When using gnuplot scripts to generate graphs in PDF format, there is the size option. I would like to know how one can estimate the right size of the output graph to place in a scientific paper.
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- 2$\begingroup$ Documentation for pdfcairo, for pdf. $\endgroup$Anyon– Anyon2021-09-11 15:09:03 +00:00Commented Sep 11, 2021 at 15:09
- 2$\begingroup$ Meta discussion relevant to this question: mattermodeling.meta.stackexchange.com/q/291/671 $\endgroup$Anyon– Anyon2021-09-11 16:27:41 +00:00Commented Sep 11, 2021 at 16:27
- 1$\begingroup$ Normally, I output the graphs to PDF in a A4 size. The final figure size, I tailored in the LaTeX document. $\endgroup$anon– anon2021-09-15 16:55:23 +00:00Commented Sep 15, 2021 at 16:55
- $\begingroup$ Good idea @Camps $\endgroup$Chi Kou– Chi Kou2021-09-15 22:17:15 +00:00Commented Sep 15, 2021 at 22:17
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2 Answers
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I think Camps has the right idea here: Make the image with gnuplot as large as you need, then scale the size down in whatever program you are using to write your paper.
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Output to a large size with a lot of whitespace (A4 is usually fine) and then trim the whitespace using pdfcrop, a command line tool included in every latex distribution. See this great answer Pdfcrop is really reliable, so I do this for all my PDF graphics before I put them in my papers so tex can handle them consistently and I don't end up with weird tiny figures surrounded by whitespace.
