There are some important differences between a PostScript font
like Times-Roman and an ``equivalent'' Computer Modern Roman font:
- A PostScript font can be requested at virtually any size.
For example, you can do things like ``
\font\helv=ptmr8r at 33.3pt''.
You can also ask for cmr10 at any size,
but a separate PK file is needed for each size.
(However, you can avoid PK files altogether by getting
PostScript versions of the Computer Modern fonts; see below.)
- When a PostScript font like Times-Roman is scaled to the same design size
as a CMR font it tends to look darker and larger. It is not a good idea
to mix the two font designs in the same document.
- For Plain TEX users,
the standard TEX commands for accents and foreign letters need to be
redefined for a PostScript text font.
The file
pstext.tex in the Plain subfolder
in TeX-inputs contains the required macro definitions.
Another file, psfonts.tex in TeX-docs, inputs these macros and
illustrates the use of PostScript fonts in a Plain TEX document.
LATEX users can typeset a document with PostScript text fonts rather
than Computer Modern by simply adding a suitable package declaration.
For example,
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{times}
will switch the default text font to Times-Roman. See the documentation in
the PSNFSS subfolder in TeX-inputs for other possibilities.
Note that CM math fonts will still be needed to typeset mathematics, but you
can buy commercial font packages such as Lucida or MathTime that include
PostScript replacements for these math fonts.
If you like the look of Computer Modern fonts, but you also want the
flexibility of PostScript fonts, then you can have the best of both worlds.
PostScript versions of Computer Modern are available at CTAN sites.
Choose either the BaKoMa fonts created by Basil Malyshev,
or the CM/PS fonts created by Blue Sky Research.
provides configuration files for switching to BaKoMa, CM/PS,
Lucida or MathTime. The corresponding config.* files for
dvips are in the :DVIPS:Inputs: folder.