Math Equation Editing in Illustrator

[Rick_Yukon@adobeforums.com]

Hi All,

Any suggestions as to how I can set Mathematical Equations in Illustrator? I want to use Illustrator to produce a project with a lot of equations and illustrations on every page. I'm an Illustrator pro, but I've never used InDesign, so I'm not eager to learn that program to do the project. (The lack of multi-page support in Illustrator won't be an issue with this project.)

I know I could just set the equations by hand in Illustrator, but that will be slow. I'm looking for something somewhat intelligent like the Equation Editor in Word. I don't want to use XPress because of the need for a lot of illustrations and annotations on each page, it will slow down production.

If nothing, has anyone used the Magic Math plugin in InDesign? Is the quality of the math typesetting to LaTEX/TEX quality? (I find Word's equation editor to make somewhat clunky-looking equations compared to TEX.)

Thanks!

[PaulHarris@adobeforums.com]

In article <3bb41f40.-1@webx.la2eafNXanI>, <Rick_Yukon@adobeforums.com>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Any suggestions as to how I can set Mathematical Equations in Illustrator? I
> want to use Illustrator to produce a project with a lot of equations and
> illustrations on every page. I'm an Illustrator pro, but I've never used
> InDesign, so I'm not eager to learn that program to do the project. (The lack
> of multi-page support in Illustrator won't be an issue with this project.)
>
> I know I could just set the equations by hand in Illustrator, but that will
> be slow. I'm looking for something somewhat intelligent like the Equation
> Editor in Word. I don't want to use XPress because of the need for a lot of
> illustrations and annotations on each page, it will slow down production.
>
> If nothing, has anyone used the Magic Math plugin in InDesign? Is the quality
> of the math typesetting to LaTEX/TEX quality? (I find Word's equation editor
> to make somewhat clunky-looking equations compared to TEX.)

How about using MathType ([url]http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/[/url]),
which I'm pretty sure does a good job of equations, and will export
your equations in EPS format? I guess a stripped-down version of
MathType is what is used in MS Word, but perhaps the full blown version
produces better results than the Word equation editor, maybe has more
choices available for layout, etc. I'm not an equation afficionado, so
I wouldn't notice the difference between a good looking and a clunky
looking equation, but I get the idea.

Paul Harrris

[Mordy_Golding@adobeforums.com]

I believe you can also export EPS from Mathematica.

:) Mordy

[Rick_Yukon@adobeforums.com]

I use Mathematica and Math Type, they're both good, but setting equations in one program and then importing them into Illustrator, either as a non-editable graphic or as editable paths is going to be too cumbersome and way too slow.

I need to set equations as quickly as typing this reply, and I'm going to need to set a lot of them.

I guess I'm just going to have to either do it the old-fashioned way using Illustrator's built-in type controls and the Symbol font, or I'm going to have to invest time and money into InDesign and a plug-in math typesetter. Probably the latter is the best move.

Oh well, I guess the days of using Illustrator as my main axe are coming to an end. Thanks for your suggestions.

[adopey@adobeforums.com]

I have to edit equations all the time in Illustrator and have setup a separate illustrator file with all the most frequently used signs and symbols as well as some I have developed myself such as fractions and I find this speeds up the process.

I wouldnt be so hasty to write-off Illustrator yet though. If there is enough demand then im sure some clever person will write a good plugin to make our lives easier...

[Rick_Yukon@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Adopey,

I tried setting some of the pages last night in Illustrator, it was pretty laborious. But I do like all of the control over the equations that Illustrator offers. I might try to use your method, and see if it helps.

The hard parts it seems are integrals and brackets, where I need to stretch them to make them several lines high for multilayered equations. For integrals, for instance, I used the symbol font at a large size, and then horizontally-scaled it to 50% to get the weight to roughly match. This seems like a crude way to do it. Maybe a better way is to make up a few integral heights by editing paths?

Do you find your method to be almost as fast as an equation editor?

[Rick_Yukon@adobeforums.com]

I did the first few pages in Illustrator only, and some of the more complex double layer integrals were driving me crazy, and my quality wasn't great. So I downloaded Mathtype for a free 30-day trial from the website, and installed it on the Mac.

It's perfect.

It turns out that when you save an equation from Mathtype in eps format and then read it into Illustrator, it comes in as 100% editable type, not a picture box. I can copy pieces, move things around, and adjust spacing. The import is about 98% perfect, with an occassional problem with subscripts when I have long line lengths, but it's pretty easy to fix when I see it.

And Mathtype is a joy to use, it's easy right out, and now I'm starting to pick up the function keys to make the typesetting much faster.

I do all of my equations for a page in Mathtype, and then import the whole file into my Illustrator page. Then I adjust the spacing as necessary to make everything fit. When I'm done, everything is in the Illustrator file, I don't need the original eps file to print or open.

It's a very good program, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the way Mathtype interfaces with Illustrator. This morning I got 5 pages out, which is pretty good. I hope to bring my speed up more over the next few weeks. I would like to be able to run Mathtype as easily as I type. I also want to start setting some of the regular type right in mathtype, so that I won't have to jigger the page around so much in Illustrator.

I have about 28 days, and then I'll have to buy the software. Since I'm a student, I'm supposed to get the educational price, which is $100 I think. It's more expensive than LaTeX, or TeX, which is free, but it's worth it because it is so easy to use.

[adopey@adobeforums.com]

great! im glad it works for you.

We get the equations after the initial 'make-up' stage and they simply require tidying up and fairly minimal editing so mathtype isnt really for me but good luck with it...