[OS X TeX] Creating a Sensible PDF Document

[Jeffrey J Weimer]

I have been previewing the multitude of wonderful documentation on  
font usage within LaTeX with the goal of determining HOW to achieve  
one thing, namely, create a sensible PDF document file. I define  
sensible by two parameters: document size (smaller is better) and  
cross-platform printability (multi-platform is better). The  
independent variable in my tests is font(s) within the document. A  
constraint in my typesetting is, graphics should be included during  
the processing directly from PDF formatted image files.

Does the list below adequately summarize the three choices one has?

1. To Create the Most Sensible PDF Document
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{mathptmx, helvet}
-> typeset w/ TeX + Ghostscript
* pro: creates the smallest directly portable document
* cons: all figures must be available in .eps format, requires longer  
compile time compared to a pdftex option, and the two fonts used may  
be aesthetically unpleasing/unacceptable to some for quality documents
* note: using pdftex for typesetting speeds up the compile time and  
allows the use of .pdf images however it reduces the portability of  
the document by moving away from the standard 35 PDF T1 fonts

2. To Create a Sensible PDF Document using Font Packages
... create or obtain all the required font metrics + encodings +   
other files
... install them appropriately
... start the document preamble with the correct NFSS coding commands
-> typeset directly
* pros: significant font variability possible and figures can be in pdf
* con: requires knowing how to tweak the system and use NFSS commands  
as well as creates a larger PDF document (that has potential cross- 
platform printing problems if glyphs are missing due to sub-setting  
of embedded fonts???)
* note: typesetting w/ TeX + Ghostscript overcomes the size/ 
portability issue but adds back the .eps requirement to graphics files

3. To Create a Sensible PDF Document using MacOS/TrueType/Unicode Fonts
%!TEX TS-program = xelatex
%!TEX encoding = UTF-8 Unicode
\usepackage{fontspec,xunicode}
\setXXXfont{font family}
...
-> typeset directly
* pros: significant font variability possible and figures can be  
in .pdf format
* con: creates a larger PDF document (that has potential cross- 
platform printing problems if glyphs are missing due to sub-setting  
of embedded fonts???)
* note: this is a less-error prone path to follow when compared to  
the work needed to setup Font Packages

--
J. J. Weimer, Chemistry / Chemical & Materials Engineering
University of Alabama in Huntsville, MSB 125, 301 Sparkman Dr
Huntsville, AL 35899                phone: 256-824-6954



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