EPS export error, tick marks overhang axes (SOLVED)

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Tue, 01/17/2012 - 01:38 pm

EDIT: This was an issue with Word and the printing of embedded EPS files, not an issue with Igor.

I am preparing very simple data plots for a journal publication. The style guide suggests I use 1 pt. lines, and the publisher prefers the EPS format, but will accept TIFF as well. I prefer to export to EPS so that I can make adjustments that are easier to accomplish in Illustrator than in Igor. If I export as a TIFF, it previews and prints as it looks in Igor. If I export as EPS and then open in illustrator, it is subtle but noticeable that the tick marks overhang on the other side of the axis (both being set to 1 pt). When I print this EPS file it is quite noticeable. This seems like a bug that I can't find a setting for. It occurs whether ticks are inside or outside of the axes.

Thanks for any incite or suggestions.

-Brad

Igor Pro 6.2.2.2 (32 bit)
Windows 7 x64
You should report this to support@WaveMetrics.com. It will then end up coming to me.

Be sure to include all that is needed to reproduce the problem, either commands to execute or an experiment containing your graph.

I tried to reproduce it like so:

Window Graph0() : Graph
    PauseUpdate; Silent 1       // building window...
make/O/n=2 jack=x
    Display /W=(35.25,41.75,429.75,250.25) jack
EndMacro

Then exported using...
SavePICT/S/EF=1/E=-3

... and then transferred to a Mac where I opened it in Preview and zoomed in on the lower left corner.

I've attached a grab of what I saw.

Please try the above on your system with your method of using the resulting eps.
Clipboard 1.png

January 17, 2012 at 02:17 pm - Permalink

Thank you for your reply, Larry.

I tried making your simple plot. No problem, looks great. I went back to my own figures, and in the process discovered my issue. When I printed my plots from illustrator (those which I had just exported from Igor), they looked fine, but when I inserted an image (my EPS file) into Word and printed from Word, it has some issue in rendering/placing the EPS file. The difference is subtle, but noticeable, and it was driving me crazy.

So, the problem is with word, not Igor. In this case, the final product will not be submitted as a DOCX file with the images embedded. I will have to find another fix when it comes time to printing my thesis, in which I plan to use Word and embed the images - perhaps a PNG will suffice for that.

-Brad
from Word.jpg from Illustrator.jpg

January 17, 2012 at 04:36 pm - Permalink

Word may have converted the EPS to its own internal format. The rounded end caps is often a feature of Microsoft code.

January 20, 2012 at 12:19 pm - Permalink