Last updated: April 23, 2002
The techniques I describe here are used to produce all of the Sattre Press titles.
I presume the reader has all the documents available from the
ConTeXt and pdfTeX web pages. Other sources of information: both
packages have email support lists which are archived on the
web. Searching the usenet group comp.text.tex can be useful
also.
I use SuSE Linux. However, it seems that TeX knowledge is rather portable across systems, and it should be possible to adapt the examples to other platforms.
/usr/share/texmf.
Further, you can customize local and auxiliary directory structures. Look at texmf.cnf.
Experiment with the kpsewhich utility, particularly with the --show-path option, which
shows all the different places in which TeX will look for different files.
Using this, I see that the current directory is always first in the path, meaning I can make all sorts of "system"
changes which effect only the current project. As far as I can tell, all files of interest are treated this way:
.cfg, .cnf, .tex, .map, .tfm, .pfb, etc.
Once a new file becomes stable it can be promoted to later ("higher") directories in the search path. kpsewhich
shows that I have a personal TeX directory tree in my home directory: /home/wmcclain/texmf. Then there are
site-specific directories, etc.
Remember: if you add or delete any files in the TeX tree (see the
list of directories $TEXMFDBS in texmf.cnf,
you must rebuild the filename database with
mktexlsr. On my system, texhash is a synonym
for this command.
On Linux, I run updatedb daily, and use locate to find all those pesky configuration files.
These notes are not a replacement for the real installation docs! I just show what I actually do when upgrading.
I do the upgrade in the main TeX tree: /usr/share/texmf. If I were ambitious I would test in some auxiliary
directory first, but I haven't had much trouble yet. I have backups and am able to reinstall pretty quickly.
ConTeXt
pdfTeX
mfonts.pdf).
Note that we tend to be spoiled by the default Computer Modern font which has a large number of good features which just work automatically. Emulating that capability with a new font requires a good deal of setup.
Simple (and not very useful) method
You can simply specify a font file and use it, either in plain TeX or by using ConTeXt macros. This is not very useful because it does not give you the convenient switching to italic, bold, small caps, math mode, etc, which a well-defined typeface will do. However, it is instructive to try it, just to prove that the system is setup correctly and that the maps and font files can be found.You can (for a start) use any font listed in
pdftex.map, presuming both the.tfmand.pfbfont files exist. (This is not always the case on my system).For example, here is the first data line in my
pdftex.mapfile:The contents ofbchb8r CharterBT-Bold "TeXBase1Encoding ReEncodeFont" <8r.enc <bchb8a.pfbpdftex.mapare documented in The pdfTeX User Manual (pdftexman.pdf). For now, just note that this line refers to "Bitstream Charter Bold." The first field,bchb8r, is the name of a.tfm(TeX Font Metric) file, andbchb8a.pfbis a Type1 font file. In TeX programs, fonts are identified by their.tfmnames.Since both
bchb8r.tfmandbchb8a.pfbexist on my system, I can use the font as follows.Using just plain TeX:
Using ConTeXt macros:
Using Typescripts
ConTeXt now uses typescripts to define and select fonts. This is the way to go for maximum flexibility."Typescripts are in fact just organized definitions" says
mfonts.pdf. They are a way of building a database of names which provides layers of abstraction. The TeX document can be written so that it will continue to be "correct" even as major changes in fonts, families and styles are made at the deeper levels.typescript files
