gnuplot-info

[Gnuplot-info] How do you plot to a large paper size (i.e. archE) and create postscript output

[<ja...@st...>]

I am successfully using gnuplot to plot information and create a 
postscript output file.  I then run the postscript output through 
GhostScript and create a PDF.  Works beautifully!  The plot is sized 
perfectly for letter sized (8.5 x 11) paper.

However, I have a large amount of data in the plot.  Therefore, I would 
like to "stretch" the plot to show more points (more detail).  I am 
thinking I could plot to a larger paper size.  For example, archE (36" x 
48") paper.  When I set GhostScript to use a paper size of archE, I get a 
tiny plot in the upper left corner of a gigantic page.  I have not found a 
way to have gnuplot create postscript output for a larger paper size.  In 
gnuplot, I have tried using "set size 4.23,4.36" to attempt to increase 
the x and y axis ratios.  Interestingly, the x axis does stretch to fill 
the paper, but the plot is placed vertically in the same position and the 
y axis goes up and off the top of the page.  Moreover, I get the same 
number of x ticks; they just happen to be spread out further.

Is there a way to tell gnuplot to create a plot destined for a postscript 
output file where the plot size is larger then the default 10 inches wide 
and 7 inches high?  The size I am shooting for is approximately 47 inches 
wide and 34.5 inches high.

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Jeffrey A. Bogue

Product Support Specialist
Starfire Engineering & Technologies, Inc.
2429 Iowa Street, Suite K    Office:  785-842-1111
Lawrence, KS  66046-4075     Fax:  785-842-8811
ja...@st...         http://www.starfire.net

Re: [Gnuplot-info] How do you plot to a large paper size (i.e. archE) and create postscript output

[Hans-Bernhard B. <br...@ph...>]

ja...@st... wrote:
> I am successfully using gnuplot to plot information and create a 
> postscript output file.  I then run the postscript output through 
> GhostScript and create a PDF.  Works beautifully!  The plot is sized 
> perfectly for letter sized (8.5 x 11) paper.

That work flow is rather circumventional.  That could be a sizeable part 
of the problem.  The conversion to PDF and the PDF interpreter introduce 
additional variables that gnuplot has no control over at all.  You may 
want to check against direct output of gnuplot-generated PS to the 
plotter/printer.

> However, I have a large amount of data in the plot.  Therefore, I would 
> like to "stretch" the plot to show more points (more detail).  I am 
> thinking I could plot to a larger paper size.  

PostScript is a vector-based file format --- you shouldn't really have 
to make a bigger image to get more resolution.  Just tell the printer
or some other intermediate processing tool to blow up the thing by 
whatever factor you need.

> Moreover, I get the same 
> number of x ticks; they just happen to be spread out further.

'set xtics' can almost certainly help you with that.

> Is there a way to tell gnuplot to create a plot destined for a postscript 
> output file where the plot size is larger then the default 10 inches wide 
> and 7 inches high?  The size I am shooting for is approximately 47 inches 
> wide and 34.5 inches high.

You're using all the way that there is, already.  Setting 'origin', too, 
may help to move the plot to a better position, though ;-)