[Tex/LaTex] gnuplot + epslatex

Question

I'm using gnuplot with terminal epslatex in order to plot graphs containing LaTeX labels.

In particular I've got something like this on Y tics:

$\\frac{ L_{seq} }{ 8 }$

Everything works, but the output graph has a lot of white space between the Y axis label and the Y tics.

I guess that's because gnuplot parses $\\frac{ L_{seq} }{ 8 }$ as a normal string and reserves space for it, but the resulting string (after pdflatex renders it) will actually be shorter.

Any way to solve this?

Answer 1

In my experience it's best to let graphics programs such as gnuplot use their own (non LaTeX) labels, and then replace these using psfrag. psfrag allows you to align the left/right/centre of the object to be replaced with the left/right/centre of the replacement. So, in gnuplot try

set term postscript eps mono
set output 'myplot.eps'
set ylabel 'Y'
plot x**3

and then in your document

\usepackage{psfrag}

...

\psfrag{Y}[r][r]{$y=x^3$}
\includegraphics{myplot}