Typescripts are definitions contained between\starttypescriptand\stoptypescript. The typescripts are found in and loaded from several file sources:
- Several
type-*.texfiles are automatically searched. See the list inmfonts.pdf.- A file
type-loc.texin the search path will be searched automatically.- Any file in the search path, for example,
myscripts.tex, can be loaded with\usetypescriptfile[myscripts].A simple example
For example, using Bitstream Charter again, I have these fonts on my system:I can create this typescript file,
bchr8rroman bchb8rbold bchri8ritalic bchbi8rbold italic type-charter.tex:And use it like this:\usetypescriptfile[type-charter] \usetypescript[Charter] \setupbodyfont[MyCharter] \starttext This is roman, {\bf bold}, {\it italic}, {\bi bold-italic}, {\tfa bigger} and {\tfx smaller}. \stoptextMultiple fonts
I also have Adobe Utopia, so I can make atype-utopia.textypescript file very similar to the Charter example above:And then use both fonts in the same job:\usetypescriptfile[type-charter] \usetypescript[Charter] \usetypescriptfile[type-utopia] \usetypescript[Utopia] \setupbodyfont[MyCharter] \starttext This is Charter roman, {\bf bold}, {\it italic}, {\bi bold-italic}, {\tfa bigger} and {\tfx smaller}. \switchtobodyfont[MyUtopia] This is Utopia roman, {\bf bold}, {\it italic}, {\bi bold-italic}, {\tfa bigger} and {\tfx smaller}. \stoptext\usetypescript[modern][default]and select it with\switchtobodyfont[modern].Questions
What does the\usetypescriptfile[type-buy]do? It loads a typescript which contains the definition of the[serif][fallback]typescript which I use later.What does the
\usetypescript[serif][fallback]do? It simplifies the definition of my new typescript. My example fonts are very simple and do not have slanted or smallcaps variants. ConTeXt requires those variants to be defined. I could add dummy declarations and define SerifSlanted to be the same as SerifItalic, SerifBoldSlanted to be SerifBoldItalic, and SerifCaps to be simply Serif. However, if you look at the definition of the[serif][fallback]typescript intype-buy.tex, you will see that those declarations have already been made. My typescript can "inherit" from the predefined fallback typescript.What about the
encoding=8rreferences? I specified these because that was what was listed for these fonts inpdftex.map. I'll try to add more on encodings to this document someday.What are the parameters to
\starttypescript? Typescripts can have up to three "specifiers". It is like having a database where you can use up to three keys to find a record. You can make up your own values. For example, if I have:I can find and execute the typescript with:allmatches any value:These examples will not match typescript[A][B][C]:You can have lists of key values to match. If I have:What are the parameters to
\definetypeface? This is where it all comes together. Suppose we have:This means:Example. Now we can interpret the setup of the font Charter as given above:
- Define typeface
A(any name you like) in its variantB, where the common variants are:
rm: roman (normal)ss: sans seriftt: monospacedmm: math modecg: calligraphy- Use typescript
[C][D][name]to define the styles for this variant.Ccan be any name you like, but by convention is commonly one or more of:
serifsansmonomathhandwritingDcan be any name you like. Usually it is some variation on the font name.- Use typescript
[C][E][size]to define the size information for this typeface.- Use
Ffor other options, typicallyencodingandrscale.This means:What are the predefined style names? The style names used in the
- Create a typescript
Charterwhich packages all the following.- Define a font "MyCharter" in its normal (roman) variant.
