ACCEPTED Convenient Reading UI (by uranreactor)

[TechAngel85]

Without having testing it and just using the shots/settings as reference, I'm okay with it.

[Mousetick]

36 minutes ago, z929669 said:

whilst maintaining the other features of this mod

FYI: Book and note font sizes are no longer configurable with this mod when using FO-RP. FO-RP sets the fixed sizes. So you won't get the smaller, book-like, print size any more.

If I were you I'd omit this mod completely from the guide rather than include it in a semi-broken state. Less confusion for users and support issues for you.

The effect doesn't bother me personally, in fact I hadn't noticed it until Z asked me what the 'No more laser-printed book' feature was about. I understand this can be distracting or impairing for those with degraded eyesight. I'd suggest perhaps trying to embiggen the font until you can read comfortably, especially with cursive fonts. Greg's comparison clearly shows the effect, but at the same time, it's a little apples to oranges, as the FO example uses a larger font.

 

[TechAngel85]

If that is the case, then I agree. If overwriting will break the mod's features, it would be best to pass on the mod. We typically don't include mods that could have these issues with subsets of our users. If this one is really desired, it would be best to ask the author if they could provide a crisper option for those that need it.

[Mousetick]

Last comparison screenshots from me. I've had enough and I'm done testing this stuff! 

It's not really a blur that's applied, it's more like some background shading. The text itself is sharp.

FO-RP > CR Default > CR Darker Text > FO-RP Again. All shots in lossless PNG, CR font size 22 to match FO-RP.

[TechAngel85]

1 hour ago, Mousetick said:

Last comparison screenshots from me. I've had enough and I'm done testing this stuff! 

It's not really a blur that's applied, it's more like some background shading. The text itself is sharp.

FO-RP > CR Default > CR Darker Text > FO-RP Again. All shots in lossless PNG, CR font size 22 to match FO-RP.

Yep, as I mentioned, the font looked like it had gaussian blur applied. Suppose it's just the background, but still the same outcome of making the font edges looked blurred a bit. Now in these compares is just looks like smudged ink as if the writer has dragging something as they wrote. Still doesn't look good, imo. If the author has the source files and had a good workflow it would should be a matter of minutes to remove that background shadowing/blur (or reduce it by 50-75%) and save it as an option. ...guess that depends on what they used to make the edits.

[z929669]

I will agree to disagree on this one. My eyes are worse than all of yours besides Greg, and I find it more pleasant to read with the 'softened' font. I really don't think it's softened enough to say it's blurry, and I don't think the ink looks smudged in the least.

I still vote for this one, but if Tech and Greg disagree, then I am overruled.

[TechAngel85]

Since no one has asked it, yet, I posted on the Nexus page to see if the author is flexible and willing to exclude the "No more laser-printed book" or provide alternative. I realize they may actually not have the source files from that mod to alter them, so maybe just including a different font option would be feasible.

Until then, I can't agree to include a mod that is going to negatively affect some users experiences without a way to negate without breaking features of said mod. That's not what Step is about.

Before anyone comes up and says there are other mods, well, that is fine. Lets review them, but if they're included there should be a way to negate the negative effects for those users. Granted, if this mod doesn't require to be patched (which it shouldn't looking at plugin), then if can be included and anyone finding it difficult could simple skip it. (note about font or link to forum to read about possible issue with font should be put on page, if accepted.)

[TechAngel85]

22 hours ago, Mousetick said:

FYI: Book and note font sizes are no longer configurable with this mod when using FO-RP. FO-RP sets the fixed sizes. So you won't get the smaller, book-like, print size any more.

Did you happen to try it with the Book.swf from this mod overwriting Font Overhaul? There is a discussion on the page saying the Book.swf should always overwrite other mods for this mod's INI settings to work.

[z929669]

1 hour ago, TechAngel85 said:

Did you happen to try it with the Book.swf from this mod overwriting Font Overhaul? There is a discussion on the page saying the Book.swf should always overwrite other mods for this mod's INI settings to work.

