Question, or Feature Request: Default Font Type for Posts

Is it possible to set the default font type for your posts? Instead of having to select all my text and choose the font type I would like to use every time, it would be cool if I could set a default font type. Then when I create a new post, instead of a blank space it will have something like the following in the message body section:

Where the curly braces are replaced with square brackets obviously, I just used curly braces to avoid having the text disappear.

If this is already possible, I cannot seem to find where I set it.

Tried looking at your posts on a portable device like a tablet or phone? Many of our readers do. For readability, your preferred font is overridden with the canonical font for the site. I have to say that even on a regular laptop I find your preferred font not all that easy to read compared to the forum default.

Jon wrote in post #17887493
I have to say that even on a regular laptop I find your preferred font not all that easy to read compared to the forum default.

I agree. There are better ways to show your creativity.

Jon wrote in post #17887493
I find your preferred font not all that easy to read compared to the forum default.

Having originally learned to read from old books, I find a serif font, such as the one in heldGaze's post, very easy. It has more characters per line than the default font, though, and would be easier if made 2 points larger.

OhLook wrote in post #17887711
Having originally learned to read from old books, I find a serif font, such as the one in heldGaze's post, very easy. It has more characters per line than the default font, though, and would be easier if made 2 points larger.

That's a good note, and would likely address the readability complaints in the previous posts. This is one notch larger (3 from 2.5). I'm not choosing this font face to show off my creativity. I would make my own font to do that. I use the same font family for all my writing. Websites, emails, documentation, etc. It's just become part of my personal writing style so when I found it was available, I started using it. I just love the way it looks and enjoy reading serif fonts much more than sans. Don't even get me started on stuff written in Comic Sans.

I don't mind that the font gets changed for mobile devices, but like OhLook you, I really like serifs. And personally I prefer the smaller size, but I have very good eyesight so I'm willing to accommodate other readers. (Thanks for the pointer OhLook, I hadn't thought of changing the size. I usually use something in this family around 11 pt.)

I'm wondering if the previous paragraph was sufficiently large. Or if stepping it up even further to this size would be best. This size (4) feels a touch too large, almost like I'm shouting.

Sadly, this in between size (3.5) gets misinterpreted and actually makes the text smaller than the first paragraph's size. Here is size 3 again, compared to the previous sentence's 3.5. You can see that 3.5 actually appears smaller than 3.

So that would add to the feature request, to be able to set a default size in addition to font type. Note, this is the original unadjusted size for comparison.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

heldGaze wrote in post #17887751
That's a good note, and would likely address the readability complaints in the previous posts. This is one notch larger (3 from 2.5).

I don't have anything against using a serif font, but I do want it to be readable. That's why we put it here, isn't it? Size 3 looks OK to me. If 3.5 scaled correctly, that might be perfect for my eyes.

4 is a bit much as you said, but it wouldn't bother me, especially if it were used by the dufi who don't know how to start a new paragraph & just let 3" if text run together. I usually just ignore their posts.

heldGaze wrote in post #17887751
That's a good note, and would likely address the readability complaints in the previous posts. This is one notch larger (3 from 2.5). I'm not choosing this font face to show off my creativity. I would make my own font to do that. I use the same font family for all my writing. Websites, emails, documentation, etc. It's just become part of my personal writing style so when I found it was available, I started using it. I just love the way it looks and enjoy reading serif fonts much more than sans. Don't even get me started on stuff written in Comic Sans.

I don't mind that the font gets changed for mobile devices, but like OhLook you, I really like serifs. And personally I prefer the smaller size, but I have very good eyesight so I'm willing to accommodate other readers. (Thanks for the pointer OhLook, I hadn't thought of changing the size. I usually use something in this family around 11 pt.)

I'm wondering if the previous paragraph was sufficiently large. Or if stepping it up even further to this size would be best. This size (4) feels a touch too large, almost like I'm shouting.

Sadly, this in between size (3.5) gets misinterpreted and actually makes the text smaller than the first paragraph's size. Here is size 3 again, compared to the previous sentence's 3.5. You can see that 3.5 actually appears smaller than 3.

So that would add to the feature request, to be able to set a default size in addition to font type. Note, this is the original unadjusted size for comparison.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

Font sizes are internally limited to a list of accepted sizes, and fractional sizes are not there. If an "invalid" size is found, it is ignored. Also, in quotes sizes are limited.

As Jon said, changing the font is generally not recommended on paragraph text. Reason for this is a big variance of readers browser rendition on plethora of devices out there. The default font (arial, helvetica, sans-serif) is reasonably identical on all devices, and it is very readable on possible (down)resized views.

Basically the font-face and size selection is primarily meant for making headers, fun stuff and decorative accentuation.

Please also note: Members can pick a paragraph font (AAA on the bottom of the page) which does NOT override post's font tags, so your personal preference of paragraph font and size might if fact limit readability of those who'd prefer a personal size/font output.

Of course all font output in the code can be finely re-tuned, but we must keep in mind then all posts are affected.