Re: Controlling scale of Graphics on paper
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg126256] Re: Controlling scale of Graphics on paper
- From: Szabolcs Horvát <szhorvat at gmail.com>
- Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:50:37 -0400 (EDT)
- Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com
- References: <jmtd9i$sim$1@smc.vnet.net>
On 2012.04.21. 6:32, Joseph Gwinn wrote:
> I would like to use Mathematica to make printed templates of various
> kinds.
>
> In one use, a complicated shape is generated mathematically and
> displayed using Graphics or Show, the plot is printed on paper, the
> paper is glued to a piece of wood, which is cut and drilled to the lines
> and center-points. This requires the ability to control the on-paper
> scale factor, so that a length of 1.0 in a line ends up being one inch
> (or one centimeter) on paper.
>
> I assume that this is possible, but have not found anything relevant in
> the online documentation. What I have done is used Mathematica to make
> dolls of machine parts; in this case it was sufficient that all be in
> the same scale, which was achieved using ImageSize->72*6 directives, but
> ImageSize doesn't speak directly to the issue of scale on paper.
>
> It may be that ImageSize->{w,h} can be used, but there is some math
> required.
>
> So, my question is how best to achieve a specified scale on paper.
>
You got several suggestions. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet
is exporting to DXF.
DXF is a CAD-specific format, so there's support for printing to exact
scales. First export to DXF, then open it with a CAD program or a DXF
viewer and print to a precise scale. I think this will fit your
application best.
If you are going to go the PDF route, this might be valuable (similar to
other suggestions):
http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/a/750/12
You'll need to get rid of any PlotRangePadding and ImageMargins too, if
you choose this route.
--
Szabolcs Horvát
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