Small Caps and Bold Face

Question

I can't seem to have both the small caps and boldface styles on a line:

\huge\sc\bf Hello

This will generate bold text, and if the \sc is placed after, it will generate small caps text but not bolded. They seem to override each other, so is there any way to apply them both?

Answer 1

Your question requires a two-part answer.

\sc and \bf (and \it) are deprecated because, as you have noticed, they override each other. Use either

\textit{...}
\textbf{...}
\textsc{...}

or

{\itshape ...}
{\bfseries ...}
{\scshape ...}

instead.

However, not all fonts contain italic and/or bold small caps (when they even contain small caps).

(Also, italic and small caps usually don't combine at all by default, requiring \usepackage{slantsc} to do so.)

When you load the T1 font encoding, you're replacing the default Computer Modern fonts by CM-Super, a larger but lower-quality set of fonts that look mostly identical but contain many more glyphs. In older TeX distributions, you might even end up with bitmap fonts in your output.

The Latin Modern fonts are a better alternative (\usepackage{lmodern}), but they unfortunately don't contain bold small caps.

Answer 2

For posterity, there is an easier and better alternative. Simply add

\usepackage{bold-extra}

along with your other includes. This lets you keep using the default high-quality Computer Modern fonts for normal text. It works by building a bold Computer Modern small-caps font on the fly and including it for you. Now {\bfseries\scshape Foo} works as expected!

Reference: https://texfaq.org/FAQ-bold-extras

Answer 3

Ok, you need to add

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}

and this updated command should do the trick

\huge \textbf{\textsc{Hello}}

To explain, LaTeX uses the curly braces {} to indicate scope for the formatting command. So if you type

\textbf{ ... }

then all the text between the curly braces is formatted in bold, including the

\textsc{Hello}

Result

Small Caps Bold

compared to regular small caps

Answer 4

As an extension of accepted answer https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/27413/1340, I explain here how to use Latin Modern while taking serif bold small capitals from Computer Modern (= CM) Super. As explained in that answer, you'll still need to use \textsc{\textbf{Hello}} instead of \sc\bf Hello. This assumes you're using \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} as typically recommended nowadays. The solution is inspired from an aside in question How te get bold + small caps with latin modern or computer modern.

First, to obtain a "fixed" version of CM Super, add

\RequirePackage{fix-cm}

before \documentclass. After \documentclass add the following commands (with or without comments):

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc} % To switch to the T1 encoding
\usepackage{lmodern} % To switch to Latin Modern
\rmfamily % To load Latin Modern Roman and enable the following NFSS declarations.
% Declare that Latin Modern Roman (lmr) should take
% its bold (b) and bold extended (bx) weight, and small capital (sc) shape, 
% from the corresponding Computer Modern Roman (cmr) font, for the T1 font encoding.
\DeclareFontShape{T1}{lmr}{b}{sc}{<->ssub*cmr/bx/sc}{}
\DeclareFontShape{T1}{lmr}{bx}{sc}{<->ssub*cmr/bx/sc}{}

The resulting output has working bold small capitals in Type 1 format (tested with pdflatex).

Answer 5

A rather crude way of obtaining bold-like characters from a font that doesn't have it, is to repeatedly overprint a character with slight variations. This is offered by the contour package:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{contour}% http://ctan.org/pkg/contour
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}% Just for this example
\begin{document}

% Default
Hello

% Bold
\textbf{Hello}

% Small-caps
\textsc{Hello}

% Combined
\textbf{\textsc{Hello}}

% Default \contourlength (0.03em)
\contour{black}{\textsc{Hello}}

\contourlength{0.01em}% Smaller radius
\contour{black}{\textsc{Hello}}

\contour*{black}{\textsc{Hello}}% 32 copies (default is 16)

\contour[100]{black}{\textsc{Hello}}% 100 copies

% Just for reference
\contourlength{0.05em}
\contour[5]{red}{\textsc{Hello}}

\end{document}

Answer 6

For many years, because I rarely need it, I have used the following hack:

\textbf{\normalsize{E}\scriptsize{ITHER} \normalsize{O}\scriptsize{NE} \normalsize{B}\scriptsize{UT} \normalsize{N}\scriptsize{OT} \normalsize{B}\scriptsize{OTH}}

which gives

But I wish there were a better way.

