# LaTeX Interpreter and Blackboard bold (\mathbb{}) for text

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Leo on 27 Dec 2011
Commented: Walter Roberson on 1 Nov 2021
Hello
I'm creating a MATLAB plot to be exported in a LaTeX document in eps format.
For instance, I have the following ylabel command that works properly:
ylabel('$\alpha \in R$','Interpreter','latex')
However, if I try to use black board style in the text for the letter R this will not work:
ylabel('$\alpha \in \mathbb{R}$','Interpreter','latex')
I understand that the mathbb requires the amsmath package but I'm wondering if there is any other way to have that letter R in black board sytle.
L

Honglei Chen on 27 Dec 2011
If that is all you want to do, you can use the default tex interpreter.
ylabel('\alpha in \bf{R}')

Leo on 27 Dec 2011
Hello Chen
Actually, I'd like to display R in blackboard bold type (see for instance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard_bold), which is normally used for sets.
Thanks for any hint.
L
Honglei Chen on 27 Dec 2011
Hi Leo,
I've never done that so I don't know if it can be done. I could be wrong but my guess is no as it is not part of basic TeX or LaTeX and MATLAB only supports only a basic subset of TeX or LaTeX.
I would suggest you to contact technical support and get an authoritative answer on this.
HTH

Leo on 28 Dec 2011
Edited: Walter Roberson on 2 Aug 2015
Hi Chen,
There is a turnaround to get \mathbb{} in a MATLAB figure by using the psfrag package http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSfrag, which lets you overlay eps figues with LaTeX code.
Kind regards
L
Honglei Chen on 28 Dec 2011
Hi Leo,
Good to know this trick, thanks for sharing.

Seongmun Jung on 1 Nov 2021
Use ℝ (Unicode Decimal Code &#8477)
ylabel('\alpha \in ℝ')
or
ylabel(sprintf("\\alpha \\in %c", 8477))
Walter Roberson on 1 Nov 2021
Note: you can only use unicode characters in R2015b or later, and you have to be using interpreter 'none' or interpreter 'tex' . It does not work with interpreter 'latex'