Course detail

Typography and Publishing

FIT-ITYAcad. year: 2025/2026

Learning how to use the LaTeX system is not an easy task. This was the main reason for creating the course. Students will exercise LaTeX usage by projects. After the course, they will be able to create documents in LaTeX more efficiently as they can concentrate on a document itself rather than on handling LaTeX. There are discussed general typography rules within lectures despite their main focus on LaTeX.

Students learn the basics of typography and tools for creating documents. We concentrate on the LaTeX system for preparing professional documents and publications. The course consists of six two-hour lectures (usually once every two weeks). Students practise their knowledge within five LaTeX projects. The final test is at the end of teaching part of the term.

Language of instruction

Czech, English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Bohuslav Křena, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Intelligent Systems (UITS)

Entry knowledge

Text editors.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

No attendance on lectures is monitored within this course. The knowledge of students is examined by the projects and by the final test. Students can obtain up to 70 points from 5 individual projects and up to 30 points from the final test. For passing the course, it is required to obtain at least 50 points. Plagiarism as well as not permitted cooperation on projects and/or cheating during the final test will cause that involved students are not classified and disciplinary action may be initiated. In case of illness or other relevant obstacles that are properly reported and documented, the student can ask a responsible teacher to postpone a project submission or to provide an additional date for the final test.

Aims

To understand the common principles of typography. To take an overview of tools for creating documents of high typographic quality. To be familiar with the system LaTeX for preparing professional documents and publications.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Hanáček, P., et al. Jak publikovat na počítači [How to Publish by Computer]. SCIENCE, Velentiny, 1996. ISBN 80-901475-77. (In Czech) (EN)
Hanáček, P., et al. Jak publikovat na počítači. SCIENCE, Velentiny, 1996. ISBN 80-901475-77. (CS)
ČSN ISO 690: Informace a dokumentace - Pravidla pro bibliografické odkazy a citace informačních zdrojů. ÚNMZ. 2022. (CS)
ČSN ISO 690: Informace a dokumentace - Pravidla pro bibliografické odkazy a citace informačních zdrojů. ÚNMZ. 2022. (In Czech) (EN)

Recommended reading

Kopka, H., Daly, P. W. LaTeX podrobný průvodce [A Guide to LaTeX Document Preparation for Beginners and Advanced Users]. Vydání první. Computer Press, Brno, 2004. ISBN 80-722-6973-9. (In Czech) (EN)
Kopka, H., Daly, P. W. LaTeX podrobný průvodce. Vydání první. Computer Press, Brno, 2004. ISBN 80-722-6973-9. (CS)
Kottwitz, S. LaTeX Beginner's Guide. Packt Publishing, Birmingham, 2011. ISBN 978-1847199867.
Rybička, J. LaTeX pro začátečníky [LaTeX for Beginners]. 3. edition. Konvoj, Brno, 2003. ISBN 80-7302-049-1. (In Czech) (EN)
Rybička, J. LaTeX pro začátečníky. 3. vydání. Konvoj, Brno, 2003. ISBN 80-7302-049-1. (CS)

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Bohuslav Křena, Ph.D.
Ing. Aleš Smrčka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Goals and organization of the course, writing as a basis of typography, review of tools for document preparation.
  2. Introduction to LaTeX system - philosophy, software, plain and hybrid composition.
  3. Document composition - common rules and LaTeX commands for document structuring, the composition of mathematical expressions in LaTeX.
  4. Handling tables, algorithms, and images in LaTeX.
  5. Standards for references, references in LaTeX.
  6. Basics of presentations, presentation tools in LaTeX.

Project

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Petr Veigend, Ph.D.
doc. RNDr. Milan Češka, Ph.D.
Ing. Jaroslav Rozman, Ph.D.
RNDr. Libor Škarvada

Syllabus

  1. Plain and hybrid composition (10 points)
  2. Document composition, mathematical expressions (15 points)
  3. Pictures, algorithms, and tables (15 points)
  4. References (15 points)
  5. Presentation preparing (15 points)

Individual preparation for a project work

50 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Bohuslav Křena, Ph.D.

Syllabus

The basic time allocation for projects (13*2 hours) was historically derived from the number of weeks in a semester and in fact mainly represents the time allocated to teachers for evaluating projects. Although it is conceivable that a student will complete one project in an average of 5 hours and 12 minutes, it is more realistic to expect a higher workload, mainly due to the fact that students are still familiarizing themselves with the LaTeX system. Each project thus gains an average of 10 additional hours under this item.

Individual preparation for a lecture

6 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Bohuslav Křena, Ph.D.

Syllabus

It is assumed that students will briefly review the material after the lecture and study in deep the topics of particular interest, either using the recommended literature or searching the internet.

Individual preparation for a credit exam

9 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Bohuslav Křena, Ph.D.

Syllabus

For the final test, one hour time is reserved within the lectures. This extra time is intended for preparing your own summary sheet for LaTeX commands, which is permitted during the final test, and for review the material covered by the course. Nine hours should be sufficient for the preparation as the material from the lectures is practiced in projects, and a credit can be obtained even without participating in the final test.

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course