The METAFONTbook (Spiral-bound)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

0201134454B04062001 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 361 pages
• Publisher: American Mathematical Society (January 11, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201134446
• ISBN-13: 978-0201134445
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #976,419 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well, if you care about archaic technology, December 12, 2000

By	D. A. Hosek (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The METAFONTbook (Computers & Typesetting) (Hardcover)

Once upon a time, MF represented the best hope for outline font technology. Then came PostScript, Type 1 fonts, ATM and it became moot. It's a nice graphic programming language and for some mathematically-derived designs it's easier to work with than is, say, Fontographer or Fontlab, but the output is mired in the bitmap world (valiant MF2PS efforts notwithstanding).

Serious students of MF will also need the Computer Modern Typefaces book. And possibly a healthy dose of liquor. But as I said, the language is actually kind of nice (and MF can be used as a simple algebraic calculator if you're so inclined).

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's really paperbound, December 3, 2000

By	Paul Vojta (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The METAFONTbook (Computers & Typesetting) (Hardcover)

Most of the people who order this book will already know quite a bit about it, so I won't say much about the book itself. I will point out, though, that it is softcover, not hardcover. (The book linked to by the "softcover" link is spiral bound.) On the other hand, I haven't succeeded in locating any copies of the "real" hardcover edition.