Removing blank gap in gnuplot multiplot

Question

I am using multiplot in gnuplot to insert four graphs in the single figure. My code looks like this:

set term postscript eps enhanced color
set xlabel 'i'
set ylabel 'j'
set xtics 20
set ytics 20
set xlabel font ",20"
set ylabel font ",20"
set pm3d map
set pm3d corners2color c1
set out "Rulkovpattern.eps"
set multiplot layout 2,2
set title "(a)"
set size square 0.55,0.55
spl 'patternD0pt02.dat' notitle
set title "(b)"
set size square 0.55,0.55
spl 'patternD0pt04.dat' notitle
set size square 0.55,0.55
set title "(c)"
spl 'patternD0pt06.dat' notitle
set size square 0.55,0.55
set title "(d)"
spl 'patternD0pt08.dat' notitle
unset multiplot
set out
set term wxt

This generates the following picture:

But in this picture, there is a lot of blank space in the middle. I would like to make that space disappear or at least make it as minimum as possible. How can I do it by modifying my code?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Getting the margins right with multiplot is a bit tedious, especially when using set pm3d map, which has quite large margins.

Since version 5.0

Since 5.0 version,multiplot has the options margins and spacing.

margins takes four numbers set multiplot margins <left>,<right>,<bottom>,<top>, which give the fixed overall margins around the multiplot layout. spacing takes two number set multiplot spacing <xspacing>,<yspacing> which give the distance between two rows (<yspacing>) or two columns (<xspacing>).

set terminal pngcairo size 800,600 background rgb '#bbbbbb'
set output 'foobar.png'

set multiplot layout 2,2 \
              margins 0.1,0.98,0.1,0.98 \
              spacing 0.08,0.08

set ylabel 'ylabel'
plot x

unset ylabel
plot 2*x

set ylabel 'ylabel'
set xlabel 'xlabel'
plot 3*x

unset ylabel
plot 4*x
unset multiplot

Result (with 5.0rc1):

Earlier versions, kept only for completeness

To achieve the same thing with gnuplot 4.x, you must do the calculations by hand or define some functions, like the following example shows. This should be quite universally usable.

You can put all the general stuff in a configuration file, like multiplot.gp, which contains the functions

init_margins(left, right, bottom, top, dx, dy, rows, cols) = \
  sprintf('left_margin = %f; right_margin = %f; top_margin = %f; bottom_margin = %f; ', left, right, top, bottom) . \
  sprintf('col_count = %d; row_count = %d; gap_size_x = %f; gap_size_y = %f', cols, rows, dx, dy)

get_lmargin(col) = (left_margin + (col - 1) * (gap_size_x + ((right_margin - left_margin)-(col_count - 1) * gap_size_x)/col_count))
get_rmargin(col) = (left_margin + (col - 1) * gap_size_x + col * ((right_margin - left_margin)-(col_count - 1) * gap_size_x)/col_count)
get_tmargin(row) = (top_margin  - (row - 1) * gap_size_y - (row-1) * ((top_margin - bottom_margin  - gap_size_y * row_count) / row_count))
get_bmargin(row) = (top_margin  - (row - 1) * gap_size_y -  row    * ((top_margin - bottom_margin  - gap_size_y * row_count) / row_count))
set_margins(col, row) = \
  sprintf('set lmargin at screen %f;', get_lmargin(col)) . \
  sprintf('set rmargin at screen %f;', get_rmargin(col)) . \
  sprintf('set tmargin at screen %f;', get_tmargin(row)) . \
  sprintf('set bmargin at screen %f;', get_bmargin(row))         

The main file is then

set terminal pngcairo size 800,600 background rgb '#bbbbbb'
set output 'foobar2.png'

load 'multiplot.gp'

eval(init_margins(0.1, 0.98, 0.1, 0.98, 0.08, 0.08, 2, 2))    
set multiplot

eval(set_margins(1,1))
set ylabel 'ylabel'
plot x

eval(set_margins(2,1))
unset ylabel
plot 2*x

eval(set_margins(1,2))
set ylabel 'ylabel'
set xlabel 'xlabel'
plot 3*x

eval(set_margins(2,2))
unset ylabel
plot 4*x
unset multiplot

With the result (using 4.6.4):

Answer 2

In multiplot by using set lmargin, set rmargin, set bmargin and set tmargin, for left, right, bottom, top margin around your graph, you have the best control of the positioning of your graphs. In my experience it gives you a bit more freedom than the layout option you are using now.

A good example of how to does this for a single graph is found here: http://www.gnuplotting.org/multiplot-placing-graphs-next-to-each-other/

Another approach is to define functions to set the margin, which is easier if all your graphs are the same size, see: http://www.sciencetronics.com/greenphotons/?p=570