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From: Lawrence Teo on 21 Oct 2009 06:31
Hi all,

I recently found that Mathematica 7 doesn't copy/paste metafile in
vector format anymore, as compared to Mathematica 5.2

Although I could still Copy As > Metafile in Mathematica 7, pasting it
into Office 2007 will result in rasterized bitmap image. Rasterized
bitmap image means low resolution and bad quality. Unacceptable to me.

It doesn't help even if I Export to EMF or WMF format. Inserting those
EMF/WMF files into Office 2007 still gives me the same rasterized
bitmap image.

I also realize that Mathematica could Copy As > Metafile in vector
format successfully for certain functions, but not for all functions.
For example, Plot2D[] seems to work. Plot3D[] and ContourPlot[] don't,
no matter how I try.

There is very little information online on this topic. I basically
just found 2 other similar cases. Does anyone have any solution and
workaround to this?

Thanks.

From: John Fultz on 22 Oct 2009 02:25
The basic problem is that the Windows and Enhanced metafile formats just don't
have enough features to support a high fidelity vector representation of certain
Mathematica outputs...for example, those containing color gradients or
transparency. We elected to rasterize the graphics in these cases figuring that
a high quality bitmap is better than a low quality vector image. It is an
imperfect solution for an imperfect world.

I would suggest trying to export it as a bitmap with a high enough resolution
for your needs.

Sincerely,

John Fultz
jfultz(a)wolfram.com
User Interface Group
Wolfram Research, Inc.


On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:32:38 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I recently found that Mathematica 7 doesn't copy/paste metafile in
> vector format anymore, as compared to Mathematica 5.2
>
> Although I could still Copy As > Metafile in Mathematica 7, pasting it
> into Office 2007 will result in rasterized bitmap image. Rasterized
> bitmap image means low resolution and bad quality. Unacceptable to me.
>
> It doesn't help even if I Export to EMF or WMF format. Inserting those
> EMF/WMF files into Office 2007 still gives me the same rasterized
> bitmap image.
>
> I also realize that Mathematica could Copy As > Metafile in vector
> format successfully for certain functions, but not for all functions.
> For example, Plot2D[] seems to work. Plot3D[] and ContourPlot[] don't,
> no matter how I try.
>
> There is very little information online on this topic. I basically
> just found 2 other similar cases. Does anyone have any solution and
> workaround to this?
>
> Thanks.




From: Lawrence Teo on 24 Oct 2009 02:50
Hi John,

Thanks for the suggestion.
While it is possible to export to bitmap with high enough resolution,
is there any other way for us to specify how we would want Mathematica
7 handle Metafile in vector or raster? After all, that is the main
reason we have the two options of Copy As > Metafile and Copy As >
Bitmap at the same time, I thought?

I have Mathematica 7 and Mathematica 5.2 on Windows Vista. I have to
revert back to Mathematica 5.2 when it comes to vector metafile.
What I can't fully understand is, why on the same Windows Vista,
Mathematica 5.2 doesn't have the problem of inability of supporting
high fidelity vector representation, as Mathematica 7 faces?

Thanks

Yours faithfully,
Lawrence


On Oct 22, 2:25 pm, John Fultz <jfu...(a)wolfram.com> wrote:
> The basic problem is that the Windows and Enhanced metafile formats just =
don't
> have enough features to support a high fidelity vector representation of =
certain
> Mathematica outputs...for example, those containing color gradients or
> transparency. We elected to rasterize the graphics in these cases figu=
ring that
> a high quality bitmap is better than a low quality vector image. It is=
an
> imperfect solution for an imperfect world.
>
> I would suggest trying to export it as a bitmap with a high enough resolu=
tion
> for your needs.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John Fultz
> jfu...(a)wolfram.com
> User Interface Group
> Wolfram Research, Inc.
>
> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:32:38 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
> > Hi all,
>
> > I recently found that Mathematica 7 doesn't copy/paste metafile in
> > vector format anymore, as compared to Mathematica 5.2
>
> > Although I could still Copy As > Metafile in Mathematica 7, pasting it
> > into Office 2007 will result in rasterized bitmap image. Rasterized
> > bitmap image means low resolution and bad quality. Unacceptable to me.
>
> > It doesn't help even if I Export to EMF or WMF format. Inserting those
> > EMF/WMF files into Office 2007 still gives me the same rasterized
> > bitmap image.
>
> > I also realize that Mathematica could Copy As > Metafile in vector
> > format successfully for certain functions, but not for all functions.
> > For example, Plot2D[] seems to work. Plot3D[] and ContourPlot[] don't,
> > no matter how I try.
>
> > There is very little information online on this topic. I basically
> > just found 2 other similar cases. Does anyone have any solution and
> > workaround to this?
>
> > Thanks.


