" ideas, fairly dim, but might work):

- Marvin has 5 color presets to play with. Create or modify one of the presets. Try a medium gray paper color to see if text becomes visible.

- Change the "publisher's layout" setting. If it is on, turn off. If off, turn on.

Neither of the above will "fix" the epub, but might offer a preset that makes the epub easier on the eyes.

Marty

Valkrider · 10-29-2018, 03:51 AM

Thanks for the suggestions @MartyTX that is what I have done with the colour presets but publishers mode makes no difference.

Looks like I will have to dig through the CSS some more

Turtle91 · 10-30-2018, 08:15 AM

I've seen this problem before with books from smashwords. Their guide tells authors to hard code the color of the text to black...apparently that is so they can use the same file to print it on paper...

You will either need to return the book to the publisher, or open the book in an editor like Sigil or Calibre, and edit the css file to remove any references to "color:___"...while there I would change any references from "indent:___in" to "indent:___em" so it's not a fixed distance indent - rather it changes with font size...but that's just my preference.

Valkrider · 10-31-2018, 04:18 AM

Thanks @Turtle91 I have looked in the CSS, as I said originally, and the color is not hard coded in either of the CSS files or in the html files which is weird. I have found that the book was created in Jutoh and probably had it looks like the 'generate colour' option in Jutoh wasn't turned off BUT how this works without appearing in either the CSS or HTML I don't know. The author is checking out his Jutoh settings.

Turtle91 · 10-31-2018, 07:24 PM

Hmmm... the only other thing you could check is selecting "Publisher's Layout" within Marvin. That would tell you if it is a book publisher issue or a Marvin issue.

Select the 'Aa' while you are in the book. Then select the 'Aa' tab. Scroll down a little bit and turn on "Publisher's Layout". If that fixes the problem then you have narrowed it down to something within Marvin's settings.

I hope that helps...

Valkrider · 11-01-2018, 04:11 AM

Thanks I did some more digging and found it in an inline style in the html and have altered it. Definitely not a Marvin problem, as I said above publisher mode made it even worse, but an author issue. I have now given him a corrected epub book.

MartyTX · 11-01-2018, 11:01 AM

Valkrider,

Thanks for explaining the cause of the problem. Good old Marvin isn't perfect, but it gets wrongly blamed too many times!

The author got far more than a "review" from you.

Marty

10-28-2018, 04:15 AM	#1
Valkrider Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	Night mode problem with one book I usually read in Night Mode on my iPad as I find it easier on my eyes. I have just got a third book from one particular author for review. The TOC and forward all work perfectly in night mode, however, the main book content does not display as it seems that the font is hard-coded as black. I have looked at the CSS within the book and can't see anything obvious, I have contacted the author and he doesn't know but has not told me what he uses to prepare his ePub books. Anyone got any bright ideas?

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10-28-2018, 12:52 PM	#2
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	Two things to try (not "bright" ideas, fairly dim, but might work): - Marvin has 5 color presets to play with. Create or modify one of the presets. Try a medium gray paper color to see if text becomes visible. - Change the "publisher's layout" setting. If it is on, turn off. If off, turn on. Neither of the above will "fix" the epub, but might offer a preset that makes the epub easier on the eyes. Marty

10-29-2018, 03:51 AM	#3
Valkrider Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	Thanks for the suggestions @MartyTX that is what I have done with the colour presets but publishers mode makes no difference. Looks like I will have to dig through the CSS some more

10-30-2018, 08:15 AM	#4
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,225 Karma: 19000635 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	I've seen this problem before with books from smashwords. Their guide tells authors to hard code the color of the text to black...apparently that is so they can use the same file to print it on paper... You will either need to return the book to the publisher, or open the book in an editor like Sigil or Calibre, and edit the css file to remove any references to "color:___"...while there I would change any references from "indent:___in" to "indent:___em" so it's not a fixed distance indent - rather it changes with font size...but that's just my preference.

10-31-2018, 04:18 AM	#5
Valkrider Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	Thanks @Turtle91 I have looked in the CSS, as I said originally, and the color is not hard coded in either of the CSS files or in the html files which is weird. I have found that the book was created in Jutoh and probably had it looks like the 'generate colour' option in Jutoh wasn't turned off BUT how this works without appearing in either the CSS or HTML I don't know. The author is checking out his Jutoh settings.

10-31-2018, 07:24 PM	#6
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,225 Karma: 19000635 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Hmmm... the only other thing you could check is selecting "Publisher's Layout" within Marvin. That would tell you if it is a book publisher issue or a Marvin issue. Select the 'Aa' while you are in the book. Then select the 'Aa' tab. Scroll down a little bit and turn on "Publisher's Layout". If that fixes the problem then you have narrowed it down to something within Marvin's settings. I hope that helps...

11-01-2018, 04:11 AM	#7
Valkrider Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	Thanks I did some more digging and found it in an inline style in the html and have altered it. Definitely not a Marvin problem, as I said above publisher mode made it even worse, but an author issue. I have now given him a corrected epub book.

11-01-2018, 11:01 AM	#8
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	Valkrider, Thanks for explaining the cause of the problem. Good old Marvin isn't perfect, but it gets wrongly blamed too many times! The author got far more than a "review" from you. Marty