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PostScript is a command language for driving graphics
devices such as laser printers. It is ASCII text which you
can read and edit as you wish (assuming you have some knowledge
of the syntax). We prefer this to binary metafile plot
systems since such files cannot easily be modified after they
have been created. GMT programs also write many comments to
the plot file which make it easier for users to orient
themselves should they need to edit the file (e.g., % Start
of x-axis). All GMT programs create PostScript code by
calling the pslib plot library (The user may call these
functions from his/her own C or FORTRAN plot programs. See the
manual pages for pslib syntax). Although GMT programs
can create very individualized plot code, there will always be
cases not covered by these programs. Some knowledge of
PostScript will enable the user to add such features
directly into the plot file. By default, GMT will produce
freeform PostScript output with embedded printer directives. To
produce Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) that can be imported into graphics programs such as
IslandDraw, CorelDraw, Illustrator or Freehand for further
embellishment, change the PAPER_MEDIA setting in the .gmtdefaults4
file. See Appendix C and the gmtdefaults man page for more details.
Next: 4.13 Specifying pen attributes
Up: 4. General features
Previous: 4.11 Output Data Formats
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Paul Wessel
2004-10-01