4

I want to use suetterlin font as a math alphabet (in a bold and medium version).

This is how far I got (without any manual font conversions....)

\documentclass[convert={density=10000}]{standalone}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsuet} {T1} {wesu}{bx}{sl}
\pdfpkmode{dpdfezzz}
\pdfpkresolution=8000
\usepackage{bm}
\begin{document}
\fbox{{
$\bm n n$
$\pmb{\mathsuet n}\, \mathsuet n$
}}
\end{document}

enter image description here

As one can see, the thickness of the lines is similar to the normal alphabet... But the bold Version (made with \pmb) is not very nice at the line ends...

I found the definition of \pmb in amsbsy:

\DeclareRobustCommand{\pmb}{%
\ifmmode\else \expandafter\pmb@@\fi\mathpalette\pmb@}

And the definition of \pmb@ 

\def\pmb@#1#2{\setbox8\hbox{$\m@th#1{#2}$}%
  \setboxz@h{$\m@th#1\mkern.5mu$}\pmbraise@\wdz@
  \binrel@{#2}%
  \dimen@-\wd8 %
  \binrel@@{%
    \mkern-.8mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.4mu\raise\pmbraise@\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.4mu\box8 }%
}

I have got no idea what this code does, but I assume it should be possible to shift the reprinted characters (by redefining \pmb) so that the line ends look smoother?

A previous version of the question contained the definition of \pmb@@, which is only for non-math mode.

\def\pmb@@#1#2#3{\leavevmode\setboxz@h{#3}%
   \dimen@-\wdz@
   \kern-.5\ex@\copy\z@
   \kern\dimen@\kern.25\ex@\raise.4\ex@\copy\z@
   \kern\dimen@\kern.25\ex@\box\z@
}
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5
  • why use pmb at all if you have a bold font (as shown by bm) ?
    – David Carlisle
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:19
  • but this only works for the "normal" font. my \mathsuet already takes the (extended) bold version of of the suetterlin font (which is still very thin), see line 3 of the code: \DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsuet} {T1} {wesu}{bx}{sl}
    – crateane
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:23
  • @DavidCarlisle This "w" is how the n looks like in this font ;) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCtterlin
    – crateane
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:25
  • I don't have the font so can't test, oddly texlive has the fd files but not the font? but anyway \kern\dimen@\kern.25\ex@\raise.4\ex@\copy\z@ just shifts the letter by that amount and overprints 3 times, you can add more of them overprinted by different amounts to try to smooth it off
    – David Carlisle
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:25
  • I did wonder:-) (or do I mean nonder)
    – David Carlisle
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:26

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
7

You can overprint as often as you like at different offsets to try to get a smoother look (but \pmb never looks that great)

\documentclass[convert={density=10000}]{standalone}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsuet} {T1} {wesu}{bx}{sl}

% I get metafont errors from these settings?
%\pdfpkmode{dpdfezzz}
%\pdfpkresolution=8000

\makeatletter
\def\pmb@@#1#2#3{\leavevmode\setboxz@h{#3}%
\dimen@-\wdz@
\kern-.5\ex@\copy\z@
\kern\dimen@\kern.25\ex@\raise.4\ex@\copy\z@
\kern\dimen@\kern.2\ex@\raise.3\ex@\copy\z@
\kern\dimen@\kern.15\ex@\raise.2\ex@\copy\z@
\kern\dimen@\kern.25\ex@\box\z@
}
\makeatother

\usepackage{bm}
\begin{document}
\fbox{{
$\bm n n$
$\pmb{\mathsuet n}\, \mathsuet n$
}}
\end{document}
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3
  • Oh, now I see why I could't change the definition of \pmb :o I didn't use \makeatletter and \makeatother!
    – crateane
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:45
  • But it works just fine, thanks!
    – crateane
    Sep 10, 2015 at 12:46
  • Hi David but your code work for my bounty actual question? I will wait your answer. Best regards
    – Sebastiano
    Aug 8, 2021 at 12:17
3

In addition to David Carlisle answer, the solution I use now:

\documentclass[convert={density=10000}]{standalone}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathsuet} {T1} {wesu}{bx}{sl}
\pdfpkmode{dpdfezzz}
\pdfpkresolution=8000
\usepackage{bm}
\usepackage{relsize}


\makeatletter
\def\pmb@#1#2{\setbox8\hbox{$\m@th#1{#2}$}%
  \setboxz@h{$\m@th#1\mkern.5mu$}\pmbraise@\wdz@
  \binrel@{#2}%
  \dimen@-\wd8 %
  \binrel@@{%
    \mkern-.1mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern-.2mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern-.3mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.1mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.2mu\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.3mu\copy8 %
    %\kern\dimen@\mkern.4mu\raise\pmbraise@\copy8 %
    \kern\dimen@\mkern.4mu\box8 }%
}
\makeatother


\begin{document}
\fbox{
$\bm n n$
$\pmb{\mathlarger{\mathlarger{\mathsuet n}}}\,  \mathlarger{\mathlarger{\mathsuet n}}$
}
\end{document}

And the output:

enter image description here

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