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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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    $\begingroup$ Documentation for pdfcairo, for pdf. $\endgroup$
    – Anyon
    Sep 11, 2021 at 15:09
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    $\begingroup$ Meta discussion relevant to this question: mattermodeling.meta.stackexchange.com/q/291/671 $\endgroup$
    – Anyon
    Sep 11, 2021 at 16:27
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    $\begingroup$ Normally, I output the graphs to PDF in a A4 size. The final figure size, I tailored in the LaTeX document. $\endgroup$
    – Camps
    Sep 15, 2021 at 16:55
  • $\begingroup$ Good idea @Camps $\endgroup$
    – Chi Kou
    Sep 15, 2021 at 22:17

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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.

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