Text Customization Deep Dive
Font families, sizes, line spacing, letter spacing, and contrast settings.
Overview
Text Customization transforms how text appears across all websites. Adjust fonts, sizes, spacing, and colors to create your optimal reading environment.
Who benefits most: Users with dyslexia, low vision, visual processing difficulties, or anyone who finds default website text uncomfortable to read.
All Settings Explained
Font Family
| Font | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| System Default | System | Uses website’s font |
| Lexend | Accessibility | Designed for reading fluency, clean and open |
| OpenDyslexic | Dyslexia | Weighted bottoms prevent letter flipping |
| Comic Sans | Casual | Familiar, distinct letters |
| Arial | Sans-serif | Clean, widely readable |
| Atkinson Hyperlegible | Accessibility | Maximizes character distinction for low vision |
| Andika | Literacy | SIL font designed for beginning readers |
| Comic Neue | Casual | Modern, clean alternative to Comic Sans |
| Segoe UI | Sans-serif | Windows system font, clear and readable |
| Trebuchet MS | Sans-serif | Distinct letterforms |
| Georgia | Serif | Elegant, good for long reading |
Font recommendations by need:
| Challenge | Recommended Fonts |
|---|---|
| Dyslexia | OpenDyslexic, Lexend, Comic Sans |
| Low vision | Atkinson Hyperlegible, Arial (larger sizes) |
| Eye strain | Georgia, Lexend |
| Long documents | Georgia, Trebuchet MS |
| Beginning readers | Andika, Comic Neue |
Font Size
| Setting | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Base size | 12px - 32px | 16px |
Size guide:
| Size | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 12-14px | Small | Compact UI, sidebars |
| 16-18px | Normal | Standard reading |
| 20-24px | Large | Low vision, reduced eye strain |
| 26-32px | Extra large | Significant visual impairment |
Line Spacing
| Setting | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Line height | 1.0 - 3.0 | 1.5 |
Spacing guide:
| Spacing | Visual Effect | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Tight (touching) | Not recommended |
| 1.2 | Compact | Dense technical content |
| 1.5 | Normal | General reading |
| 1.8 - 2.0 | Spacious | Dyslexia, tracking difficulty |
| 2.5 - 3.0 | Very open | Severe visual processing issues |
Letter Spacing
| Setting | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Letter spacing | 0 - 0.3em | 0 |
Effects:
- 0em: Normal (default for most fonts)
- 0.05em: Slightly more open
- 0.1em: Noticeably spaced
- 0.2em: Very open
- 0.3em: Maximum spacing
When to increase letter spacing:
- Letters appear to merge together
- Difficulty distinguishing similar letters (m/n, c/e)
- Using narrow fonts
- Reading at smaller sizes
Word Spacing
| Setting | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Word spacing | 0 - 0.5em | 0 |
Effects:
- 0em: Normal word spacing
- 0.1-0.2em: Slight increase in word gaps
- 0.3-0.5em: Noticeable word separation
When to increase word spacing:
- Words seem to run together
- Difficulty tracking word boundaries
- Using justified text alignment
- Dense paragraphs
Text and Background Colors
| Setting | Options | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Text color | Color picker | Uses website default |
| Background color | Color picker | Uses website default |
| Force colors | On/Off | Off |
Popular color combinations:
| Combination | Text | Background | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| High contrast | Black | White | Maximum clarity |
| Reduced glare | Dark gray | Cream | Eye comfort |
| Dyslexia-friendly | Dark blue | Cream/Yellow | Visual processing |
| Low light | Light gray | Dark gray | Low light environments |
| Sepia | Dark brown | Tan | Warm, paper-like feel |
Step-by-Step Setup
Basic Setup
- Click AssisT icon in toolbar
- Expand Visual Comfort section
- Toggle Text Customization ON
- Adjust settings to preference
Creating a Dyslexia-Optimized Setup
- Font: OpenDyslexic or Lexend
- Size: 18-20px
- Line spacing: 1.8 - 2.0
- Letter spacing: 0.05 - 0.1em
- Word spacing: 0.1em
- Background: Cream or soft yellow
Creating a Low Vision Setup
- Font: Atkinson Hyperlegible or Arial
- Size: 24-28px
- Line spacing: 1.5 - 1.8
- Letter spacing: 0.05em
- Colors: High contrast (black on white or white on black)
Creating a Reduced Eye Strain Setup
- Font: Georgia or Lexend
- Size: 18px
- Line spacing: 1.6
- Background: Slight cream tint
- Combine with: Screen Overlay (low opacity)
Common Use Cases
Long Reading Sessions
Challenge: Eye fatigue, difficulty maintaining focus over time.
