Exporting a High Resolution Bitmap
Bitmaps are image representations that can be easily exchanged between different programs and operating systems, because they are strictly defined and uniformly interpreted. An image is accepted for publication if the resolution is high enough. Let's say, for example, that you are requested to produce a picture with a resolution of 600 dpi (dots per inch). This is a way to say: “8 times more detailed than a plain styleshot”. 300 dpi means 4 times, 1200 dpi means 16 times, etc... In the following, for generality, we'll use x instead of 4, 8 or 16.
How to Create a Bitmap with a Given Resolution:
- Verify that the option File > Free Size is checked.
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Set the size of the window the same as the size of the picture you want to create.
If absolute precision is required, you can use the console command
paper.
For example, if you need a picture 500 points wide and 300 points high, the command is:paper(500,300) - Choose iNMR > Settings and click Output. The pair of parameters that set the resolution of the picture are at the bottom of this panel: Resolution and Line Thickness when copying and exporting. The most important one is the Resolution. If you need a resolution x times higher than that offered by the style, set resolution = x.
- Also set the line width to a small value. When the value is 1, the plot looks good on the style, but may look too coarse when printed. A value of 0.25 gives a faint line, almost invisible on the style. 0.5 is a good compromise. You are encouraged to experiment by yourself.
- Choose File > Export. iNMR opens the standard dialog to save a file. Choose a name and a destination for the picture. Also choose one of the following file formats: TIFF, BMP, PICT, JPEG and PNG (this is our preferred order). If you are going to send the picture to a typographer, they can tell you which format is better. Don't choose PDF, because it generates a vector representation, not a bitmap.
- The resulting picture will actually be x times wider and higher than the window and the resolution will be 72 dpi. The line-width will also be x times thicker. It will be enough, however, to scale the picture down x times (most programs can perform this scaling) and it will become exactly what was needed at the start.
A similar, though not equivalent, approach consists in creating a picture x times larger than required and exporting it with resolution = 1. The difference is that the frequency scale and other elements (like the integrals, etc..) will be x times smaller. Intermediate solutions are also possible, of course, like doubling the size of the window and halving the resolution, etc...
You can create a picture for each open window: and choose File > Export All. On the Mac, this command appears when you hold down the option key.
Related Topics
Exporting a Low Resolution Picture
“Export” means “Save a Copy As”