---

Editor's note: as discussed in comments, font switches such as \normalsize don't take arguments, instead they take effect until a new font switch is used (or when the group scope ends). A syntactically better way is therefore as follows:

\textbf{\normalsize E\scriptsize ITHER \normalsize O\scriptsize NE \normalsize B\scriptsize UT \normalsize N\scriptsize OT \normalsize B\scriptsize OTH}

The result is the same as above.

Answer 7

This is an answer-sized comment, but more of a question, in the end.

Now with fontspec and xelatex/lualatex allowing access to the Unicode universe and to system fonts:

Given the multi-dimensionality of fonts

in the sense of

• weight: thin, light, medium, bold, black, etc

• italic shape: italic, upright

• smallcaps shape: smallcaps, not smallcaps

• width: normal, condensed, extra-condensed, wide, etc

such that, taking Noto Serif as an example, we have normal/italic, by various weights and widths, like so:

and the smallcaps version:

with the code for all this, defining both font commands and font switches for all the combinations:

MWE

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{xcolor}
\pagecolor{red!3}

\usepackage{fontspec}

\setromanfont{Noto Serif}[
  FontFace={ul}{n}{Font=* Thin},
  FontFace={el}{n}{Font=* ExtraLight},
  FontFace={l}{n}{Font=* Light},
  FontFace={m}{n}{Font=* Medium},
  FontFace={sb}{n}{Font=* SemiBold},
  FontFace={b}{n}{Font=* Bold},
  FontFace={eb}{n}{Font=* ExtraBold},
  FontFace={xb}{n}{Font=* Black},%=========================
  FontFace={ulc}{n}{Font=* Condensed Thin},
  FontFace={elc}{n}{Font=* Condensed ExtraLight},
  FontFace={lc}{n}{Font=* Condensed Light},
  FontFace={mc}{n}{Font=* Condensed Medium},
  FontFace={sbc}{n}{Font=* Condensed SemiBold},
  FontFace={bc}{n}{Font=* Condensed Bold},
  FontFace={ebc}{n}{Font=* Condensed ExtraBold},
  FontFace={xbc}{n}{Font=* Condensed Black},%====================
  FontFace={ul}{i}{Font=* Thin Italic},
  FontFace={el}{i}{Font=* ExtraLight Italic},
  FontFace={l}{i}{Font=* Light Italic},
  FontFace={m}{i}{Font=* Medium Italic},
  FontFace={sb}{i}{Font=* SemiBold Italic},
  FontFace={b}{i}{Font=* Bold Italic},
  FontFace={eb}{i}{Font=* ExtraBold Italic},
  FontFace={xb}{i}{Font=* Black Italic},%===========================
  FontFace={ulc}{i}{Font=* Condensed Thin Italic},
  FontFace={elc}{i}{Font=* Condensed ExtraLight Italic},
  FontFace={lc}{i}{Font=* Condensed Light Italic},
  FontFace={mc}{i}{Font=* Condensed Medium Italic},
  FontFace={sbc}{i}{Font=* Condensed SemiBold Italic},
  FontFace={bc}{i}{Font=* Condensed Bold Italic},
  FontFace={ebc}{i}{Font=* Condensed ExtraBold Italic},
  FontFace={xbc}{i}{Font=* Condensed Black Italic},%===================
  FontFace={ulsc}{s}{Font=* Thin,SmallCapsFont={* Thin},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={elsc}{s}{Font=* ExtraLight,SmallCapsFont={* ExtraLight},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={lsc}{s}{Font=* Light,SmallCapsFont={* Light},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={msc}{s}{Font=* Medium,SmallCapsFont={* Medium},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={sbsc}{s}{Font=* SemiBold,SmallCapsFont={* SemiBold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={bsc}{s}{Font=* Bold,SmallCapsFont={* Bold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={ebsc}{s}{Font=* ExtraBold,SmallCapsFont={* ExtraBold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={xbsc}{s}{Font=* Black,SmallCapsFont={* Black},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},%=========================
  FontFace={ulcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed Thin,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Thin},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={elcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed ExtraLight,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed ExtraLight},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={lcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed Light,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Light},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={mcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed Medium,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Medium},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={sbcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed SemiBold,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed SemiBold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={bcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed Bold,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Bold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={ebcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed ExtraBold,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed ExtraBold},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={xbcsc}{s}{Font=* Condensed Black,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Black},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},%====================
  FontFace={ulsci}{i}{Font=* Thin Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Thin Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={elsci}{i}{Font=* ExtraLight Italic,SmallCapsFont={* ExtraLight Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={lsci}{i}{Font=* Light Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Light Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={msci}{i}{Font=* Medium Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Medium Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={sbsci}{i}{Font=* SemiBold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* SemiBold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={bsci}{i}{Font=* Bold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Bold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={ebsci}{i}{Font=* ExtraBold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* ExtraBold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={xbsci}{i}{Font=* Black Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Black Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},%=========================
  FontFace={ulcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed Thin Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Thin Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={elcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed ExtraLight Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed ExtraLight Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={lcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed Light Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Light Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={mcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed Medium Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Medium Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={sbcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed SemiBold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed SemiBold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={bcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed Bold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Bold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={ebcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed ExtraBold Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed ExtraBold Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},
  FontFace={xbcsci}{i}{Font=* Condensed Black Italic,SmallCapsFont={* Condensed Black Italic},SmallCapsFeatures={Letters=SmallCaps},},%====================
  ]

