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TEX/LATEX Related Topics.
  Are there style files available to use with TeX/LaTeX?
What else do I need to create PDF documents using (La)TeX?
How do I create compliant PDFs from (La)TeX source?
Should I use dvips/ghostscript/distiller combination, PDFLaTeX or dvipdfm?
My TeX installation uses bitmapped fonts, what should I do?
I am using vector fonts, yet the PDF test says there are bitmap fonts in my paper. What should I do?


TEX/LATEX Related Topics
Are there style files available to use with TeX/LaTeX? Please download the following files for document preparation using LaTeX. Unfortunately, at the present time (and in foreseeable future), there is no support for plain TeX or other flavors of TeX (such as AMSTeX, ConTeXt, etc.)
 
Style files and LaTeX commands The sample document in DSCC_paper_LaTeX_template.zip contains instructions for its usage.
 
What else do I need to create PDF documents using LaTeX? In addition to above style files you need the following components:
  • A LaTeX distribution for your platform, e.g. MikTeX 2.3 or higher (for Windows), TeTeX 1.0.7 or higher (for Linux and other *nix flavors) and OzTeX 5.1 or higher (for Mac). Make sure that your installation uses Type 1 fonts. Earlier versions of LaTeX used Type 3 or Bitmapped fonts. These are not scalable (i.e. render well on screen as well as print). The paper submission system checks for fonts used and if it detects Type 3 fonts, the paper cannot be uploaded. We cannot assist with installation of these packages on your system, however, they all come with extensive installation notes.
  • One of the following
    1. Ghostscript 7.0.4 or higher (Windows and Linux/Unix)
    2. GSview 4.6 or higher together with the recommended version of Ghostscript (Windows)
    3. Adobe Distiller 6 or higher (Windows). This comes with Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional 6 or higher.
    4. OzTeX (Mac)
    Options 1 and 2 are high quality open source software and widely in use. Adobe Distiller is a commercial product. There are several other products (free or commercial) in the market that can produce compatible PDF files. However, there is no support available for them through these pages.
  • Some distributions of LaTeX (e.g. MikTeX) come bundled with pdfTeX that can directly create PDF files from TeX source. However, this will require that you have all graphics/images of your document available in PDF format. It cannot convert encapsulated postscript to PDF. Its use requires minor modifications to the LaTeX source file and the details for that appear in pdfTeX documentation and are not repeated here.
How do I create compliant PDFs from LaTeX source? Assuming that you have a LaTeX distribution for your platform with "Type 1" fonts installed, use one of the following options:






Should I use dvips/ghostscript/distiller combination, PDFLaTeX or dvipdfm? There are currently two viable alternatives in producing compliant PDF documents from LaTeX (the dvips method and the pdfTeX Method). The first option is currently the best one owing to the fact that the LaTeX source file does not have to be modified, all style and class files are supported, and bitmapped as well as postscript figures can be included directly into the final PDF. Both methods of creating compliant PDFs work well. However the work flow and requirements are slightly different. Of course, they all require that the TeX installation being used supports Type 1 fonts.

  dvips/ghostscript/distiller pdfTeX
Fonts Type 1 Type 1
Style files All known styles supported Limited support
Platforms All Linux (Y), Win (Y), Mac (?)
Graphics EPS/JPEG/PNG PDF
Workflow latex+bibtex --> dvips --> PDF latex+bibtex --> PDF

Dvipdfm generally works well, but has some bugs in processing certain types of .eps figures. The only reliable way to work with dvipdfm when including encapsulated postscript figures in your document is to first convert them to PDF.
 
My TeX installation uses bitmapped fonts, what should I do? All earlier TeX/LaTeX installations used METAFONT technology to create Type 3 fonts. These fonts were customized for the printing device for which they were meant. Unfortunately that does not help in the creation of PDF that renders well on the screen as well as in print. If you have the (La)TeX system installed on your own computer, upgrade it to a newer version. Most newer packaged distributions come with Type 1 fonts. All packages mentioned above support Type 1 fonts. If you are using a network installation of LaTeX, please request your system administrator to upgrade the installation with a more recent distribution. Unfortunately, there is no reliable way to convert fonts from bitmapped to vector once the document has been generated. The changes have to be made when converting from latex --> dvi --> PDF.
 
I am using vector fonts, yet the PDF test says there are bitmap fonts in my paper. What should I do? It may happen that even if your installation uses Type 1 fonts only your pdf document still contains bitmapped (Type 3) fonts. The most likely source for bitmapped fonts are images that might be using bitmapped fonts. You may check if these fonts originate from the graphics in the document by compiling the source file without the graphics.

The solution will be either to regenerate the offending images using Type 1 fonts or to convert them to raster images such as JPEG or PNG..