- Use typescript
[serif][charter][name]to define its styles.- Use typescript
[serif][fallback]for any styles we haven't defined.- Use typescript
[serif][default]for the size information. (Found intype-siz.tex).- Use encoding
8r.\definefontsynonymare special in that ConTeXt uses them to implement the font switching macros such as\bf, \it, \sc,etc. The predefined names are:
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]Bold
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]Italic
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]BoldItalic
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]Slanted
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]BoldSlanted
- [Serif,Sans,Mono]Caps
We also have these styles:
- MathAlpha
- MathAlphaBold
- MathBeta
- MathExtension
- MathExtensionBold
- MathGamma
- MathItalic
- MathItalicBold
- MathRoman
- MathRomanBold
- MathSymbol
- MathSymbolBold
- OldStyle
Type1
Using
texfontThetexfontutility is part of the ConTeXt package. It can be used instead offontinstto install new fonts. The manual is Texfont Explained (mtexfont.pdf).I purchased Adobe Sabon from Eyewire because the Adobe site was not happy with my browser that day. The typeface was in two packages: "Sabon" and "Sabon SC+OSF". I chose the Windows Type1 variants and downloaded these two files:
I had been told that these .exe files were actually zip archives. Not true. They were MS Windows executables. I had to take them to an MS machine to unpack them.The Sabon files:
The Sabon SC+OSF files:
Only the.afmand.pfbfiles are needed for TeX.I put the originals in a safe place and copied all the files into a temporary directory:
/tmp/fonts. I decided to use the TeX root under my home directory for installing new fonts:/home/wmcclain/texmf.For some reason the texfont utility is not executable when I install ConTeXt on my system, so I first do:
Then, installing the font is a simple matter of:/usr/share/texmf/context/perltk/texfont.pl --fontroot=/home/wmcclain/texmf --sourcepath=/tmp/fonts --vendor=adobe --collection=sabon --makepath --installUnder
/home/wmcclain/texmf/fonts/tfm/adobe/sabon:Under/home/wmcclain/texmf/fonts/type1/adobe/sabon:Under/home/wmcclain/texmf/fonts/vf/adobe/sabon:And finally, this file:/home/wmcclain/texmf/pdftex/config/texnansi-adobe-sabon.mapThat's the complete installation. We still have to define the typeface to ConTeXt, using the techniques shown above in "Selecting Fonts - Using Typescripts".% This file is generated by the TeXFont Perl script. % % You need to add the following line to pdftex.cfg: % % map +texnansi-adobe-sabon.map % % Alternatively in your TeX source you can say: % % \pdfmapfile{+texnansi-adobe-sabon.map} % % In ConTeXt you can best use: % % \loadmapfile[texnansi-adobe-sabon.map] texnansi-raw-sab Sabon-Bold 4 < sab_____.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sabi Sabon-BoldItalic 4 < sabi____.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sabio Sabon-BoldItalicOsF 4 < sabio___.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sabof Sabon-BoldOsF 4 < sabof___.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sai Sabon-Italic 4 < sai_____.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-saiof Sabon-ItalicOsF 4 < saiof___.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sar Sabon-Roman 4 < sar_____.pfb texnansi.enc texnansi-raw-sarsc Sabon-RomanSC 4 < sarsc___.pfb texnansi.encI create a file
type-sabon.texin the TeX path, which contains:Important: the\loadmapfilemacro will not work unless the\autoloadmapfilestrueline is uncommented incont-sys.tex.Important: note that we do not reference the
texnansi-raw-*files in the font declaration. I made that mistake in the first version. That usage works for many characters, but not for ligatures and some other things. The right way to do it is to reference the virtual font files, as shown.Using the font is easy:
The font files defined in the typescript give us a palette for assembling new typefaces. For example, I bought eight font files, but three are not being used, the ones that have bold and italic old-style figures:\usetypescriptfile[type-sabon] \usetypescript[Sabon] \setupbodyfont[Sabon] \starttext This is Sabon roman, {\it italic,} {\bf bold,} and {\bi bold-italic.} {\em \bf This is also bold-italic.} We have {\sc small caps} and old-style figures: {\os 0123456789}. \stoptextIndeed, ConTeXt does not provide a way of combining both old-style and bold or italic; this does not do what you think it might:{\em \os 0123456789}type-sabon.texwhich now looks like:Then we can see our old-style figures:\usetypescriptfile[type-sabon] \usetypescript[SabonOldStyle] \setupbodyfont[SabonOldStyle] \starttext This is Sabon roman 0123456789, old-style \os 0123456789, {\it italic 0123456789,} {\bf bold 0123456789,} and {\bi bold-italic 0123456789.} {\em \bf This is also bold-italic 0123456789.} \stoptext\os, but the regular font uses the standard "lining" figures and does require\osfor the old-style figures. It would be more consistent to make old-style the default for the regular font, but we would need to make a virtual font to do that. (Reason: the regular old-style figures are contained in the small-caps font file. Virtual fonts allow us to assemble portions of existing font files into a new "view").Using the scheme shown here, if we want both lining and old-style figures in bold or italic, we have to use both typefaces and switch between them as necessary.