%normal
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulseries}{\fontseries{ul}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elseries}{\fontseries{el}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lseries}{\fontseries{l}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mseries}{\fontseries{m}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbseries}{\fontseries{sb}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bseries}{\fontseries{b}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebseries}{\fontseries{eb}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbseries}{\fontseries{xb}\selectfont}

%condensed
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulcseries}{\fontseries{ulc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elcseries}{\fontseries{elc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lcseries}{\fontseries{lc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mcseries}{\fontseries{mc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbcseries}{\fontseries{sbc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bcseries}{\fontseries{bc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebcseries}{\fontseries{ebc}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbcseries}{\fontseries{xbc}\selectfont}

%normal
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textul}{\ulseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textel}{\elseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textl}{\lseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textm}{\mseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsb}{\sbseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textb}{\bseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\texteb}{\ebseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxb}{\xbseries}


%condensed
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulc}{\ulcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelc}{\elcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlc}{\lcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmc}{\mcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbc}{\sbcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbc}{\bcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebc}{\ebcseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbc}{\xbcseries}


%normal italic
\DeclareRobustCommand{\uliseries}{\fontseries{ul}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\eliseries}{\fontseries{el}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\liseries}{\fontseries{l}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\miseries}{\fontseries{m}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbiseries}{\fontseries{sb}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\biseries}{\fontseries{b}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebiseries}{\fontseries{eb}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbiseries}{\fontseries{xb}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}

%normal italic
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textuli}{\uliseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\texteli}{\eliseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textli}{\liseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmi}{\miseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbi}{\sbiseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbi}{\biseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebi}{\ebiseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbi}{\xbiseries}

%condensed italic
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulciseries}{\fontseries{ulc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elciseries}{\fontseries{elc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lciseries}{\fontseries{lc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mciseries}{\fontseries{mc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbciseries}{\fontseries{sbc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bciseries}{\fontseries{bc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebciseries}{\fontseries{ebc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbciseries}{\fontseries{xbc}\fontshape{i}\selectfont}


%condensed italic
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulci}{\ulciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelci}{\elciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlci}{\lciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmci}{\mciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbci}{\sbciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbci}{\bciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebci}{\ebciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbci}{\xbciseries}

%normal small caps
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulscseries}{\fontseries{ulsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elscseries}{\fontseries{elsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lscseries}{\fontseries{lsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mscseries}{\fontseries{msc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbscseries}{\fontseries{sbsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bscseries}{\fontseries{bsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebscseries}{\fontseries{ebsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbscseries}{\fontseries{xbsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}

%normal small caps
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulsc}{\ulscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelsc}{\elscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlsc}{\lscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmsc}{\mscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbsc}{\sbscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbsc}{\bscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebsc}{\ebscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbsc}{\xbscseries}

