[Tex/LaTex] Why does LaTeX not embed imported EPS images into the DVI file

dviembeddingepspstricks

Experiment:

Compiling a file, having PSTricks code inside, in LaTeX (latex.exe), results in a self-contained DVI, where this PSTricks code is embedded.

But if the file has EPS images, the resulting DVI is no longer self-contained. If you delete the EPS images and open the DVI using a DVI viewer, the viewer will not show any images.

Question

Why does LaTeX (latex.exe) not embed imported EPS images into the DVI file?

Best Answer

DVI is never self-contained: It doesn't contain fonts. Apart from this: The pstricks package puts the code in the dvi (through \special commands). What should it do else? It can't refer to external files. The graphics package doesn't include eps as it is not necessary. The driver (dvips) will have to get the fonts anyway. So it can also load the eps.

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