1 @c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
3 Translation of GIT committish: FILL-IN-HEAD-COMMITTISH
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14 @unnumberedsec Notation benchmarking
16 A flexible architecture is necessary for good
17 formatting. Unfortunately, it is not sufficient. Only a careful
18 emulation of printed matter will give a good result. We suggested in
19 the introduction to compare program output with existing hand-engraved
20 scores. It is exactly this technique that we use to perfect LilyPond
21 output. In a way, this is a benchmarking technique: the performance of
22 the program, in terms of quality, is measured in relation to a known
25 Here you see parts of a benchmark piece. At the top the reference
26 edition (B@"arenreiter BA 320) at the bottom the output from
29 @divClass{float-center}
30 @c @ref{baer-sarabande-hires.png,
31 @sourceimage{baer-sarabande,,,.png}
35 @divClass{float-center}
36 B@"arenreiter (click to enlarge)
39 @divClass{float-center}
40 @sourceimage{lily14-sarabande,,,.png}
43 @divClass{float-center}
47 The LilyPond output is certainly readable, and for many people it
48 would be acceptable. However, close comparison with a hand-engraved
49 score showed a lot of errors in the formatting details:
51 @divClass{float-center}
52 @sourceimage{lily14-sarabande-correct,,,.png}
55 @divClass{float-center}
58 Lots of symbols were unbalanced. In particular the trill sign was
63 Stems and beams were all wrong: the stems were too long, and
64 beam should be slanted to cover staff lines exactly. The beam was also
69 The spacing was irregular: some measures were too tight, other
76 (And there were missing notes in the original version for LilyPond)
78 By addressing the relevant algorithms, settings, and font designs, we
79 were able to improve the output. The output for LilyPond 1.8 is shown
80 below. Although it is not a clone of the reference edition, this
81 output is very close to publication quality.
83 @divClass{float-center}
84 @sourceimage{lily17-sarabande,,,.png}
87 @divClass{float-center}
91 @divClass{float-center}
92 @sourceimage{baer-sarabande,,,.png}
95 @divClass{float-center}
99 Another example of benchmarking is our project for the 2.1 series, a
100 @ref{schubert,Schubert song}.
102 @divClass{float-right}
103 Next: @ref{typography-features,Cool features},
104 typographical hoops that we made LilyPond jump through.