Understanding Fontspec and GentiumPlus

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 77 views

Introduction

When working with fonts in LaTeX, especially with the fontspec package, users may encounter errors that seem unrelated to their actual code. One such error is the "Font GentiumPlus-bold not found" message, even when the document does not use any bold font. This article aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of this issue, its causes, and potential solutions.

Understanding Fontspec and GentiumPlus

Fontspec is a popular LaTeX package for font selection and management. It allows users to easily switch between fonts, adjust font sizes, and customize font styles. GentiumPlus, on the other hand, is a free, open-source font designed for typesetting languages that use non-Latin scripts. It is a highly legible font, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

The Error: "Font GentiumPlus-bold Not Found"

When compiling a LaTeX document that uses the fontspec package and GentiumPlus font, users may encounter the following error message:

! Font &quot;GentiumPlus-bold&quot; cannot be found.

This error seems puzzling, as the document does not use any bold font. However, the issue lies in the way fontspec handles font families and the GentiumPlus font's design.

Causes of the Error

1. Font Family and Fontspec

Fontspec uses font families to manage font selection and switching. A font family consists of multiple font styles, including regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic. When a user selects a font family, fontspec automatically loads the corresponding font styles.

However, GentiumPlus is a font that does not have a separate bold font. Instead, it uses a technique called "bolding" to create bold text. This means that the regular GentiumPlus font is used to create bold text by applying a bolding transformation.

2. Fontspec's Font Loading Mechanism

Fontspec's font loading mechanism is designed to load font families in a specific order. When a user selects a font family, fontspec first tries to load the bold font. If the bold font is not found, it then tries to load the regular font.

In the case of GentiumPlus, fontspec's font loading mechanism fails to find the bold font, even though it is not used in the document. This is because fontspec is designed to load font families in a specific order, and the GentiumPlus font family does not have a separate bold font.

Solutions to the Error

1. Use the Regular Font Only

One solution to this issue is to use the regular GentiumPlus font only, without using any bold font. This can be achieved by selecting the GentiumPlus font family and using the \setmainfont command to set the font size and style.

\setmainfont{GentiumPlus}

2. Use the `BoldFont` Option

Another solution is to use the BoldFont option to specify the font to use for bold text. In this case, we can use the regular GentiumPlus font as the bold font.

\setmainfont{GentiumPlus}
\setmainfont[BoldFont={GentiumPlus}]{GentiumPlus}

3. Use the `Fontspec` Package with the `NoBold` Option

Finally, users can use the fontspec package with the NoBold option to disable bold font loading.

\usepackage[NoBold]{fontspec}

Conclusion

The "Font GentiumPlus-bold not found" error is a common issue that can occur when using the fontspec package and GentiumPlus font in LaTeX. This error is caused by fontspec's font loading mechanism and the GentiumPlus font's design. By understanding the causes of this error and using the solutions provided, users can resolve this issue and continue working with their LaTeX documents.

Additional Tips and Resources

For more information on fontspec and GentiumPlus, please refer to the official documentation and resources.
Users can also use other fonts that have a separate bold font, such as Open Sans or Lato.
For more advanced font management and customization, users can use other packages such as fontaxes or fontloader.

References

Fontspec Documentation
GentiumPlus Documentation
LaTeX Font Management
Font GentiumPlus Bold Not Found: A Q&A Article =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the "Font GentiumPlus-bold not found" error that can occur when using the fontspec package and GentiumPlus font in LaTeX. This error is caused by fontspec's font loading mechanism and the GentiumPlus font's design. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to help users understand and resolve this issue.

Q: What is the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error?

A: The Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error is a common issue that can occur when using the fontspec package and GentiumPlus font in LaTeX. This error is caused by fontspec's font loading mechanism and the GentiumPlus font's design.

Q: Why is the bold font not found even though it's not used?

A: The bold font is not found because fontspec's font loading mechanism is designed to load font families in a specific order. When a user selects a font family, fontspec first tries to load the bold font. If the bold font is not found, it then tries to load the regular font. In the case of GentiumPlus, fontspec's font loading mechanism fails to find the bold font, even though it is not used in the document.

Q: How can I resolve the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error?

A: There are several ways to resolve the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error. You can use the regular GentiumPlus font only, use the BoldFont option to specify the font to use for bold text, or use the fontspec package with the NoBold option to disable bold font loading.

Q: What are the benefits of using the regular GentiumPlus font only?

A: Using the regular GentiumPlus font only can help resolve the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error. This approach also allows you to take advantage of the GentiumPlus font's design and features, such as its high legibility and readability.

Q: How can I use the `BoldFont` option to specify the font to use for bold text?

A: To use the BoldFont option, you can add the following code to your LaTeX document:

\setmainfont{GentiumPlus}
\setmainfont[BoldFont={GentiumPlus}]{GentiumPlus}

This code specifies the GentiumPlus font as the bold font, allowing you to use bold text in your document.

Q: What is the `NoBold` option in the `fontspec` package?

A: The NoBold option in the fontspec package is used to disable bold font loading. This option can help resolve the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error by preventing fontspec from trying to load the bold font.

Q: How can I use the `NoBold` option in the `fontspec` package?

A: To use the NoBold option, you can add the following code to your LaTeX document:

\usepackage[NoBold]{fontspec}

This code disables bold font loading, allowing you to use the GentiumPlus font without encountering the Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error.

Conclusion

The Font GentiumPlus-bold not found error is a common issue that can occur when using the fontspec package and GentiumPlus font in LaTeX. By understanding the causes of this error and using the solutions provided, users can resolve this issue and continue working with their LaTeX documents.

Additional Tips and Resources

For more information on fontspec and GentiumPlus, please refer to the official documentation and resources.
Users can also use other fonts that have a separate bold font, such as Open Sans or Lato.
For more advanced font management and customization, users can use other packages such as fontaxes or fontloader.