Blackboard Bold Math Mode Macros

plain TeX


The following code defines blackboard bold characters. In use is the san serif font (\cmss), however a roman font (\bf) can be substituted with minimal effort. So these characters will look right in sub- or super-scripts, five, seven and ten point fonts are required. (This macro is kind of long.)

Example: $\bbbR$


%=================================================================
% ( if \cmss10 not available, change \sans to \bf )
%-----------------------------------------------------------------
\newfam\sansfam
\textfont\sansfam=\tensans\scriptfont\sansfam=\sevensans
\scriptscriptfont\sansfam=\fivesans
\def\sans{\fam\sansfam\tensans}
%=================================================================
% Blackboard Bold
%=================================================================
\def\bbbA{{\mathchoice 
         {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{A}}}$}\hbox{\raise
         0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
         {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{A}}}$}\hbox{\raise
         0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
         {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{A}}}$}\hbox{\raise
         0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
         {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{A}}}$}\hbox{\raise
         0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbB{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$B}}}
\def\bbbC{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{C}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{C}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{C}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{C}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbD{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$D}}}
\def\bbbE{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$E}}}
\def\bbbF{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$F}}}
\def\bbbG{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{G}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{G}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{G}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{G}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbH{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$H}}}
\def\bbbI{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$I}}}
\def\bbbJ{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{J}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{J}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{J}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{J}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbK{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$K}}}
\def\bbbL{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$L}}}
\def\bbbM{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$M}}}
\def\bbbN{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$N}}}
\def\bbbO{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{O}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{O}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{O}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{O}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbP{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$P}}}
\def\bbbQ{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{Q}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{Q}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{Q}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{Q}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbR{\hbox{\sans{I$\!$R}}}
\def\bbbS{{\mathchoice{\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{S}}}$}
          \hbox{\raise0.5\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.35\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.55\wd0\vrule height0.5\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle {\hbox{\sans{S}}}$}\hbox{\raise0.5\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.35\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.55\wd0\vrule height0.5\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{S}}}$}\hbox{\raise0.5\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.35\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\raise0.05\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.5\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{S}}}$}\hbox{\raise0.5\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\raise0.05\ht0\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.55\wd0\vrule height0.45\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbT{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle\sans
          T$}\hbox{\hbox to0pt{\kern0.3\wd0\vrule height0.9\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{T}}}$}\hbox{\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.3\wd0\vrule height0.9\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{T}}}$}\hbox{\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.3\wd0\vrule height0.9\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{T}}}$}\hbox{\hbox
          to0pt{\kern0.3\wd0\vrule height0.9\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbU{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{U}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{U}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{U}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{U}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbV{{\mathchoice {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle V\kern-0.4em V$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle V\kern-0.4em V$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptstyle V\kern-0.3em V$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptscriptstyle V\kern-0.2em V$}}}}
\def\bbbW{{\mathchoice {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle W\kern-0.4em W$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle W\kern-0.4em W$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptstyle W\kern-0.3em W$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptscriptstyle W\kern-0.2em W$}}}}
\def\bbbX{{\mathchoice {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle X\kern-0.4em X$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle X\kern-0.4em X$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptstyle X\kern-0.3em X$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptscriptstyle X\kern-0.2em X$}}}}
\def\bbbY{{\mathchoice {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle Y\kern-0.4em Y$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\textstyle Y\kern-0.4em Y$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptstyle Y\kern-0.3em Y$}}
          {\hbox{$\sans\scriptscriptstyle Y\kern-0.2em Y$}}}}
\def\bbbZ{\hbox{\sans{Z$\!\!$Z}}}
\def\bbbone{{\mathchoice {\rm 1\mskip-4mu l} {\rm 1\mskip-4mu l}
          {\rm 1\mskip-4.5mu l} {\rm 1\mskip-5mu l}}}
\def\bbba{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{a}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{a}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{a}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{a}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbb{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{b}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{b}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{b}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{b}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbc{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{c}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{c}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{c}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{c}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbd{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{d}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{d}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{d}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{d}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbe{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{e}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{e}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{e}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{e}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbf{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{f}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{f}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{f}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{f}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbg{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{g}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{g}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{g}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{g}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbbu{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{u}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{u}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{u}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{u}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
\def\bbby{{\mathchoice {\setbox0=\hbox{$\displaystyle{\hbox{\sans{y}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\textstyle{\hbox{\sans{y}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.8\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{y}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}
          {\setbox0=\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle{\hbox{\sans{y}}}$}\hbox{\raise
          0.15\ht0\hbox to0pt{\kern0.4\wd0\vrule height0.7\ht0\hss}\box0}}}}
%=================================================================

Bold Math Mode Macro / Heading Macros

MESmith Spinneret / TeXSpot / smith@math.fsu.edu


FSU Math Home Page


Last modified: 14 August 1995