How to typeset “TikZ”?

Question

I know I can use the macros \TeX and \LaTeX for typesetting the names of TeX and LaTeX (including the necessary vertical alignment trick).

But how am I supposed to typeset "TikZ"? (I am asking because I'd like to mention TikZ in the Colophon of a book).

Answer 1

Look at the manual. It’s typeset as Ti\textit{k}Z …

You may create a new command if you would like to use it more than one time. If you use xspace, it takes care of the following space.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{xspace}
\newcommand{\TikZ}{Ti\textit{k}Z\xspace}

\begin{document}
\TikZ with a following space and without \TikZ.
\end{document}

_{For further reading: Drawbacks of xspace}

As said in the the comments, there are some other possible definitions:

1. Ti\emph{k}Z, which will have an italic k in upright context and an upright k in italic context. So the k is always emphasizes, which may satisfies the source of the name “TikZ ist kein Zeichenprogramm” (TikZ is no drawing software), where the word kein should be emphasized.

2. \textup{Ti\textit{k}Z} will produce the version with upright T, i and Z and italic k in all cases. This may be preferable, when the original appearance should be kept for the whole document.