%condensed small caps
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulcscseries}{\fontseries{ulcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elcscseries}{\fontseries{elcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lcscseries}{\fontseries{lcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mcscseries}{\fontseries{mcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbcscseries}{\fontseries{sbcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bcscseries}{\fontseries{bcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebcscseries}{\fontseries{ebcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbcscseries}{\fontseries{xbcsc}\fontshape{s}\scshape\selectfont}


%condensed small caps
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulcsc}{\ulcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelcsc}{\elcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlcsc}{\lcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmcsc}{\mcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbcsc}{\sbcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbcsc}{\bcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebcsc}{\ebcscseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbcsc}{\xbcscseries}



%normal small caps italic
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulsciseries}{\fontseries{ulsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elsciseries}{\fontseries{elsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lsciseries}{\fontseries{lsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\msciseries}{\fontseries{msci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbsciseries}{\fontseries{sbsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bsciseries}{\fontseries{bsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebsciseries}{\fontseries{ebsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbsciseries}{\fontseries{xbsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}

%normal small caps italic
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulsci}{\ulsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelsci}{\elsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlsci}{\lsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmsci}{\msciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbsci}{\sbsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbsci}{\bsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebsci}{\ebsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbsci}{\xbsciseries}

%%condensed small caps italic
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ulcsciseries}{\fontseries{ulcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\elcsciseries}{\fontseries{elcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\lcsciseries}{\fontseries{lcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\mcsciseries}{\fontseries{mcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\sbcsciseries}{\fontseries{sbcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\bcsciseries}{\fontseries{bcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\ebcsciseries}{\fontseries{ebcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\xbcsciseries}{\fontseries{xbcsci}\fontshape{i}\scshape\selectfont}


%condensed small caps italic
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textulcsci}{\ulcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textelcsci}{\elcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textlcsci}{\lcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textmcsci}{\mcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textsbcsci}{\sbcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textbcsci}{\bcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textebcsci}{\ebcsciseries}
\DeclareTextFontCommand{\textxbcsci}{\xbcsciseries}





\begin{document}

%\fontname\mseries
\section{Noto Serif}
\rmfamily
%\itshape
%\scshape
\subsection{Normal}
\begin{tabular}{c}
Normal \\
\hline\ \\
\textul{Abc Thin} {\ulseries Thin}\\
\textel{Abc ExtraLight} {\elseries ExtraLight}\\
\textl{Abc Light} {\lseries Light}\\
\textm{Abc Medium} {\mseries Medium}\\
\textsb{Abc SemiBold} {\sbseries SemiBold}\\
\textb{Abc Bold} {\bseries Bold}\\
\texteb{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxb{Abc Black} {\xbseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{c}
Condensed\\
\hline\ \\
\textulc{Abc Thin} {\ulcseries Thin}\\
\textelc{Abc ExtraLight} {\elcseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlc{Abc Light} {\lcseries Light}\\
\textmc{Abc Medium} {\mcseries Medium}\\
\textsbc{Abc SemiBold} {\sbcseries SemiBold}\\
\textbc{Abc Bold} {\bcseries Bold}\\
\textebc{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebcseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbc{Abc Black} {\xbcseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}

\vskip1em
\begin{tabular}{c}
Normal Italic \\
\hline\ \\
\textuli{Abc Thin} {\uliseries Thin}\\
\texteli{Abc ExtraLight} {\eliseries ExtraLight}\\
\textli{Abc Light} {\liseries Light}\\
\textmi{Abc Medium} {\miseries Medium}\\
\textsbi{Abc SemiBold} {\sbiseries SemiBold}\\
\textbi{Abc Bold} {\biseries Bold}\\
\textebi{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebiseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbi{Abc Black} {\xbiseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{c}
Condensed Italic\\
\hline\ \\
\textulci{Abc Thin} {\ulciseries Thin}\\
\textelci{Abc ExtraLight} {\elciseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlci{Abc Light} {\lciseries Light}\\
\textmci{Abc Medium} {\mciseries Medium}\\
\textsbci{Abc SemiBold} {\sbciseries SemiBold}\\
\textbci{Abc Bold} {\bciseries Bold}\\
\textebci{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebciseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbci{Abc Black} {\xbciseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}

