Learning Forum

[simonhenn]

Hello,

I need high quality vector graphics of contour plots that I created in Fluent. When I click on 'Save Picture' I can choose between different formats which include vector graphic formats like eps or ps.

[Konstantine Kourbatski]

Have you tried experimenting with DPI resolution? Default is 75, what if you double or quadrupole it, does it help?n

[simonhenn]

Yes it helps but isn't the point of vector graphics that they don't have a resolution? With 500 DPI it still gets blurry when I zoom in enough. What I want is a true vector graphic like the following: nnIs there a way to get this from Fluent or any other program ? n

[Konstantine Kourbatski]

For true vector, you can either use HSF (will require Fluent to display which you can do without loading case: Results - HSF file) or VRLM. There could be Ensight options too for vector exportn

[simonhenn]

Ok, how would I use HSF to export a vector graphic? I would really appreciate if you could list the steps required since I couldn't find much about HSF on the internet.n

[Konstantine Kourbatski]

Just select HSF option and export. You can view HSF files in Fluent even without loading the case: Results - HSF file. After manipulating (e. g. zooming) a HSF image, you can save the image in another format. n

[simonhenn]

Ok thanks, and when saving the image while viewing the HSF I can save in a true vector graphic format?n

[Stephen Orlando]

Hi Simon,nLets take a step back here. What do you need the vector image for?n

[simonhenn]

Hi Steve, I'm working on my bachelor's thesis and need high quality pictures of contours, pathlines and so on that I can include in the thesis. The pictures are supposed to be in the vector format so that they don't get blurry when you zoom into them. I already wrote a Python script that creates vector contour plots from the contour data exported from pointwise but it gets much trickier if not impossible with pathline data.nn

[Rob]

Try the HSF with a high DPI and see if it's suitable. There's also Ensight but you may need a research licence.n

[Stephen Orlando]

Hi Simon, this is my understanding (I'm not a graphics expert though). Generally, colour gradients can't easily be vectorized, so if a vector image contains a colour gradient, then the colour gradient portion of the image is rasterized. This is what you're seeing with the .eps where the text is vectorized but the contour isn't. It looks like the pathlines aren't vectorized in the .eps from Fluent either.nPrinting at 300dpi is standard and you won't see a difference at a higher dpi (I don't even think it's easily possible to print at higher dpi than 300). So as long as you use a high-resolution image, when you print your thesis, the quality will be good. The other thing to keep in mind is that when the .pdf (I'm assuming you're generating a pdf for printing) is generated it may downgrade the image quality. So be sure to look into that.nSteven