From: John Fultz on 25 Oct 2009 01:18
On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:37:26 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Thanks for the suggestion.
> While it is possible to export to bitmap with high enough resolution,
> is there any other way for us to specify how we would want Mathematica
> 7 handle Metafile in vector or raster? After all, that is the main
> reason we have the two options of Copy As > Metafile and Copy As >
> Bitmap at the same time, I thought?

Yes, but the point is that, unless the metafile is a bitmap in these case,=
it
will not look at all like what you see onscreen. Surely something which
fundamentally changes the appearance of a graphic for the worse is=
unacceptable
behavior. But for many other graphics, as you've discovered, metafile does=

preserve a vector representation. It is superior to bitmap in some cases,
equivalent in others. The best compromise we could come up with for file
formats which were designed around 1990 and 1995 respectively (for Windows=
and
Enhanced variants of the metafile format...my dates might be slightly off,=
but
are about right).


> I have Mathematica 7 and Mathematica 5.2 on Windows Vista. I have to
> revert back to Mathematica 5.2 when it comes to vector metafile.
> What I can't fully understand is, why on the same Windows Vista,
> Mathematica 5.2 doesn't have the problem of inability of supporting
> high fidelity vector representation, as Mathematica 7 faces?

There was a sea change in the quality of graphics between 5.2 and 7. If=
you're
willing to live with the graphics technology that we created in the 1990s,=
you
can run it in version 7 by evaluating...

<< Version5`Graphics`

before evaluating your plot commands. You'll get static, non-interactive
graphics (the first thing you'll notice is that you can't rotate the 3D
graphics) with all of the best features we designed in the 90s, and they=
live
completely within the limitations of the metafile format.

Some of the newer plotting commands may not produce graphics correctly in=
this
mode, but all of the basic functionality will probably work fine.

Sincerely,

John Fultz
jfultz(a)wolfram.com
User Interface Group
Wolfram Research, Inc.


>
> Thanks
>
> Yours faithfully,
> Lawrence
>
>
> On Oct 22, 2:25 pm, John Fultz <jfu...(a)wolfram.com> wrote:
>> The basic problem is that the Windows and Enhanced metafile formats
>> just =
> don't
>> have enough features to support a high fidelity vector representation
>> of =
> certain
>> Mathematica outputs...for example, those containing color gradients or
>> transparency. We elected to rasterize the graphics in these cases figu=
> ring that
>> a high quality bitmap is better than a low quality vector image. It is=
> an
>> imperfect solution for an imperfect world.
>>
>> I would suggest trying to export it as a bitmap with a high enough
>> resolu=
> tion
>> for your needs.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> John Fultz
>> jfu...(a)wolfram.com
>> User Interface Group
>> Wolfram Research, Inc.
>>
>> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:32:38 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I recently found that Mathematica 7 doesn't copy/paste metafile in
>>> vector format anymore, as compared to Mathematica 5.2
>>>
>>> Although I could still Copy As > Metafile in Mathematica 7, pasting it
>>> into Office 2007 will result in rasterized bitmap image. Rasterized
>>> bitmap image means low resolution and bad quality. Unacceptable to me.
>>>
>>> It doesn't help even if I Export to EMF or WMF format. Inserting those
>>> EMF/WMF files into Office 2007 still gives me the same rasterized
>>> bitmap image.
>>>
>>> I also realize that Mathematica could Copy As > Metafile in vector
>>> format successfully for certain functions, but not for all functions.
>>> For example, Plot2D[] seems to work. Plot3D[] and ContourPlot[] don't,
>>> no matter how I try.
>>>
>>> There is very little information online on this topic. I basically
>>> just found 2 other similar cases. Does anyone have any solution and
>>> workaround to this?
>>>
>>> Thanks.




From: Lawrence Teo on 26 Oct 2009 00:29
Hi John,

Really thanks for your explanation and the reasons behind the decision
of change.
If it were in the Mathematica documentation, it would be excellent.

I just want to highlight in one sentence on your suggestion which
works for me.

