2.1.2 Producing images on disk

The remaining terminals listed in Table 2.1 direct graphical output to disk in a selection of rasterised and vector graphics formats. The filename of the resulting image file may be set using the set output command, as in the example:

set output 'my_plot.eps'

Use of rasterised image formats inevitably results in some loss of image quality since the plot has to be rasterised into a bitmapped graphic image. By default, this rasterisation is performed at a resolution of $$300 dpi$, though this may be changed using the {\tt set terminal dpi} command\index{set terminal dpi command@{\tt set terminal dpi} command}, which should be followed by a numerical value. Alternatively, the resolution may be changed using the {\tt DPI} option in the {\tt settings} section of a configuration file (see Chapter~ \ref{ch:configuration}).\index{set terminal command!dpi modifier@{\tt dpi} modifier}\index{bitmap output!resolution}\index{image resolution} 

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