21.2 Exporting Your Graph or Layout Page to an Image File

ExpGraph-to-Image

Graphic image files fall into two categories:

• Raster formats define a fixed size array of (rows and columns) of colors. These formats take proportionately larger file space for increased detail and do not scale well. Raster file size is a function of resolution and color density. Raster formats are best used when you must reproduce graphs and layout pages with much detail and many colors, and where scalability is not a concern.
• Vector formats contain instructions on how to draw an image and may contain additional information about size and resolution. These formats scale well (within limits), but must be interpreted by a target application, and may be subject to error. File size is proportional to the complexity of the image. Vector formats are best used where scalability is needed.

Supported formats

Origin supports these 17 image export file formats:

Creating an image file

Exporting graphs and layout pages is supported via the expGraph X-Function. . Options provided by this dialog include:

• Output file format
• Option for exporting the active page, all pages in Project Explorer subfolder, all pages in the entire project, or specific named pages
• Option to use the page short name or long name as the name of the exported file, or to enumerate the exported file name for multi page export
• Ability to apply a system or user-defined graph theme "on the fly" to change properties of elements of the graph
• Ability to control the area of the page that is exported, such as removing borders outside of all objects on the page
• Image settings to control output image size in various units
• Image settings that are specific to the chosen output file format

Settings in the dialog can be saved as a Dialog theme thus allowing user to create multiple export themes for repeated use.

The following steps demonstrate using the dialog to export a graph or layout page:

1. Activate any graph or layout window.
2. Select File: Export Graphs&ldots; when a graph window in active. While a layout window is active, select File: Export Page to open the expGraph dialog.
3. Choose an Image Type suited to your needs.
4. Select a Page Option to export one or more graphs or choose Specified from this list and select specific Graph Pages using the Graph Browser button to the right.
5. Choose a naming convention from File Names or type a name. If multiple graphs are being exported then the name will be enumerated.
6. Choose a Path for your file(s) and decide if the export should Overwrite Existing files.
7. In Export Settings you can apply a Graph Theme and specify the border limits of the graph (Advanced branch). Note that this process creates a temporary copy of a graph with the specified Export Settings applied and this temporary copy can be viewed in the Preview pane. If you wish to automatically preview the temporary copy, check the Auto Preview option.
8. Image Settings provides options specific to your chosen export Image Type.
9. When you are satisfied with your settings, click OK.