I've been using LaTeX for years, but I've never come across a decent website showcasing the best of the system, with clear instructions on how to achieve the effects presented. The standard document classes really get boring after a while, and before somebody points towards packages like KOMA and memoir and a thousand others, I'm already aware of them, but without a decent level of artistic skill, things just look ugly.
I'm aware of places like the TeX showcase on TUG, but a) these never seem to be updated with any regularity and b) they aren't really all that good, examples wise.
I'm about to start writing my thesis, and as it's full of mathematics, I'll be using LaTeX. I've got a pretty free reign on how it should look, so I'm keen to make it look distinctive, and different from standard documents typeset with LaTeX.
Is there a good website showing some neat typesetting, like I describe?
General ⇒ Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
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Re: Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
Hi there,
If you are keen on writing something different, even in Mathematics, I would suggest a few things: 1. stick with the basics, 2. stick with the basics, 3. stick with the basics. I could give you more advice like these, but I think the point is clear.
As a little reminder, the basic with LaTeX is that you should concentrate only on the content of your document and let the compiler take care of the page layout. I just finished my thesis in nuclear physics, and keeping to the basics proved to be terribly useful. My end document looks terribly professional, eventhough I don't have a clue on topology of documents. I even got many compliments on the layout and the professionalism of the results.
Cheers
If you are keen on writing something different, even in Mathematics, I would suggest a few things: 1. stick with the basics, 2. stick with the basics, 3. stick with the basics. I could give you more advice like these, but I think the point is clear.
As a little reminder, the basic with LaTeX is that you should concentrate only on the content of your document and let the compiler take care of the page layout. I just finished my thesis in nuclear physics, and keeping to the basics proved to be terribly useful. My end document looks terribly professional, eventhough I don't have a clue on topology of documents. I even got many compliments on the layout and the professionalism of the results.
Cheers
Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
Well, yes. But, I somewhat disagree on the basics of LaTeX. To my mind, LaTeX's philosophy is to separate content and style. Keeping with the default style is great...if you want your document to look like a million other documents.
I guess what I'm asking is if there's a LaTeX equivalent of the CSS Zen Garden, instead of a thousand documents (e.g. Jamie Steven's PhD thesis) scattered around the web.
I guess what I'm asking is if there's a LaTeX equivalent of the CSS Zen Garden, instead of a thousand documents (e.g. Jamie Steven's PhD thesis) scattered around the web.
Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
Hi there,
Therefore, I stick with my previous thought, of keeping it simple will most likely end up with something outstanding and completely professional.
I have to admit that a little help here and there to bend the rules, can help making your document a bit special. I also believe that a document will be special from the content of it and not from it's layout. Therefore, stick with the basics!!!
I am sorry for being very stuborn with this rules. I saw so many friends and colleagues making the mistake of writting their thesis with a WYSIWYG, and end up with a complete mess. I also saw many "good looking" document that break even the most basic togological rule ever. So, you made the choice of using LaTeX instead. You might want to give the compiler a chance to do a good job. How knows, you might even get surprise by it.
Cheers
Since LaTeX (let's face it) is not the most popular "text making" documents, I have a hard time agreeing with your comment. The difference to all the other documents is that you will write it with a typesetter, instead of a WYSIWYG.instead of a thousand documents
Therefore, I stick with my previous thought, of keeping it simple will most likely end up with something outstanding and completely professional.
You are quite right, with this saying. Then again, who of us have the topological knowledge of writing a very complex document, like you are about to start. Since LaTeX follows these rules down to the ground (if you stick with the basics), you have much better chances of obtaining an end result that, problem free, and that will look aboslutely and completely wonderful.LaTeX's philosophy is to separate content and style
I have to admit that a little help here and there to bend the rules, can help making your document a bit special. I also believe that a document will be special from the content of it and not from it's layout. Therefore, stick with the basics!!!
I am sorry for being very stuborn with this rules. I saw so many friends and colleagues making the mistake of writting their thesis with a WYSIWYG, and end up with a complete mess. I also saw many "good looking" document that break even the most basic togological rule ever. So, you made the choice of using LaTeX instead. You might want to give the compiler a chance to do a good job. How knows, you might even get surprise by it.
Cheers
Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
The statement one always hears in the LaTeX world about separating content and style is a bit misleading, or sometimes wrongly understood, in my opinion. The idea is fine and has proved to be very powerful, however many people take it as taking care only about the content, while forgetting totally about the style.
LaTeX brought to me great interest in typography, and after having read several books in the field (my favourite being Robert Bringhurst's wonderful The Elements of Typographic Style), all I can say is that I never again make a paper with the default LaTeX style. Not that it is bad, but there is a lot more to explore, and LaTeX has the tools to make possible any layout you want.
As Bringhurst puts it, typography exists to honor the content. Style is tightly linked with the content, and LaTeX's default does not fulfill the needs most times. But that should be no problem, since LaTeX has the power to create any style; and that has nothing to do with WYSIWYG editors. Think about it, LaTeX default style is a style in itself, so it is quite legitimate to seek alternatives which match better with the content.
That does not collide with LaTeX's philosophy in any way. While both style and content should be "one" in the final book, the workflow remains the same. If you know what you are writing, you design the style and then is when you type the actual content (or the other way round).
And as for what dpm asked, I have not the answer. I don't know any site containing LaTeX code the way you want. You might take a look at some examples typeset with LaTeX for humanities: TeX showcase. There is no code, though.
Cheers,
Keta
LaTeX brought to me great interest in typography, and after having read several books in the field (my favourite being Robert Bringhurst's wonderful The Elements of Typographic Style), all I can say is that I never again make a paper with the default LaTeX style. Not that it is bad, but there is a lot more to explore, and LaTeX has the tools to make possible any layout you want.
As Bringhurst puts it, typography exists to honor the content. Style is tightly linked with the content, and LaTeX's default does not fulfill the needs most times. But that should be no problem, since LaTeX has the power to create any style; and that has nothing to do with WYSIWYG editors. Think about it, LaTeX default style is a style in itself, so it is quite legitimate to seek alternatives which match better with the content.
That does not collide with LaTeX's philosophy in any way. While both style and content should be "one" in the final book, the workflow remains the same. If you know what you are writing, you design the style and then is when you type the actual content (or the other way round).
And as for what dpm asked, I have not the answer. I don't know any site containing LaTeX code the way you want. You might take a look at some examples typeset with LaTeX for humanities: TeX showcase. There is no code, though.
Cheers,
Keta
Best examples of LaTeX typesetting?
A definitive, concise answer to this question is impossible since typography is a quite complex subject and probably there is no general consensus on how to make a document look good. An example page won't help here. So my advice is to buy a book about typography (like Bringhurst's Elements of Typographic Style) and learn from that instead.