\newpage
\subsection{Small Caps}
\vskip1em
\begin{tabular}{c}
Normal Small Caps \\
\hline\ \\
\textulsc{Abc Thin} {\ulscseries Thin}\\
\textelsc{Abc ExtraLight} {\elscseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlsc{Abc Light} {\lscseries Light}\\
\textmsc{Abc Medium} {\mscseries Medium}\\
\textsbsc{Abc SemiBold} {\sbscseries SemiBold}\\
\textbsc{Abc Bold} {\bscseries Bold}\\
\textebsc{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebscseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbsc{Abc Black} {\xbscseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{c}
Condensed Small Caps\\
\hline\ \\
\textulcsc{Abc Thin} {\ulcscseries Thin}\\
\textelcsc{Abc ExtraLight} {\elcscseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlcsc{Abc Light} {\lcscseries Light}\\
\textmcsc{Abc Medium} {\mcscseries Medium}\\
\textsbcsc{Abc SemiBold} {\sbcscseries SemiBold}\\
\textbcsc{Abc Bold} {\bcscseries Bold}\\
\textebcsc{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebcscseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbcsc{Abc Black} {\xbcscseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}

\vskip1em
\begin{tabular}{c}
Normal Small Caps  Italic\\
\hline\ \\
\textulsci{Abc Thin} {\ulsciseries Thin}\\
\textelsci{Abc ExtraLight} {\elsciseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlsci{Abc Light} {\lsciseries Light}\\
\textmsci{Abc Medium} {\msciseries Medium}\\
\textsbsci{Abc SemiBold} {\sbsciseries SemiBold}\\
\textbsci{Abc Bold} {\bsciseries Bold}\\
\textebsci{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebsciseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbsci{Abc Black} {\xbsciseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}{c}
Condensed Small Caps Italic\\
\hline\ \\
\textulcsci{Abc Thin} {\ulcsciseries Thin}\\
\textelcsci{Abc ExtraLight} {\elcsciseries ExtraLight}\\
\textlcsci{Abc Light} {\lcsciseries Light}\\
\textmcsci{Abc Medium} {\mcsciseries Medium}\\
\textsbcsci{Abc SemiBold} {\sbcsciseries SemiBold}\\
\textbcsci{Abc Bold} {\bcsciseries Bold}\\
\textebcsci{Abc ExtraBold} {\ebcsciseries ExtraBold}\\
\textxbcsci{Abc Black} {\xbcsciseries Black}\\%
\end{tabular}




\end{document}

(a fair amount of work, but straightforward enough using concatenate in a spreadsheet)

the question is, for ease of use, how should all these commands be (systematically/verbosely) named? Is there a more powerful and/or compact way of accessing these, by indices perhaps? It is almost like thinking of names for colours.

And then, independently of what could be called the visuality bundle of dimensions, another dimension related to fonts is script(s).

FreeSerif, for example, has italic Georgian, Armenian, Cyrillic, but not the smallcaps.

The days of bf and sc are long gone.

=====

Edited to add:

Actually, perhaps not.

For those who "run and type" (use of short commands), a cumulative bf-like sc-like mechanism (using font switches) can be achieved with a toggling-macro wrapper which groups the states of each font feature into sets and ratchets through the elements in the set with a stepcounter.

Cycling can be done with whatever can be grouped into sets: boldness, italics, small caps, size, font families.

(no italics in this monospaced font)

It's easy to lose track of where you are, though, when not 'in the zone', and adding font size to the wrapper mix reveals that TeX is doing additional things behind the scenes across font families when sizes are allocated.

A reverse-ratchet, to cycle through the elements in reverse gear, is easy enough to implement, although for two-state toggles its results are identical to the forward ratchet.

