# Italic fonts for plots like those appear in scientific papers

Suppose we want to draw the following plot:

DensityPlot[ Sin[ x y], {x, -5, 5}, {y, -5, 5}, MaxRecursion -> 8,
PlotRange -> All,
ColorFunction -> (Hue[Rescale[#, {0, 1}, {.7, 0}]] &),
FrameLabel -> {Style["\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(x$$, $$g$$]\)",
FontSlant -> Italic, FontSize -> 24],
Style["\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(p$$, $$g$$]\)", FontSlant -> Italic,
FontSize -> 24]},
LabelStyle -> {Bold, Black, FontSize -> 16, FontFamily -> Times},
Frame ->  True, FrameStyle -> Directive[Black, 18],
BaseStyle -> {FontSize -> 16, FontFamily -> Times},
PlotLegends -> Automatic, PlotTheme -> "Scientific"
]


As you see in the following figure, the labels of the plot are italic, but not the kind we need in scientific papers.

What I need is this:

Is there any way to get this kind of "italic" font? I know that MaTex may work, but I'm looking for an easier way. I tried installing MaTex, but never succeeded.

• Are you looking for a font recommendation? – george2079 Apr 2 '18 at 17:41
• you may use $FontFamilies to see the fonts available on your system and try one that looks like what you need by replacing FontFamily -> Times with the new font. For example, on my mac there's a font "Calisto MT" that may fit, via FontFamily -> "Calisto MT" – egwene sedai Apr 2 '18 at 17:47 • I would use Subscript[x, g] instead of the inscrutable "\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(x$$, $$g$$]\)". If p is your plot, what does Options[p] return? – Carl Woll Apr 2 '18 at 18:24 • MaTeX is really powerful once you have installed it, and there is a paclet installer. See github.com/szhorvat/MaTeX – SPPearce Apr 2 '18 at 18:27 • Perhaps FontFamily -> "Times New Roman" – Bob Hanlon Apr 2 '18 at 20:27 ## 2 Answers Joining the answer by José and a comment by egwene: {#, Style[ "\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(x$$, $$g$$]\) \!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(p$$, $$g$$]\)", FontSlant -> Italic, FontFamily -> #, 32]} & /@$FontFamilies // Grid


gives a list in which many fonts provide outputs similar to what is desired.

\$FontFamilies // Length yields 285, so for the sake of sanity only first 40 fonts are displayed in the image below.

Maybe you are looking for the fontname "Euclid". However, be advised that you must have this font installed in your system:

Style["\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(x$$, $$g$$]\)  \!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(P$$, \
$$g$$]\)", FontSlant -> Italic, FontFamily -> "Euclid", 32]


You should be also be aware about the font recommended for the plots in the journal you want to publish your paper (often, Times or Arial).

Style["\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(x$$, $$g$$]\)  \!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(P$$, \
$$g$$]\)", FontSlant -> Italic, FontFamily -> "Times", 32]


• I tried elucid as you recommended, but it did not work. I had installed that on my system. – Saeid Apr 2 '18 at 19:29
• Sounds bizarre. Anyway, and after seeing your font request in detail in your second fig, I would bet on "Times" as the font you are looking for. You can also take a look at the answer by @corey979 – José Antonio Díaz Navas Apr 2 '18 at 19:33