Computers and Typesetting, Volume C: The Metafont Book

METAFONT is a system for the design of symbols and alphabetic characters suited to raster-based devices that print or display text. The construction of a typeface is an art form and this manual is written for people who wish to advance the quality of mathematical typesetting. The METAFONTbook enables readers, with only minimal computer science or word processing experience, to master the basic as well as the more advanced features of METAFONT programming. With this manual, readers will learn how to write a program using METAFONT that can customize a type design that already exists, create an entire alphabet from scratch, and create logos or special symbols. A Complete User's Guide to Typeface Design with METAFONT Now, 35 years after the first edition, the leading worldwide experts on these systems have spent several months inspecting every page thoroughly. We now believe that every'i'has been properly dotted, every't'has been properly crossed, and every bug has been properly exterminated. METAFONT, created by author Donald E. Knuth, is a computer language that allows you to produce professional quality typefaces using mathematical type design. The METAFONTbook, a users guide and reference manual, enables readers with only minimal computer science or word processing experience to master the basic as well as the more advanced areas of METAFONT programming. Readers will learn how to write a program for each letter or symbol of a typeface. Using METAFONT, it is possible to customize a type design that already exists, or even to create an entire alphabet from scratch. It is particularly easy to create logos or special symbols. Advanced users will enjoy the freedom and artistry that METAFONT allows in creating original typefaces. HIGHLIGHTS Introduces concepts informally early in the text; in later chapters, these concepts are filled in with more detailed explanations. Program exercises are found throughout the text with answers in an appendix. Exercises and concepts of greater difficulty are marked with margin symbols. In this way, both beginning and experienced users of METAFONT can benefit. The book is a companion text to Knuth's The TeXbook, since TeX can be used to typeset with fonts created using METAFONT. Knuth's familiar wit, and illustrations specially drawn by Duane Bibby, add a light touch to an unusually readable software manual. The METAFONTbook is the third in a five-volume series on Computers and Typesetting, all authored by Knuth. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Preface 8 Contents 13 1 The Name of the Game 15 2 Coordinates 19 3 Curves 27 4 Pens 35 5 Running METAFONT 45 6 How METAFONT Reads What You Type 63 7 Variables 67 8 Algebraic Expressions 73 9 Equations 89 10 Assignments 101 11 Magnification and Resolution 105 12 Boxes 115 13 Drawing, Filling, and Erasing 123 14 Paths 137 15 Transformations 155 16 Calligraphic Effects 161 17 Grouping 169 18 Definitions (also called Macros) 173 19 Conditions and Loops 183 20 More About Macros 189 21 Random Numbers 197 22 Strings 201 23 Online Displays 205 24 Discreteness and Discretion 209 25 Summary of Expressions 223 26 Summary of the Language 231 27 Recovery from Errors 237 Appendices 247 A Answers to All the Exercises 247 B Basic Operations 271 C Character Codes 295 D Dirty Tricks 299 E Examples 315 F Font Metric Information 329 G Generic Font Files 337 H Hardcopy Proofs 341 I Index 359 J Joining the TEX Community 375 Donald E. Knuth ; Illustrations By Duane Bibby. Includes Index.