<< Version5`Graphics`
before plot commands to get older vector metafile as found in
Mathematica 5.2

This method allows me to regain the older Mathematica way to generate
vector metafile.
Hope it will help other Mathematica users when they run into the same
questions.

Thanks again, John.

Lawrence


On Oct 25, 1:18 pm, John Fultz <jfu...(a)wolfram.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:37:26 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
> > Hi John,
>
> > Thanks for the suggestion.
> > While it is possible to export to bitmap with high enough resolution,
> > is there any other way for us to specify how we would want Mathematica
> > 7 handle Metafile in vector or raster? After all, that is the main
> > reason we have the two options of Copy As > Metafile and Copy As >
> > Bitmap at the same time, I thought?
>
> Yes, but the point is that, unless the metafile is a bitmap in these case=
,=
> it
> will not look at all like what you see onscreen. Surely something whic=
h
> fundamentally changes the appearance of a graphic for the worse is=
> unacceptable
> behavior. But for many other graphics, as you've discovered, metafile =
does=
>
> preserve a vector representation. It is superior to bitmap in some cas=
es,
> equivalent in others. The best compromise we could come up with for fi=
le
> formats which were designed around 1990 and 1995 respectively (for Window=
s=
> and
> Enhanced variants of the metafile format...my dates might be slightly off=
,=
> but
> are about right).
>
> > I have Mathematica 7 and Mathematica 5.2 on Windows Vista. I have to
> > revert back to Mathematica 5.2 when it comes to vector metafile.
> > What I can't fully understand is, why on the same Windows Vista,
> > Mathematica 5.2 doesn't have the problem of inability of supporting
> > high fidelity vector representation, as Mathematica 7 faces?
>
> There was a sea change in the quality of graphics between 5.2 and 7. I=
f=
> you're
> willing to live with the graphics technology that we created in the 1990s=
,=
> you
> can run it in version 7 by evaluating...
>
> << Version5`Graphics`
>
> before evaluating your plot commands. You'll get static, non-interacti=
ve
> graphics (the first thing you'll notice is that you can't rotate the 3D
> graphics) with all of the best features we designed in the 90s, and they=
=
> live
> completely within the limitations of the metafile format.
>
> Some of the newer plotting commands may not produce graphics correctly in=
=
> this
> mode, but all of the basic functionality will probably work fine.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John Fultz
> jfu...(a)wolfram.com
> User Interface Group
> Wolfram Research, Inc.
>
>
>
> > Thanks
>
> > Yours faithfully,
> > Lawrence
>
> > On Oct 22, 2:25 pm, John Fultz <jfu...(a)wolfram.com> wrote:
> >> The basic problem is that the Windows and Enhanced metafile formats
> >> just =
> > don't
> >> have enough features to support a high fidelity vector representation
> >> of =
> > certain
> >> Mathematica outputs...for example, those containing color gradients or
> >> transparency. We elected to rasterize the graphics in these cases f=
igu=
> > ring that
> >> a high quality bitmap is better than a low quality vector image. It=
is=
> > an
> >> imperfect solution for an imperfect world.
>
> >> I would suggest trying to export it as a bitmap with a high enough
> >> resolu=
> > tion
> >> for your needs.
>
> >> Sincerely,
>
> >> John Fultz
> >> jfu...(a)wolfram.com
> >> User Interface Group
> >> Wolfram Research, Inc.
>
> >> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:32:38 -0400 (EDT), Lawrence Teo wrote:
> >>> Hi all,
>
> >>> I recently found that Mathematica 7 doesn't copy/paste metafile in
> >>> vector format anymore, as compared to Mathematica 5.2
>
> >>> Although I could still Copy As > Metafile in Mathematica 7, pasting i=
t
> >>> into Office 2007 will result in rasterized bitmap image. Rasterized
> >>> bitmap image means low resolution and bad quality. Unacceptable to me=
..
>
> >>> It doesn't help even if I Export to EMF or WMF format. Inserting thos=
e
> >>> EMF/WMF files into Office 2007 still gives me the same rasterized
> >>> bitmap image.
>
> >>> I also realize that Mathematica could Copy As > Metafile in vector
> >>> format successfully for certain functions, but not for all functions.
> >>> For example, Plot2D[] seems to work. Plot3D[] and ContourPlot[] don't=
,
> >>> no matter how I try.
>
> >>> There is very little information online on this topic. I basically
> >>> just found 2 other similar cases. Does anyone have any solution and
> >>> workaround to this?
>
> >>> Thanks.


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