This example does not provide any math mode definitions.
TrueType
My interest is in traditional forms suitable for novels and the like. All the examples I give below are intended for that use. I have generally followed the advice given by these authors:
Tight word spacing
Do not insert extra space at the end of sentences. Use small paragraph indententation and do not use vertical spacing between parapgraphs.In plain TeX, tight spacing at the end of sentences is called
\frenchspacing.Indenting
You can bring in the margins for a quotation or extract with\startnarrower ... \stopnarrower. The amount of indentation is in predefined units which are established separately for the left, right, and middle (which does both left and right by the same amount). For example, I could do something like:And then:\setupnarrower[left=4em,right=2in,middle=3cm]The manual shows how to combine parameters.
\startnarrowerwithout parameters is the same as\startnarrower[middle].There is a reasonable default indentation size, but I don't know its exact dimension.
Using smaller symbols
Dowding says that "&" can be substituted for "and" wherever doing so improves the page. This is not a license to globally replace all such occurances; I use the technique only as a last resort to eliminate an overfull box.In the fonts I have used the full-height "&" seems too large in body text, so I use a smaller version:
The italic "&" is often a fancier glyph and might be useful; or it might be too fancy for body text use. I would use the italic version in Computer Modern, but the regular glyph in Adobe Sabon.\def\Ampersand{{\tfx \&}}I also think the full-size "$" is too big in body text, and use a reduced version:
\def\Dollar{{\tfx \$}}Dashes
The em-dash is too wide. Use a spaced en-dash instead: "--". Depending on the context, it might be necessary to use a non-breaking space (~) on either side to prevent an unwanted line break.Letterspacing capitals and small caps
The experts say that strings of uppercase and small-cap words should be slightly letterspaced. I find that a very little spacing is "plenty." Sometimes it does not look right at all, and I omit it. Note that it is an offence against typography to letterspace lowercase letters.Since getting a tip from Hans Hagen, I have used these macros:
Which is used as so:\def\CapStretchAmount{.08em} \def\CapStretch#1{\def\stretchedspaceamount{\CapStretchAmount}\stretchednormalcase{#1}}\CapStretch{\sc The King in Yellow}Margin kerning: Hanging punctuation and protruding characters
The typography references say that a justified margin does not look "optically" straight when the characters are "mechanically" aligned to that margin, because some characters are too light to color the margin. The margin looks straighter if they are pushed farther into it.I have seen very few examples of this technique in the real world (other than photos of Gutenberg's Bible) so it is hard to judge its proper use. Experimentation and considered judgement are required.
The technique is supported by pdfTeX and ConTeXt. See Hàn Thê Thành's dissertation: Micro-typographic extensions to the TEX typesetting system, and Fonts in ConTeXt (
mfonts.pdf).Note that in TeX the technique does not merely stretch the whitespace between words; it actually enters into the line-breaking algorithm and can greatly alter a paragraph's setting.
ConTeXt comes with a couple of prededefined settings. You can see the definitions in
type-exa.texandhang-def.tex. To move the small puncuation marks a full em into the margin, use:To use a slightly less drastic style which also shifts alphabetic characters very slightly, use:\usetypescript [serif,sans,mono] [hanging] [pure]Margin kerning is enabled with something like:\usetypescript [serif,sans,mono] [hanging] [thanh]Important: The case for the default font, Computer Modern, is more complicated. Hanging alignment must be defined before the font is loaded, but Computer Modern is loaded before our definitions. The solution is to load it again after the definitions:type-sabon.texfile (stolen fromhang-def.tex, still to be adapted):Using these custom settings is just a matter of: