LaTeX Package Creates Realistic Coffee Stains

A new package has been released for the LaTeX typesetting system that simulates realistic coffee stains on documents. The package, simply named coffeestains, is available for download from the Comprehensive TeX Archive Network (CTAN). It provides users with a command to apply a coffee stain effect to any part of a document, offering a unique aesthetic for creative projects.

The package was developed to add a touch of randomness and realism to digital documents, mimicking the appearance of a real coffee spill. It includes options to customize the stain's size, opacity, and placement, allowing for varied effects. The release has garnered attention on technology forums, highlighting the niche but creative applications within the LaTeX community. This tool demonstrates the extensibility of LaTeX, moving beyond traditional academic formatting into more artistic and unconventional uses.

The coffeestains package is a new addition to the LaTeX ecosystem, designed to introduce a specific visual effect to documents. Available on CTAN, the package allows users to insert a command that generates a graphical representation of a coffee stain. This effect is achieved through vector graphics, ensuring the stain scales appropriately with the document's resolution.

Users can integrate the package into their LaTeX preamble and then invoke the command within the document body. The primary function is to overlay a stain graphic onto the page, which can be positioned absolutely or relative to text blocks. This functionality is intended for users looking to add a non-traditional, perhaps humorous or artistic, element to their work. The package represents a departure from the standard, clean aesthetic usually associated with LaTeX, embracing a more 'lived-in' look.

The package utilizes the PGF/TikZ graphics system, a powerful tool within LaTeX for creating vector graphics. By leveraging TikZ, the package generates complex shapes that mimic the irregular edges of a liquid spill. The implementation involves drawing a central blob and several 'drips' or 'legs' extending outward, all randomized to avoid a uniform appearance.

Key features of the package include:

• Customization: Users can adjust parameters such as the overall size of the stain and the density of the drips.
• Opacity Control: The transparency of the stain can be modified to simulate different levels of saturation, from a faint ring to a dark, wet spot.
• Color Options: While the default is a coffee-like brown, users can specify any color to create artistic effects, such as ink spills or abstract designs.

These options provide flexibility, allowing the effect to be subtle or prominent depending on the user's needs. The code is written in pure LaTeX, requiring no external image files, which makes the package self-contained and easy to distribute.

The package was highlighted on Y Combinator's news platform, where it received a modest number of engagement points. The discussion centered on the novelty of the package and the creativity of the LaTeX community in developing such specific tools. While not intended for formal academic papers, the package has potential use cases in design and art projects.

Potential applications include:

• Artistic Layouts: Creating grunge or vintage aesthetics in posters and flyers.
• Humorous Documents: Adding a visual gag to informal reports or personal letters.
• Texture Generation: Using the stain as a background texture or mask in complex graphics.

The release underscores the versatility of LaTeX as a typesetting engine capable of far more than just scientific notation. It highlights a subculture of users who push the boundaries of what the software can achieve, finding utility in even the most whimsical ideas.

The coffeestains package is hosted on the Comprehensive TeX Archive Network (CTAN), the central repository for LaTeX packages. Users can download the package files directly or install them using a TeX distribution manager like TeX Live or MiKTeX. The package includes a detailed documentation file (coffeestains-en.pdf) that explains the installation process and usage commands.

The documentation provides examples of the code and demonstrates the visual output. As with most LaTeX packages, it is distributed under a free license, allowing users to modify and redistribute the code. The availability on CTAN ensures that it is easily accessible to anyone with a LaTeX installation, requiring only a few commands to integrate into their workflow.