Settings:
- Font: Georgia (serif fonts reduce fatigue for long text)
- Size: 18px
- Line spacing: 1.6
- Background: Very slight cream (#FFFEF5)
Dense Academic Content
Challenge: Lots of information, complex vocabulary, small margins.
Settings:
- Font: Lexend or Arial
- Size: 16-18px
- Line spacing: 1.8 (more space helps comprehension)
- Letter spacing: 0.05em
Coding/Technical Documentation
Challenge: Need clear distinction between characters (1/l/I, 0/O).
Settings:
- Font: Segoe UI or Arial (monospace not currently available — use system default for code)
- Size: 16px
- Line spacing: 1.4
- Letter spacing: 0 (monospace already has good spacing)
Reading Before Sleep
Challenge: Bright screens, blue light, alertness.
Settings:
- Font: Georgia
- Size: 18px
- Colors: Light gray text on dark gray background
- Add: Screen Overlay with warm tint
Troubleshooting
Text Looks Wrong
Solutions:
- Some websites use important CSS that overrides changes
- Try “Force colors” option
- Reading Mode applies more consistently
- Some fonts may not be available on all systems
Font Doesn’t Change
Solutions:
- Font may not be installed on your system
- Website may use
!importantCSS - Try a different font option
- Refresh the page after changing settings
Spacing Looks Inconsistent
Solutions:
- Different page sections may respond differently
- Some dynamically loaded content may reset
- Try applying smaller adjustments
- Some layouts break with large spacing changes
Colors Don’t Apply Everywhere
Solutions:
- Images and videos aren’t affected
- Some UI elements use forced styling
- “Force colors” option may help
- Reading Mode gives more control
Text Overlaps or Gets Cut Off
Solutions:
- Reduce font size slightly
- Reduce letter/word spacing
- Some layouts can’t accommodate large changes
- Website wasn’t designed for text flexibility
Combining with Other Features
Text Customization + Dyslexia Mode
- Dyslexia Mode adds Bionic/Syllable/Grammar formatting
- Text Customization sets base typography
- Complementary — both can be active
Text Customization + Reading Mode
- Reading Mode strips page clutter
- Text Customization applies to cleaned content
- Often most effective combination
For Educators & Parents
Choosing Settings for Students
| Student Profile | Key Settings |
|---|---|
| Dyslexia | OpenDyslexic font, 1.8+ line spacing |
| Low vision | Large size (22-28px), high contrast |
| Attention difficulties | Clean font, moderate spacing |
| Eye strain complaints | Reduced brightness, serif font |
Starting Points by Grade
| Grade Level | Font Size | Line Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 18-20px | 1.8 |
| Middle School | 16-18px | 1.6 |
| High School | 16px | 1.5 |
| College | 16px | 1.5 |
Important Notes
- Let students choose — Preferences are personal
- Test on actual content — Different subjects may need different settings
- Adjust over time — Needs change as reading skills develop
- Consistent use helps — Brain adapts to familiar settings
Privacy Note
Text Customization works entirely locally. No reading preferences or font choices are collected or transmitted.
Related Features
- Visual Comfort — Text Customization overview
- Dyslexia Reading Modes — Combine with Dyslexia Mode
- Reading Help — Reading Mode for clean layouts