topic Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output in ODS and Base Reporting

fuzzy graphs in ODS output

_LB — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:01:02 GMT

Hi all. Happy holidays to all.
I am using ODS & SGPLOT to export various graphs. However, they are coming out a little fuzzy. Does anyone else have issues with this. Are there better ways to produce graphs.

Part of my code is below as to the ODS statements. Any asistance would be greatly appreciated.

Lawrence

ods listing GPATH='\\A:';
ODS GRAPHICS ON /IMAGEFMT=BMP ANTIALIAS=ON HEIGHt=2.75in width=5in SCALE=ON IMAGENAME="OverallCRBSI" BORDER=NO image_dpi=300;
proc sgplot data=X;

code ...

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

Cynthia_sas — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:17:50 GMT

Hi:
I'm not sure what you mean by "coming out fuzzy" - -when you view them on the screen? or when you cut and paste them into some other document?

I'd be tempted to try PNG, as described here:
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/grstatproc/60786/HTML/default/a003127724.htm#a003150209

Or, if you mean that the graphs are fuzzy when they print, I would use standard ODS HTML, RTF or PDF "sandwich" syntax around the SGPLOT instead of ODS LISTING. I only use ODS LISTING for debugging and testing my statements and code. For anything "final", I end up using ODS HTML or ODS RTF (mostly) and sometimes ODS PDF.
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/grstatproc/60786/HTML/default/a003106589.htm

Anyway, just some ideas.
cynthia

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

_LB — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:25:59 GMT

They are fuzzy in print. I will take a stab at your suggestions.
Thanks.
Lawrence

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

Cynthia_sas — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:45:49 GMT

Hi, Lawrence:
This Tech Support note http://support.sas.com/kb/32/993.html
talks about how the LISTING dest should be turned off when creating ODS GRAPHICS ON/OFF type of output. Since the new SG procedures are a different part of the overall ODS GRAPHICS framework, I have followed this syntax recommendation for the new SG procedures, as well. (That's why I said I only use LISTING with the SG procedures to test my code.)

cynthia

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

_LB — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:20:36 GMT

Cynthia;
Whether I turn the listing on or off seems to make little impact on the graphics output. They look fine onscreen, just not in print!

In addition, I do not wish to make HTML or RTF files in the process as this takes up even more processor & computer space.

Essentially I am outputting multiple files that eventually will be used in a PROC REPORT statement.

I can see from from examples from SAS and others the output. Unfortunately I do not find it "crisp" such as a graph from Excel.

I did send off some files to SAS tech support so perhaps they can have a better look at what is going on. I'll be honest and state that I am new to graphing (in SAS) and a little overwhelmed by all the possibilities!

Once again, thank you!
Lawrence

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

Cynthia_sas — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:21:52 GMT

Lawrence:
Sending your question to Tech Support was a good idea. I think the "crisp" issue will eventually come down to the IMAGEFMT= option -- although depending on whether it's the lines that are fuzzy or the fonts that are fuzzy, it could be a font issue, as well.

I would not have chosen BMP as the image format because I thought the only thing that BMP was good for was to save images from Microsoft Paint. But I see from this article, http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/10036.aspx that it seems to still be used for photo quality images -- albeit with a larger file size than some other formats.

cynthia

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

_LB — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:00:17 GMT

Cynthia;
I have been experiementating with both font types & and the image formats.
If I build a new proc template and apply differnt fonts such as garamond and arial there is some improvement.

As to the image types, BMP does work as does the PNG files. TIFF is rendered even fuzzier although it should be the opposite. JPG also does not work well as SAS renders the image high contrast that causes a "halo".

Will continue to work with SAS tech support on the issue.
Thanks again for all your coding help and article links.

Lawrence

Re: fuzzy graphs in ODS output

DanH_sas — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:38:42 GMT

I noticed from your original post that you have the IMAGE_DPI on the ODS GRAPHICS statement. That option should be used on your ODS LISTING statement. Try that and see if it makes a difference.