22.2 Exporting Your Graph or Layout Page to an Image File

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.

1 Supported formats
2 Creating an image file
- 2.1 Exporting a Graph or Layout Page

Supported formats

Origin supports these 17 image export file formats:

File	Extension	Format
Adobe Illustrator	(*.AI)	vector
Bitmap	(*.BMP)	raster
Computer Graphics Metafile	(*.CGM)	vector
AutoCAD Drawing Interchange	(*.DXF)	vector
Encapsulated PostScript	(*.EPS)	vector
Enhanced Metafile	(*.EMF)	vector
Graphics Image Format	(*.GIF)	raster
JPEG, Joint Photographic Experts Group	(*.JPG)	raster
Zsoft PC Paintbrush Bitmap	(*.PCX)	raster
Portable Network Graphics	(*.PNG)	raster
Truevision Targa	(*.TGA)	raster
Portable Document Format	(*.PDF)	vector
Adobe PhotoShop	(*.PSD)	raster
TIFF, Tag Image File	(*.TIF)	raster
Windows Metafile	(*.WMF)	vector

Creating an image file

Graphs and layout page export uses the expGraph X-Function, the GUI tool being the expGraph dialog box. Settings in the expGraph dialog can be saved as a Dialog Theme thus allowing user to create multiple export Themes for repeated use. Beginning with Origin 2021, dialog settings are automatically saved with the graph on export. If you are are not exporting your graph immediately, you can save settings by clicking on the Dialog Theme flyout menu and choosing Save to <Graph>.

Note: Since Origin 2021b, there is a simpler export tool Export Graph as Image which allows you to export the current graph window as a raster image file quickly.

Options controlled in the expGraph dialog:

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

Exporting a Graph or Layout Page

With the graph active, select File: Export Graphs. While a layout window is active, select File: Export Page. Both open the expGraph dialog box.
Choose an Image Type suited to your needs.
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.
Choose a naming convention from File Names or type a name. If multiple graphs are being exported then the name will be enumerated.
Choose a Path for your file(s) and decide if the export should Overwrite Existing files.
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.
Image Settings provides options specific to your chosen export Image Type.
When you are satisfied with your settings, click OK.