\starttext \definetypeface [boldmath] [mm] [boldmath] [latin-modern] [modern] [encoding=texnansi] $a \times b$ $a \boldsymbol{\times} b$ \stoptext (from core-mat.tex) gives <> <> <> <> <> define font: font with name cmbx7 is not found error >> define font: name: cmbx7 , loading aborted ! Font \*boldmath7ptmmmrmm*:=cmbx7 not loadable: metric data not found or bad. In type-size \starttypescript [boldmath] [modern,computer-modern,latin-modern] [size] % hack to prevent mapping of filenames, watch the space! \definefontsynonym[xcmb12][cmbx12 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb10][cmbx10 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb9] [cmbx9 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb8] [cmbx8 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb7] [cmbx7 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb6] [cmbx6 ] \definefontsynonym[xcmb5] [cmbx5 ] ... Maybe is just the space the problem. -- luigi it's new . it's powerful . it's luatex . http://www.luatex.org