How do I print a figure such that the printout has the true scale of my axes units?
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I would like to make a plot where the space between two axis ticks is true to the units. For example, I would like the space between ticks 0 and 1 to be exactly one centimeter. I would then like to print this figure so that I can measure this distance manually on the paper.
Accepted Answer
MathWorks Support Team
on 6 Sep 2013
When printing a figure, there are several details that you can use to control the size and scale.
The following is an example on how to set up a plot such that the figure printout has the true scale of the axes units. In this example, the units are centimeters.
% Make a plot
x=7:0.05:15;
y=sin(x);
plot(x,y)
% Force MATLAB to render the figure so that the axes
% are created and the properties are updated
drawnow
% Define the axes' 'units' property
% Note: this does not mean that one cm of the axes equals
% one cm on the axis ticks. The 'position' property
% will also need to be adjusted so that these match
set(gca,'units','centimeters')
% Force the x-axis limits and y-axis limits to honor your settings,
% rather than letting the renderer choose them for you
set(gca,'xlimmode','manual','ylimmode','manual')
% Get the axes position in cm, [locationX locationY sizeX sizeY]
% so that we can reuse the locations
axpos = get(gca,'position');
% Use the existing axes location, and map the axes size (in cm) to the
% axes limits so there is a true size correspondence
set(gca,'position',[axpos(1:2) abs(diff(xlim)) abs(diff(ylim))])
% Optional: Since we are forcing the x-axis limits and y-axis limits,
% the print out may not display the desired tick marks. In order to keep
% these, you can select "File-->Preferences-->Figure Copy Template". Then
% choose "Keep axes limits and tick spacing" in the "Uicontrols and axes"
% Frame. Click on "Apply to Figure" and then "OK".
% Print the figure to paper in real size.
print
% Print to a file in real size and look at the result
print(gcf,'-dpng','-r0','sine.png')
winopen('sine.png')
1 Comment
Cam Salzberger
on 18 Mar 2016
Edited: MathWorks Support Team
on 11 Nov 2025
Hey Joseph, I tested this, and get the right dimensions. Maybe the defaults settings for your figures' paper-related properties have changed? Check the default properties for all of the "Printing and Saving" related properties on this page.
For example:
get(groot,'defaultFigurePaperPosition')
You can also reset all of these properties with commands like this:
set(groot,'defaultFigurePaperPosition','default')
Hope this helps!
-Cam
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