Letting book.swf override FO's by setting FO's to hidden produces exact same result as if not installing the "Realistic Print" option. This mod's INI is tied to book.swf. FO also includes books.swf, but that obviously is how FO is setting custom fonts. Installing the Realistic Print option is what provides book.swf from FO, which claims to do this:

Quote

Installs the new book menu file that adds a blending mode to the text and transparent book illustration textures to make books appear more realistic. Also fixes an incorrectly embedded font in the book.swf file. If handwriting is used in certain books, it will retain the vanilla font rather than having the new one provided by this mod or any other mod. Not many books do this, so no big deal honestly

 

[TechAngel85]

1 hour ago, z929669 said:

Letting book.swf override FO's by setting FO's to hidden produces exact same result as if not installing the "Realistic Print" option. This mod's INI is tied to book.swf. FO also includes books.swf, but that obviously is how FO is setting custom fonts. Installing the Realistic Print option is what provides book.swf from FO, which claims to do this:

 

I assume our current option of "Fertigo Pro" doesn't work with the mod? I don't understand the change from that to realistic option, I guess.

EDIT:
I see that we are installing that. I mean if that is the issue, have we tested not installing it and overwriting with FO?

EDIT:
Nvm, I see that in the OP. It just looks like this mod's Book.swf, needs to remove the effect, else we're stuck with it.

[z929669]

10 hours ago, TechAngel85 said:

I assume our current option of "Fertigo Pro" doesn't work with the mod? I don't understand the change from that to realistic option, I guess.

EDIT:
I see that we are installing that. I mean if that is the issue, have we tested not installing it and overwriting with FO?

EDIT:
Nvm, I see that in the OP. It just looks like this mod's Book.swf, needs to remove the effect, else we're stuck with it.

Yes, that's what I had thought I implied just previous (and @Mousetick before me) ... book.swf from this mod is required to use this mod's fonts, and it doesn't seem to be decoupled from the softer text by overriding the FO Realistic Print option, because that feature is specifically being implemented by that mod's bood.swf. It looks like the rest of FO is implemented by books.swf.

[Mousetick]

Yes. FO has two parts:

1. The font overhaul per-se: books.swf (the book font), handwritten.swf (the handwritten font), interface.swf (the UI font), and fontconfig.txt to override vanilla's configuration.
2. Realistic Print option: book.swf (the book/note formatting template if you will), and a retexture for some drawings seen in books.

CRUI also has book.swf: it's used for making font sizes configurable, and for the 'No more laser-printed book' effect. So both clash and one has to win in the end.

It's unfortunate that this mod includes the feature (which is actually taken from another mod) without an option to use it or not. Another classic example of scope creep, and of tying up two unrelated features together: function vs. style.

But it looks like a solution is in sight: Tech asked, and the MA answered! There is now a 'patch' available under Optional Files. I'm going to give it a try...

[Greg]

I just downloaded and installed the optional file and this is significantly improved.

[Mousetick]

FO > CRUI + FO Compatibility Patch (font size 22)

Notes:

• FO and CRUI can be installed in any order as long as FO compatibility patch is installed last, overwriting them both.
• FO Compatibility Patch is a misnomer. The patch simply removes the background effect, it can be used with or without FO.
• CRUI Darker Book Text patch is mutually exclusive with the compatibility patch. Either one can be added according to taste, but not both.
• FO-RP option can still be installed with FO, if one wants the retexture that comes with it (/textures/interface/books). I don't know how to demonstrate its effect as I don't know specific books that show drawings. But the textures look nice when viewed on their own.

[Greg]

Here are a few you can use that contain images. There may be a few others, but these are difficult to find.

123 Abc Def Ghijklmnop Qrstu VWXYZ123456789 (test book)
A Minor Maze
Annals of the Dragonguard
Bolar's Writ
Journal - Gratian's
Journal - Ulyn's

While digging through books, I found "Dragon Language: Myth no More" has overlapping text on one of the pages near the end. This book is composed of a mixture of English and Dragon language and it looks as if two pages of text are overlaid on one page. This issue does not seem to be related to this mod so I'll have to dig deeper to determine what's causing it.

EDIT: I reproduced the issue with Dragon Language: Myth no More with a pure vanilla game so I'm guessing Bethesda broke something.