ktbox — A Modular LaTeX Framework for Semantic Color, Structured Highlighting, and Scholarly Communication

ktbox is a modular LaTeX framework for semantic color palettes, structured highlight boxes, and ORCID-linked author utilities. It improves clarity, portability, and reproducibility across articles, conference papers, posters, and presentations.

• Highlight boxes: ktbox, ktboxnumbered, ktboxwide
• Semantic color palettes (light & dark) via ktcolor
• ORCID helpers via ktorcid
• Clean separation of structure (boxes), color (palettes), and metadata (ORCID)
• Works with common classes: article, IEEEtran, acmart, beamer, etc.

Installation

TeX Live / MiKTeX (after CTAN release)

\usepackage{ktbox}    % loads semantic colors and highlight boxes
\usepackage{ktorcid}  % optional, for ORCID icons/links

Manual (from this repo)

Copy ktbox.sty, ktcolor.sty, and ktorcid.sty into your project folder or local texmf tree. Then:

\usepackage{ktbox}
\usepackage{ktorcid}

Quick Start

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{ktbox}     % provides ktbox, ktboxnumbered, ktboxwide
\usepackage{ktorcid}   % optional

\begin{document}

\begin{ktbox}[title={Key Insight}, theme=blue]
This is a highlighted message.
\end{ktbox}

\begin{ktboxnumbered}{Takeaway}
This takeaway is auto-numbered.
\end{ktboxnumbered}

Author: Bhaskar Mangal\orcidicon{0000-0002-8126-3528}

\end{document}

More usage notes and examples are in the manual: doc/ktbox.pdf (available via texdoc ktbox once installed).

Source Layout

ktbox-<version>/
├── ktbox.sty
├── ktcolor.sty
├── ktorcid.sty
├── doc/
│   └── ktbox.pdf       ← user manual (texdoc ktbox)
├── README.md
├── CHANGELOG.md
├── LICENSE
└── NOTICE

Building the Documentation Locally

The repo includes a helper script:

bash ktbox.build.sh

This compiles doc/ktbox.tex into doc/ktbox.pdf using latexmk.

If building manually, ensure TeX can find the .sty files:

TEXINPUTS=./: latexmk -pdf -interaction=nonstopmode doc/ktbox.tex

Maintainer

Bhaskar Mangal — mangal@mapmyindia.com

License

Apache License 2.0 (open-source and commercial-friendly). See LICENSE. Attributions and sponsor acknowledgments are listed in NOTICE.

Acknowledgment

Supported by C.E. Info Systems Ltd. (MapmyIndia) under the Ph.D. IMPACT programme.