[Tex/LaTex] Using KOMAoptions to produce landscape output produces empty page

Question

I am writing my thesis and received a template for inserting landscape graphics on a typical paper when using pdflatex (which I am). It looks like this:

\newpage
\KOMAoptions{pagesize,paper=landscape,DIV=20} 
\thispagestyle{empty}
\vspace*{2cm}
\begin{figure}[htbp]
...
\end{figure}
\newpage
\KOMAoptions{paper=a4,paper=portrait,DIV=10}

If I typeset the template it looks perfect, but if I do it on my own thesis, the following happens: I get an empty page (this is also where thispagestyle is applied) and one with my graphic (which now has a header again). Commenting out newpage (both) did not change anything! And moving thispagestyle around (below figure, in figure block) did not change anything as well.

So basically whatever I change its like pdflatex ignores all everything and just does what it wants. Removing thispagestyle just adds header to the empty page again.

So my goal: One page with a landscape image. But what I get: One empty page (even no header) and one page with image & header (both are in landscape).

Why is that happening and why is latex ignoring all my settings (if it doesn't matter if I write two newpage why bother adding them?

Since I am not a latex guru, please tell me if you need additional information. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Alternative approaches:

• Package pdflscape (or lscape):

  \usepackage{pdflscape}
  ...
  \clearpage
  \begin{landscape}
    \pagestyle{empty}
    ...
  \end{landscape}
  

  Example: Vertical centering of figure in landscape environment

• Environment sidewaystable of package rotating.

Empty page: a complete MWE with warnings/errors from the .log file would be useful.