# Writing a small epsilon in xlabel with color

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Marc Laub on 17 Feb 2021
Edited: dpb on 17 Feb 2021
Hey, I wanted to write a red small epsilon in my label
\color{red} \epsilon
was my first try, but is was the epsilon version i didnt like, i wanted the epsilon you get with
\varepsilon
Problem is, using \varepsilon the command \color doenst work. It doenst work with Latex interpreter, it doenst work without. It doenst work using  like in:
\color{red} $\varepsilon$
... I tried all combinations and arrangements of $and {} and \ with and without latex interpreter. I am unable to get a red small epsilon that looks like \varepsilon Same goes for every other letter variant that is acces with \var command. It doenst work with other latex commands together, eventhough both commands alone work. Can somebody please tell me how to get this working? Mny thanks in advance ##### 0 CommentsShowHide -1 older comments Sign in to comment. ### Answers (1) dpb on 17 Feb 2021 W/o taking time to try to figure out specific LaTeX syntax inside MATLAB that's always a pain since know nuthink' about LaTeX otherwise, hLg=legend('$\varepsilon_{21}$','interpreter','latex','textcolor','r'); works. ##### 4 CommentsShowHide 3 older comments dpb on 17 Feb 2021 Well, the first works because default interpreter is 'TeX', not 'LaTeX' >> figure >> hLbl=xlabel('\color{red}\epsilon'); % works correctly >> hLbl.Interpreter ans = 'tex' >> >> hLbl=xlabel('$\varepsilon$','Interpreter','LaTeX'); % also works >> delete(hLbl) >> hLbl=xlabel('$\color{red}\varepsilon$','Interpreter','LaTeX'); % dies... Warning: Error updating Text. String scalar or character vector must have valid interpreter syntax:$\color{red}\varepsilon\$
>>
The '\varepsilon' name is only valid under LaTeX, but the '\color' is TeX; need the '\usepackage{xcolor}' directive to use '\textcolor{color}{text}] with LaTeX, but there's no way that is known to add packages to the TMW implementation of LaTeX they have bundled with MATLAB.
Sorry state of affairs, but "that's just the way it is..."
I should add it ot my list of peeves I just posted as nits of MATLAB graphics that have bugged me for years excepting since I never knew/used LaTeX anyways, I always just ignored it and lived with what could do with TeX.

R2020b

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