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I'm looking for a refresh of my book's headers (it's a French book on physics, in case the content is usefull information). Currently, I'm using the headers style defined in this MWE code:

\documentclass[11pt,letterpaper,twoside]{book}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{lmodern}
\usepackage[total={6in,10in},left=1.5in,top=0.5in,includehead,includefoot]{geometry}
\usepackage{microtype}
\usepackage[pagestyles,medium]{titlesec}
\newpagestyle{principal}{
\sethead[\thepage][][\slshape\small\MakeUppercase{\chaptername\ \thechapter. \chaptertitle}]{\slshape\small\MakeUppercase{\thesection\ \sectiontitle}}{}{\thepage}
\headrule}

\usepackage{blindtext}


\begin{document}
\frontmatter
\tableofcontents
\mainmatter
\pagestyle{principal}


\chapter{A first chapter title}
\blindtext[5]
\section{A funny section title}
\blindtext[5]
\section{Another hilarious section title}
\blindtext[5]
\chapter{A funky chapter title}
\blindtext[5]
\section{This section title is really boring}
\blindtext[5]
\section{Really funny section title}
\blindtext[5]


\end{document}

Preview:

enter image description here

enter image description here

These headers are nice and I may stick with them, but I'm looking for some refresh and a modern look. What other styles could you suggest for an ultra-professional look of the headers? I'm really lacking imagination and creativity here!

EDIT: I just noticed that I was using small fonts in the header (\small) while the page number is in normal size. Is this considered inconsistent?

Using \slshape\scshape (with the package \usepackage{slantsc} for slanted Small Caps), instead of \slshape\small\MakeUppercase, appears to give a nice output.

But what should be the appropriate or the common size of the page numbers and the titles, in the headers?

Cham
  • 2,304
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    The question as posted is not suited here. You are asking for opinions. – Johannes_B Aug 14 '20 at 02:53
  • For my taste, look better a non-distracting header, clearly different of man text a text titles: a different (sans serif) and smaller (\footnotesize) font in lower case, and maybe in gray. But if you are asking about ada boxes, ornaments, backgrounds and so on, my opinion is: apply the KISS principle ( keep it simple, st... errr .... sir). – Fran Aug 14 '20 at 03:12
  • @Johannes_B, I believe that the question and the answers could have great pedagogical value for new comers to LaTeX. I don’t think it’s just a matter of opinions. – Cham Aug 14 '20 at 03:30
  • If this is a printed (as opposed as electronic) book the headers and footers should help to locate the position. I find very useful bottom or lateral full color tabs that stick to the border to access the chapters directly, for example. Like this https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/163292/color-coded-chapter-tabs-to-match-flower-colors-in-a-field-guide but fully to the border if the printer can do it (or by trimming the stock) – Rmano Aug 14 '20 at 07:20
  • Or https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/181081/clickable-chapters-on-the-right-side-of-each-page – Rmano Aug 14 '20 at 07:24
  • https://latex.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=33652 – Johannes_B Aug 15 '20 at 03:41
  • It is your document. You decide about the layout. One rule in typography is: there is nothing wrong as long as you have a reason for doing it. – Johannes_B Aug 15 '20 at 03:42

0 Answers0