Figure scaling issues in Linux

Getting good DPI settings for the editor in Linux is possible, though a tad annoying.

However, I have no idea how to go about fixing the scaling problems for figures. I can make a temp fix by upping the font size (see image) but can't find a way to fix this. Ideally, want I want is to, by default, scale all images by about 160%.

Font adjusted with

set(findall(gcf,'-property','FontSize'),'FontSize',18)

I could possible go through everything in

get(groot,'factory')

and asjust dozens of settings there to fix this but realy all it needs is a single scale factor that would apply to fonts and data points/lines.

Cheers for any help.

Answer 1

[Umar]

Hi @Dimand ,

You need a systematic approach to resolve this issue. However, I agree with your approach of achieving a uniform scaling factor for all elements which is considered more efficient.One way to tackle this is by utilizing the set function in MATLAB to adjust properties of graphical objects. In this case, you can set a global scale factor that applies to fonts and other graphical elements. Here's a sample code snippet that demonstrates how you can achieve this:

 % Set the default font size, line width, and scale factor

defaultFontSize = 18;

defaultLineWidth = 1; % Define the default line width

scaleFactor = 1.6; % 160% scaling

% Find all graphical objects and adjust font size and scale

set(findall(gcf,'-property','FontSize'),'FontSize', defaultFontSize * scaleFactor);

set(findall(gcf,'-property','LineWidth'),'LineWidth', defaultLineWidth * scaleFactor);

% Add more properties as needed

% Update the plot to reflect the changes

drawnow;

Using this code snippet will now help you achieve the desired scaling effect across all figures and simplifies the process by avoiding manual adjustments to individual settings.Additionally, keep exploring the groot object in MATLAB which can provide you insights into default settings that can be modified to achieve the desired scaling behavior. However, I will still suggest using a single scale factor approach as demonstrated above which offers a more straightforward and scalable solution. Hope this helps. Please let me know if you still have any further questions.

[Dimand]

One of the issues with fixing figure properties in script is I will collaborate with students and others, and If I share these scripts with my own dpi scaling, it will likely make figures look like trash on their machines.

[Umar]

Hi @ Dimand,

To mitigate issues related to DPI differences when sharing scripts, consider the following strategies. You can retrieve the screen's resolution and adjust your scaling factor accordingly. Use the `get(0, 'ScreenSize')` command to dynamically determine the appropriate scaling based on the user's display settings. When exporting figures using `print` or `saveas`, specify a consistent DPI setting. For instance:

print('MyFigure.png', '-dpng', '-r300'); % Exports at 300 DPI

Why not also explore properties of `groot` which can provide insights into default settings that may affect figure appearance across different environments. For example, you can modify properties like

`DefaultAxesFontSize` or `DefaultTextFontSize` globally:

   groot = groot;

   groot.DefaultAxesFontSize = 18 * scaleFactor;

   groot.DefaultTextFontSize = 18 * scaleFactor;

Also, when you share scripts, include comments that explain how to adjust settings based on individual preferences or machine capabilities. Encourage collaborators to adapt the scale factor according to their display settings for optimal results and before finalizing any graphical outputs, test your scripts on different machines if possible. This practice can help identify any discrepancies early on. Also, establish a feedback mechanism with collaborators regarding figure quality and clarity to continually improve your scripts.By implementing these strategies, you can enhance collaboration while maintaining visual consistency in your MATLAB figures.

Should you have further questions or require additional assistance on specific aspects of this process, feel free to ask!

[Dimand]

Thats exactly the issue here though. This is a Linux "problem". I can dual boot to windows with the same machine, same screens and same resolutions/DPI and the displayed Matlab figures from the same script will be scaled completely differently, it's not even usable from one to the other. I can't teach people how to use MATLAB if they can't open something that at least looks close to sensible that they can then adjust to their resolution.

Hence the desire to adjust the default settings/scale to attempt to normalise the outputs on Linux and have some semblance of scale consistency between operating systems.

It sounds like messing with the groot structure on my own machine to best match the more common windows outputs is the only option to achieve that.

Perhaps adding a startup script with a settable scale factor that modifies all relevant groot parameters would be the ideal option.

[Umar]

Hi @Dimand,

You are correct in considering modifications to the `groot` structure as a viable solution. By setting global defaults for figure properties, you can achieve a more uniform appearance across platforms. Here’s how you can set up a startup script that allows you to adjust scaling based on your preferences:

% Startup script

scaleFactor = 1.5; % Example scale factor; adjust as necessary

% Modify default properties

groot = groot;

groot.DefaultAxesFontSize = 18 * scaleFactor;

groot.DefaultTextFontSize = 18 * scaleFactor;

groot.DefaultFigurePosition = [100 100 800 600] * scaleFactor; % Adjust figure size

By adjusting these properties, you can create an environment that mimics the Windows output more closely. To further refine your approach, consider dynamically determining the screen resolution and adjusting your scale factor accordingly.

screenSize = get(0, 'ScreenSize');

scaleFactor = min(screenSize(3:4)) / 1080; % Assuming a base resolution of 1080p

This way, your script will adapt based on the actual display characteristics of the machine being used. Now, when it comes to exporting figures, it's crucial to specify a consistent DPI setting, so they look similar regardless of the operating system. Use commands like:

print('MyFigure.png', '-dpng', '-r300'); % Exports at 300 DPI

Again, encourage them to test outputs on their machines and provide feedback regarding figure quality. This collaborative approach can lead to better understanding and help improve your scripts over time. Please let me know if you still have any further questions.