[texhax] Parchment layout

[Haines Brown]

Another interesting (but irrelevant here) reason for the switch to the 
codex was that in late Roman times it was felt that a text needed to 
convey an emotional impact with saturated colors by using thicker 
paint for illustrations. The rolling of the material in a rotulus 
would be abrasive and crack such media. The codex avoided this 
problem.

Also, the codex was more utilitarian, as indicated by its roots in the 
wax covered tablets on which a secretary could scratch temporary notes. 
A warm iron subsequently resmoothed the surface to prepare the tablet 
for reuse. At some point these tablets were hinged so that the tablets 
would protect the waxed surfaces between them, and hence we get the codex 
or book form.

Haines Brown