# Why is the math output hard to read sometimes?

by squidsoft
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 P: 54 May I suggest improving the format of the math output in the forum. Consider the following code: $$\mathop\textnormal{Res}\limits_{z=-n}\left\{\frac{\pi}{x^s\sin(\pi s)}\right\}=(-x)^n,\quad n=0,-1,-2,\cdots$$ The equal sign is not well displayed under the Res symbol and the "s" in sine is broken up. I've noticed other problems like this in general. I think PF would look more polished if the math output was nicer looking.
 P: 149 If I recall correctly, it used to be better. I'm not sure when or why the change occurred.
 Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 1,807 I suspect the problem might be that the LaTeX renderer (which generates the equation images) may work on the assumption that the equations will be displayed on a white background. On a grey background, some of the pixels are too faint. Is it possible to tweak the LaTeX renderer to take account of the grey background?
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PF Gold
P: 10,424

## Why is the math output hard to read sometimes?

Hey all,

A year ago or so, something changed in the fonts included in the normal LaTeX distributions that come with most Linux distributions. Along with it were a number of other changes that broke PF's latex system. I rewrote some of it, but never really figured out the problem with the fonts.

I will look into it more. I don't actually think it has anything to do with anti-aliasing. The images are currently anti-aliased to white, and then white is dropped out as transparent. If the strokes look correct when anti-aliased to white, it seems that changing the surrounding white pixels to transparent would not affect them. It's worth a shot, though.

- Warren
PF Gold
P: 1,807
 Quote by chroot Hey all, A year ago or so, something changed in the fonts included in the normal LaTeX distributions that come with most Linux distributions. Along with it were a number of other changes that broke PF's latex system. I rewrote some of it, but never really figured out the problem with the fonts. I will look into it more. I don't actually think it has anything to do with anti-aliasing. The images are currently anti-aliased to white, and then white is dropped out as transparent. If the strokes look correct when anti-aliased to white, it seems that changing the surrounding white pixels to transparent would not affect them. It's worth a shot, though. - Warren
For what it's worth, I took the PNG image in post #1, on its default white background, and decreased the brightness until its background matched this thread's grey background. I think the result (attached) is therefore what you'd get if anti-aliased to grey. Slightly more legible, I think, but still not great, and I guess that's down to a poor choice of font. Or something.
Attached Thumbnails

 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 12,257 Can the font be made bold, either in a default setting or when typed by the user (I never use LaTex, so don't know the ins and outs of this)? It just looks like the font is a bit thin and loses something, so if there's a way to make it bold, that might be enough to improve readability.
PF Gold
P: 1,807
 Quote by Moonbear Can the font be made bold, either in a default setting or when typed by the user (I never use LaTex, so don't know the ins and outs of this)? It just looks like the font is a bit thin and loses something, so if there's a way to make it bold, that might be enough to improve readability.
That wouldn't be a solution as such, because some equations use both bold and plain font, e.g.
$$\mathbf{z} = a\mathbf{x} + b\mathbf{y}$$
although personally I prefer
$$\textbf{z} = a\textbf{x} + b\textbf{y}$$
However, if you have a greater choice of font weights than just "plain" and "bold", then some slightly heavier fonts might help.
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 Okay, guys... I changed some of the antialiasing behavior in Ghostscript (I turned it down!), and I think the output looks a little better now. If you could, post some troublesome LaTeX here and see if it renders better now. - Warren
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 $$\mathop\textnormal{Res}\limits_{z=-n}\left\{\frac{\pi}{x^s\sin(\pi s)}\right\}=(-x)^n,\quad n=0,-1,-2,\cdots$$
 Sci Advisor HW Helper P: 3,680 $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$ has a very strong summation symbol. Attached Images
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 This is how it looked with the old antialiasing options: $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$ - Warren
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 And now the new: $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$ It's really strange that antialiasing options could even cause this in the first place..... - Warren
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 And with no anti-aliasing at all: $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$ - Warren
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 Fooling around some more: $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 Hmmm... $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 Try try again: $$\sum_{n=a}^bf(n)$$
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 $$\mathop\textnormal{Res}\limits_{z=-n}\left\{\frac{\pi}{x^s\sin(\pi s)}\right\}=(-x)^n,\quad n=0,-1,-2,\cdots$$
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 10,424 I'm not really sure I've found a solution. I'll have to keep hunting. $$\mathop\textnormal{Res}\limits_{z=-n}\left\{\frac{\pi}{x^s\sin(\pi s)}\right\}=(-x)^n,\quad n=0,-1,-2,\cdots$$ - Warren

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