Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!tank!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.text
Subject: Re: TeX, Changing font Styles in LaTeX
Message-ID: <20257@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 19 Oct 89 08:07:36 GMT
References: <5030@cps3xx.UUCP> <2631@lll-lcc.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 25

>In article <5030@cps3xx.UUCP> usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
>>How does one go about changing the default font style used by
>>TeX and or LaTeX? We would like to use the Helvetica font, resident
>>in the Apple LaserWriter. We would like to use it for the math,
>>formula, equation, etc., styles too.

In article <2631@lll-lcc.UUCP> langdon@lll-lcc.UUCP (Bruce Langdon) writes:
>For some reason that is alien to my eye, people here do that. Serifs
>are there to enhance readability, according to some people. 

They are indeed.  Readability is largely a matter of familiarity.
Helvetica is traditionally used only for `headlines', with a serifed
font (such as Times or Modern) for running text.  Many people (including
myself) find running Helvetica text overly difficult to read---and as
with netnews, if the form is sufficiently bad in comparison to the
apparent content, I simply stop reading.

If you set the main body of your text in Helvetica, you may turn off
reviewers, etc.  If the goal is `resident in the Apple LaserWriter',
I say you would be better off with Times-Roman.  (Be sure to use at
least 11 point if the paper is going to be photocopied.)
-- 
`They were supposed to be green.'
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163)
Domain:	chris@cs.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris