Fonts

Measuring Font Metrics When assessing the compatibility between Latin Modern and CM Super, a key aspect is comparing the font metrics – the measurements that define the properties and spacing of glyphs. Getting an understanding of the minute differences in ascender height, descender depth, x-height, stem thickness, kerning and ligatures is essential. Ascender Height The…

The challenge of Cyrillic fonts in LaTeX The Cyrillic script is used for several Slavic languages including Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and Macedonian. Adding Cyrillic font support in LaTeX can be challenging for several reasons. First, LaTeX was originally designed primarily for English text using the Latin alphabet. So support for non-Latin scripts like Cyrillic…

Core Problem: Pixelated and Blurry Latin Modern Text The Latin Modern font family is commonly used in LaTex documents due to its similarity to the classic Computer Modern fonts. However, Latin Modern fonts often appear pixelated or blurry on screen, especially at small font sizes. This reduced readability stems from the rasterization process that converts…

Identifying the Core Issue When compiling a LaTeX document, error messages or warnings related to fonts often indicate that certain packages are outdated and conflict with more recent updates to the LaTeX distribution. Common font warnings include “LaTeX Font Warning: Font shape `OT1/cmr/m/n’ undefined” and “LaTeX Font Warning: Some font shapes were not available, defaults…

LaTeX comes with default font size restrictions that limit users to a predefined set of font sizes. Attempting to set arbitrary font sizes outside this set typically triggers warnings about illegal font size values. However, with some simple configuration changes, LaTeX can be customized to remove these restrictions and allow fonts to be sized freely…

The Core Issue of Font Warnings When compiling a LaTeX document, users may encounter font warnings stating that certain fonts are not available or not supported. These warnings typically include the name of the missing font and prevent successful PDF compilation. Resolving font issues is key for LaTeX users seeking to avoid compilation errors. LaTeX…

Crafting Beautiful Tables with LaTeX LaTeX offers typographers fine-grained control over table formatting to optimize legibility and aesthetics. Applying key principles of typography and layout, LaTeX tables can be designed for both visual appeal and easy information intake by readers. Formatting Tables for Readability Careful column width specification prevents awkward wraps mid-word, while left, center,…

Defining Default Font Styles Setting consistent font styles throughout a LaTeX document requires strategic use of both font family declarations as well as font packages. Font family declarations like \usepackage{times} set the default font globally, while font packages allow more fine-grained control over styles in local environments. Best practice is to establish a global default…

XeLaTeX is a TeX typesetting engine that allows users to leverage the full power of Unicode in their documents. Unlike traditional LaTeX engines which rely on 8-bit font encodings, XeLaTeX utilizes modern font technologies like OpenType and Graphite that support over one million Unicode characters. This makes XeLaTeX ideal for authors writing documents in languages…

LaTeX, the high-quality typsetting system, provides unparalleled control over document design for the meticulous. However, harnessing such power often drives users mad in pursuit of perfection. The Allure of LaTeX’s Precise Control LaTeX allows users to precisely define margins, fonts, headings, spacing between letters and lines, and virtually every typographical element with simple commands. This…