MWE

\documentclass[12pt]{article}

\usepackage{fontspec}%splits itshape and scshape apart as independent shapes
\setmainfont{Noto Serif}%for small caps
\setsansfont{Noto Sans}
\setmonofont{Noto Sans Mono}    %no italic

%namespace is fx

%reset to initial state
\newcommand\fxbfreset{\fxboldinit}
\newcommand\fxitreset{\fxitalinit}
\newcommand\fxscreset{\fxscapinit}
\newcommand\fxszreset{\fxsetdefaultsize}
\newcommand\fxfmreset{\fxfmlyinit}
\newcommand\fxresetall{%
\fxbfreset%
\fxitreset%
\fxscreset%
\fxszreset%
\fxfmreset%
}


% For the element states in a closed set,
% toggle-step incrementally along each element
% and start at the beginning again, Kekule-like,

%-----------------------------------------------------
% bold
% start and end range: two states (say)
\newcounter{fxboldmax}
\setcounter{fxboldmax}{2}
\newcommand\fxboldstart{1}
% counter
\newcounter{fxboldtoggle}
\newcommand\fxboldinit{%
\setcounter{fxboldtoggle}{\fxboldstart}}
%init
\fxboldinit
% define stepnames
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxboldstep1\endcsname{\mdseries}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxboldstep2\endcsname{\bfseries}
% toggle cycle
\newcommand\fxboldstep{%
%increment
\stepcounter{fxboldtoggle}%
%%cycle
\ifnum\value{fxboldtoggle} >\value{fxboldmax}\fxboldinit\fi%
%apply step
\ifcase\value{fxboldtoggle}\relax%
\relax%0
\or\csname fxboldstep\thefxboldtoggle\endcsname%1
\or\csname fxboldstep\thefxboldtoggle\endcsname%2
\else\fxboldinit%
\fi%
%\thefxboldtoggle
}

\newcommand\fxbf{\fxboldstep}


%-----------------------------------------------------
%italic
% start and end range
\newcounter{fxitalmax}
\setcounter{fxitalmax}{2}
\newcommand\fxitalstart{1}
% counter
\newcounter{fxitaltoggle}
\newcommand\fxitalinit{%
\setcounter{fxitaltoggle}{\fxitalstart}}
%init
\fxitalinit
% define stepnames
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxitalstep1\endcsname{\upshape}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxitalstep2\endcsname{\itshape}
% toggle cycle
\newcommand\fxitalstep{%
%increment
\stepcounter{fxitaltoggle}%
%%cycle
\ifnum\value{fxitaltoggle} >\value{fxitalmax}\fxitalinit\fi%
%apply step
\ifcase\value{fxitaltoggle}\relax%
\relax%0
\or\csname fxitalstep\thefxitaltoggle\endcsname%1
\or\csname fxitalstep\thefxitaltoggle\endcsname%2
\else\fxitalinit%
\fi%
%\thefxitaltoggle
}

\newcommand\fxit{\fxitalstep}



%-----------------------------------------------------
%small caps
% start and end range
\newcounter{fxscapmax}
\setcounter{fxscapmax}{2}
\newcommand\fxscapstart{1}
% counter
\newcounter{fxscaptoggle}
\newcommand\fxscapinit{%
\setcounter{fxscaptoggle}{\fxscapstart}}
%init
\fxscapinit
% define stepnames
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxscapstep1\endcsname{\upshape}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxscapstep2\endcsname{\scshape}
% toggle cycle
\newcommand\fxscapstep{%
%increment
\stepcounter{fxscaptoggle}%
%%cycle
\ifnum\value{fxscaptoggle} >\value{fxscapmax}\fxscapinit\fi%
%apply step
\ifcase\value{fxscaptoggle}\relax%
\relax%0
\or\csname fxscapstep\thefxscaptoggle\endcsname%1
\or\csname fxscapstep\thefxscaptoggle\endcsname%2
\else\fxscapinit%
\fi%
%\thefxscaptoggle
}

