Document 248

Problem with EPS files in V3.x

Version: 3.x - Scientific WorkPlace & Scientific Word

Problem

When a document containing EPS graphics is typeset previewed or typeset printed, some letters in the graphics are incorrect, displaced offset from their normal positions, or the graphics have other appearance problems.

Explanation

The INSO interpretive PostScript filter supplied with SWP/SW occasionally has problems with fonts for EPS graphics, or has other problems rendering the graphics.

Solution

This article explains how to use the dvips option provided with the graphicx package to bypass the INSO PostScript filters included with SWP/SW. Another solution is to use the INSO non-interpretive PostScript filter.

The graphicx package has options for different drivers. If you leave the options empty, the system will use the default driver for the current LaTeX installation. In the case of SWP/SW, the default driver is tcidvi. For PostScript graphics, this driver uses the INSO interpretive PostScript graphics filter. Additional INSO and Accusoft graphics filters are included with SWP/SW and they provide support for the additional graphics formats (bmp, gif, jpeg, cdr, etc.). ImageStream Graphics Filters and ImageStream are registered trademarks of Inso Kansas City Corporation:

ImageStream Graphic Filters
Copyright 1991-1999
Inso Kansas City Corporation
All Rights Reserved

On a typical Unix LaTeX installation, the graphicx package default driver is dvips. By actively choosing the dvips option, you use the native PostScript capabilities of the current display device. On the screen using the TrueTeX Previewer there is no such capability, so you get a blank outline box to represent the graphics, but on the printer you get the graphics printed using the native PostScript interpreter in the printer.

Follow these steps to test the problem graphics:

  1. Create a new document:

    1. From the File menu, choose New.

    2. Choose Blank Document from the General shell directory. This creates a document using the LaTeX article document class.

    3. Choose OK.

  2. Import the problem graphic:

    1. From the File menu, choose Import Picture.

    2. In the Files of type area, select Encapsulated PostScript (*.eps).

    3. Change to the directory containing the graphics file and select the file.

      Note You can download the file CalibGRID.eps and use it to test this procedure.

    4. Choose Open.

  3. Add the graphicx package with the dvips driver.

    1. From the Typeset menu, choose Options and Packages and select the Package Options tab.

    2. Choose Add and from the list of available packages select graphicx and choose OK to return to the Options and Packages dialog.

    3. Select the graphicx package and choose Modify.

    4. Select DVI PS (Rokicki) in the right Options column and choose OK to return to the Options and Packages dialog.

      With the graphicx package selected, notice that dvips is indicated as the selected option.

    5. Choose OK to close the dialog.

  4. Save the document using the Portable LaTeX filter.

    1. From the File menu, select Save As.

    2. In the Save As type box, select Portable LaTeX (*.tex).

    3. Change to the directory where you wish to save your document and enter the file name you want to use.

    4. Choose Save to finish saving the document.

  5. Preview and print the document.

    1. From the Typeset menu, choose Preview to compile the document and launch the TrueTeX Previewer. You should see an box in the location where the graphics should appear, with the name of the graphic inside the box.

    2. From the TrueTeX Previewer File menu, choose Print and send the document to your PostScript printer.

      or

      From the SWP/SW Typeset menu, choose Print and send the document to your PostScript printer.

      You should see the graphic printed correctly.

If you download and use the sample graphics file CalibGRID.eps, notice that the INSO interpretive PostScript filter does not properly display the sigma letters, but printing the graphics using the graphicx package with the dvips print option does properly display the sigma letters.

After testing a graphics file and discovering that it has a better print display using the graphicx package with the dvips print option, you can add the graphicx package and then save your current document using Steps 3 and 4, above. Not all documents can be saved using the Portable LaTeX filter. Documents that use a Style Editor typesetting specification and old style LaTeX 2.09 documents cannot be saved using the Portable LaTeX filter. In this case, start a new document and from the File menu, select Import Contents to bring the body of your existing document into the new document.

Reminder When you preview your document from the Typeset menu, each PostScript graphic appears as a blank box containing the name of the graphic, but when you print your document from the Typeset menu or from inside the TrueTeX Previewer, the graphic should print correctly.

Last revised 03/01/06

This document was created with Scientific WorkPlace.