[ARCHIVED] Font Size in Equation Editor

[CaseyOwen]

Is there any way to change the font size of the equation editor?  When I drag the equation to make it bigger, it shows up bigger on my screen, but is still small when students go to take a quiz.  It makes it very hard for students to read exponents.

[JeffCampbell · Accepted solution]

EDIT: An Idea Conversation has been created about adding Font and Color controls to the Equation Editor. Help support the idea by giving it stars and comment if it will help you.

I had gotten stuck on that before too and thought I had worked it out, then noticed today that it was back to the small size again. I came on to look and saw your question.

Doing some digging, I found a solution. The equation editor uses LaTeX to create the equation. There are some ways to make the font larger using some basic code. This can be done DIRECTLY inside the editor. It is knowing the codes that is the issue, and the Equation Editor does not provide options to edit the font.

I found a website that makes this much easier. Create your equation first. Then go into the Equation Editor and click on the option that says Advanced View in the upper right. Copy the equation (EDIT: you could skip this part and create the equation in the other site, linked below). Let's say I have this:

a\frac{b}{c}

 I want to make this larger so it is more easily visible. Go to the Latex Equation Editor. On the tabbed sections at the bottom of the page, select Font. Select the size you want to use. Note that it will add extra text to help you see how big the size will be. So if you select Huge, it will add \Huge Huge. The second "Huge" is the preview text, so erase it. Do not erase the space after \Huge. Then paste in your equation. Copy the ENTIRE line, then paste it into Canvas's Equation Editor. My updated equation looks like this:

\Huge a\frac{b}{c}

 Here is a preview of the difference for my example:

As an added note, if you explore that other site, it also has various scripts and the ability to generate the colors you want too. Just remember that everything will give you some preview text. The position of the preview text is where your equation/equation parts go. The nice thing is that the site lets you see a preview so you can play with it a bit to get the look just right before copying into Canvas's Equation Editor.

[JeffCampbell · Accepted solution]

EDIT: An Idea Conversation has been created about adding Font and Color controls to the Equation Editor. Help support the idea by giving it stars and comment if it will help you.

I had gotten stuck on that before too and thought I had worked it out, then noticed today that it was back to the small size again. I came on to look and saw your question.

Doing some digging, I found a solution. The equation editor uses LaTeX to create the equation. There are some ways to make the font larger using some basic code. This can be done DIRECTLY inside the editor. It is knowing the codes that is the issue, and the Equation Editor does not provide options to edit the font.

I found a website that makes this much easier. Create your equation first. Then go into the Equation Editor and click on the option that says Advanced View in the upper right. Copy the equation (EDIT: you could skip this part and create the equation in the other site, linked below). Let's say I have this:

a\frac{b}{c}

 I want to make this larger so it is more easily visible. Go to the Latex Equation Editor. On the tabbed sections at the bottom of the page, select Font. Select the size you want to use. Note that it will add extra text to help you see how big the size will be. So if you select Huge, it will add \Huge Huge. The second "Huge" is the preview text, so erase it. Do not erase the space after \Huge. Then paste in your equation. Copy the ENTIRE line, then paste it into Canvas's Equation Editor. My updated equation looks like this:

\Huge a\frac{b}{c}

 Here is a preview of the difference for my example:

As an added note, if you explore that other site, it also has various scripts and the ability to generate the colors you want too. Just remember that everything will give you some preview text. The position of the preview text is where your equation/equation parts go. The nice thing is that the site lets you see a preview so you can play with it a bit to get the look just right before copying into Canvas's Equation Editor.

[jryter1 · Accepted solution]

YOu can also edit the equations, hit "edit directly in LaTex". Then add one of the following, \large or \Large \LARGE at the start to make it get big, bigger or bigger yet!

This is a little clunky but it looks like the new update to canvas will let this be previewed in the editor. It didn't in 2021.

Jarral

[CliffordJolley]

Hello! I'm new to Canvas, so I have similar questions. Besides the changes in the font size, tell me, is it possible to upload my own fonts? I'm learning how to design it because I need to create a punk rock font for a theme party poster. I've found some awesome examples of punk fonts, so I want to know how it can be used in Canvas.

[Chris_Hofer]

Hello @CliffordJolley ...

To my knowledge, there is no way to upload your own custom/favorite fonts in Canvas on the front-end.  And, to be honest, I'm not sure this is even allowed on the back-end of Canvas...unless someone with programming experience knew of ways to do this.  I'm not sure if this would apply, but I would be a little concerned with font accessibility ... to make sure that your font was easily readable for everyone.  That's just my $0.02, though.  Hopefully someone else might be able to chime in.

[JenWhalen]

Hello!  

I know this is an old topic, but I referenced it yesterday when trying to solve the same issue.  I think I've found another tip to help size the fonts, so I wanted to add it...

I visited the Latex Equation Editor that Jeff Campbell suggested.  While adding the font-size commands changed the size while I was editing, I found that it still displayed small in Preview/Student View.

What I found did work is to change the style of the equation to Heading 2.  By itself, or in conjunction with the LaTeX font-size commands ("\huge "), will display the equations large enough for students to read.

(the reasoning is somewhat technical? ... Canvas will only display the equations as "in-line", and not in "display" mode, so if you want bigger equations, I guess you have to change the size of the line.  I guess.  But it works!)