Exporting Chart for Print Publication

Issue/Question

How do I export a chart from SPSS in high resolution so that it may be professionally printed?

Environment

  • SPSS

Resolution

SPSS can export charts in Bitmap (*.bmp), Enhanced Metafile (*.emf), Encapsulated Postscript (*.eps), JPEG (*.jpg), PNG (*.png), and Tagged Image file (*.tif) format.

Exporting the charts to Encapsulated Postscript (*.eps) will allow them to be edited in a vector graphics program such as Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. From there, they may be infinitely scaled without any distortion or loss of resolution. The publisher you're working with should be able to accept the Encapsulated Postscript (*.eps) file and make it ready for print production.

 Note: Many publishers also accept PDF files, because they can contain the same type of information. However, the way SPSS exports charts to a PDF will not produce the desired results.

  1. From the Output window, click the charts you would like to export to select them.
  2. Click File then Export....
  3. In the Objects to Export section, click the Selected radio button.
  4. In the Document section, change the Type select box to None (Graphics Only).
  5. In the Graphics section, change the Type select box to Encapsulated Postscipt (*.eps).
  6. Click the Change Options... button.
  7. In the Fonts section, click Replace fonts with curves, and click Continue.

     Note: Replacing fonts with curves will prevent text from being easily edited in the exported file, however, this option is suggested to ensure the chart will always appear as it does inside of SPSS.

  8. Click Browse... next to Root File Name and choose a location to export your charts. If multiple charts are selected, an additional number will be added to the end of each file name.
  9. Click OK to export the charts.
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