\newcommand\fxsc{\fxscapstep}





%-----------------------------------------------------
%size
% start and end range
\newcounter{fxsizemax}
\setcounter{fxsizemax}{10}
\newcommand\fxsizestart{1}
\newcommand\fxsizedefault{4}
% counter
\newcounter{fxsizetoggle}
\newcommand\fxsizeinit{%
\setcounter{fxsizetoggle}{\fxsizestart}}
% define stepnames
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep1\endcsname{\tiny}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep2\endcsname{\scriptsize}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep3\endcsname{\footnotesize}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep4\endcsname{\small}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep5\endcsname{\normalsize}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep6\endcsname{\large}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep7\endcsname{\Large}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep8\endcsname{\LARGE}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep9\endcsname{\huge}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxsizestep10\endcsname{\Huge}
% toggle cycle
\newcommand\fxsizestep{%
%increment
\stepcounter{fxsizetoggle}%
%%cycle
\ifnum\value{fxsizetoggle} >\value{fxsizemax}\fxsizeinit\fi%
%apply step
\ifcase\value{fxsizetoggle}\relax%
\relax%0
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%1
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%2
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%3
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%4
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%5
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%6
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%7
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%8
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%9
\or\csname fxsizestep\thefxsizetoggle\endcsname%10
\else\fxsizeinit%
\fi%
%\thefxsizetoggle
}
\newcommand\fxsetdefaultsize{%
\setcounter{fxsizetoggle}{\fxsizedefault}%
\fxsizestep%
}
%init
%\fxsizeinit
\fxsetdefaultsize

\newcommand\fxsz{\fxsizestep}




%-----------------------------------------------------
%family = fmly
% start and end range
\newcounter{fxfmlymax}
\setcounter{fxfmlymax}{3}
\newcommand\fxfmlystart{1}
\newcommand\fxfmlydefault{1}
% counter
\newcounter{fxfmlytoggle}
\newcommand\fxfmlyinit{%
\setcounter{fxfmlytoggle}{\fxfmlystart}}
\newcommand\fxsetdefaultfmly{%
\setcounter{fxfmlytoggle}{\fxfmlydefault}}
%init
\fxfmlyinit
%\fxsetdefaultfmly
% define stepnames
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxfmlystep1\endcsname{\rmfamily}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxfmlystep2\endcsname{\sffamily}
\expandafter\newcommand\csname fxfmlystep3\endcsname{\ttfamily}
% toggle cycle
\newcommand\fxfmlystep{%
%increment
\stepcounter{fxfmlytoggle}%
%%cycle
\ifnum\value{fxfmlytoggle} >\value{fxfmlymax}\fxfmlyinit\fi%
%apply step
\ifcase\value{fxfmlytoggle}\relax%
\relax%0
\or\csname fxfmlystep\thefxfmlytoggle\endcsname%1
\or\csname fxfmlystep\thefxfmlytoggle\endcsname%2
\or\csname fxfmlystep\thefxfmlytoggle\endcsname%3
\else\fxfmlyinit%
\fi%
%\thefxfmlytoggle
}

\newcommand\fxfm{\fxfmlystep}







%========================================
\begin{document}

\section{Example}
\subsection{Three families, normal}
\indent Normal text serif
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf 
\begin{quotation}
\noindent
\fxsz Bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxszreset back to normal size.
\end{quotation}

\fxfm\fxsz
Normal text sans-serif
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf
\begin{quotation}
\noindent
\fxszreset\fxsz Bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxszreset\fxsz back to normal size.
\end{quotation}

\fxfm\fxsz
Normal text monospaced
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf
\begin{quotation}
\noindent
\fxszreset\fxsz Bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxsz bigger, \fxszreset\fxsz back to normal size.
\end{quotation}

\fxfm

\subsection{Three families, small caps}
\fxszreset\fxsz 
\fxsc
Normal text serif
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf

\fxfm
Normal text sans-serif
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf

\fxfm
Normal text monospaced
\fxbf bold \fxbf
\fxit italic
\fxbf bold italic.\fxit\fxbf
\fxfm 
\fxsc

\fxresetall
Back to normal text.

\end{document}

Answer 8

In XeTeX or LuaLaTeX, you can enable \bfseries\scshape by loading a font that supports it, such as \usepackage{newcomputermodern}.

In PDFTeX, you can enable bold small caps in Computer Modern with CFR’s fix-cm package and the T1 encoding:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{fix-cm}

\begin{document}
\textsc{Foo} \textsc{\textbf{bar}}
\end{document}

There are many fonts other than Computer Modern which have bold small caps, including Libertinus.