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I would like to know whether there is a way to insert a plot into another plot. I would like to do some plot from a function an then, inside this plot, in the right down corner add a smaller plot of the same function covering a smaller region. I tried with Epilog but it's not possible that way, it gives me a fail

Thanks in advance!

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4 Answers 4

Reset to default
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...or do it dynamically so you can position the inset where you like it:

DynamicModule[{pt = Scaled[{0.5, 0.5}]},

 Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, 2 Pi},
  PlotRange -> All, 
  Epilog -> {Dynamic[
     Locator[Dynamic[pt], 
      Plot[Cos[x], {x, 0, 2 Pi}, Background -> White, 
       ImageSize -> 150]]]}]]

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ 1+ I liked this Dynamic tip! Cool! $\endgroup$
    – Murta
    Nov 14, 2012 at 13:53
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    $\begingroup$ That is pretty nice, but is there a method by which you can read the coordinates after you are done with placing? $\endgroup$
    – Daniele Binosi
    Aug 2, 2018 at 14:16
  • $\begingroup$ After running in version 12.1.1, your code outputs the following error message: "Raw object \!(*FormBox[\"x\", TraditionalForm]) cannot be used as \ an iterator." $\endgroup$
    – A little mouse on the pampas
    Aug 13, 2020 at 4:26
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    $\begingroup$ @Alittlemouseonthepampas if you change the 2 xs in the second Plot function to anything else it works. So change the second Plot to Plot[Cos[y], {y, 0, 2 Pi}, Background -> White, ImageSize -> 150] $\endgroup$
    – Tanner Legvold
    Nov 2, 2020 at 0:29
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You can use Inset for this

Building a new Graphics

gr1 = Plot[Sin[x]^2, {x, 0, 6 Pi}];
gr2 = Plot[Sin[x]^2, {x, 0, Pi}];

Graphics[{First[gr1], Inset[gr2, {15, -.6}, Automatic, Scaled[.4]]}, 
 PlotRange -> {Automatic, {-1, 1}}, AbsoluteOptions[gr1]]

Mathematica graphics

Using Epilog

Plot[Sin[x]^2, {x, 0, 6 Pi}, PlotRange -> {Automatic, {-1, 1}}, 
 Epilog -> {Inset[gr2, {15, -.6}, Automatic, Scaled[.4]]}]
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    $\begingroup$ Ha Yep, question solved! That's what I was looking for! And with Background->White option it covers the old plot if necessary! Thanks a lot! $\endgroup$
    – pablo
    Nov 14, 2012 at 10:02
  • $\begingroup$ For some reason, this method doesn't work on Mathematica 10.0.1! $\endgroup$
    – Mahdi
    Mar 17, 2015 at 22:57
  • $\begingroup$ @Mahdi It works for me. $\endgroup$
    – halirutan ♦
    Mar 17, 2015 at 23:05
  • $\begingroup$ @halirutan: Probably related to this. I'm getting Axes::axes: "{{False,False},{False,False}} is not a valid axis specification. " and Ticks::ticks: "{Automatic,Automatic} is not a valid tick specification." using under Linux 64-bit. $\endgroup$
    – Mahdi
    Mar 17, 2015 at 23:12
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You mean something like this?

p1 = Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, 2 π}];
p2 = Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, π}];

Show[Graphics[{Rectangle[{0, 0}, {1, 1}, p1], 
  Rectangle[{0.7, 0.4}, {1, 1}, p2]}]]

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ This was how it was done before Inset[] came along... $\endgroup$
    – J. M.'s missing motivation ♦
    Nov 14, 2012 at 9:56
  • $\begingroup$ @J.M. Ha, it means that it is a long time that I didn't have the need to do something like this. $\endgroup$
    – VLC
    Nov 14, 2012 at 9:57
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    $\begingroup$ (+1) very nice. I don't think i have seen this syntax before; any references? $\endgroup$
    – kglr
    Nov 14, 2012 at 10:02
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    $\begingroup$ @kguler, it was documented in old versions; apparently, when Inset[] became available in version 6, that piece of syntax was quietly redacted. $\endgroup$
    – J. M.'s missing motivation ♦
    Nov 14, 2012 at 10:28
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    $\begingroup$ This is really helpful because Inset[] does not allow you to specify positions (at least I didn't figure out) in terms of the corners of the figure. It is difficult to know the center position but the end-points are easy to know. $\endgroup$
    – preeti
    Sep 19, 2013 at 0:33
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In addition to Inset etc., you can do this manually with the 2D Graphics editing tools.

First producing plots as halirutan did:

p1 = Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, 2 π}]
p2 = Plot[Sin[x], {x, 0, π}]

Mathematica graphics

Click the first one to select it (orange border):

Mathematica graphics

Then Copy or Cut the object.

Next, double-click the second graphic to enter editing mode (gray border):

Mathematica graphics

And Paste the first graphic:

Mathematica graphics

You can then position and resize the inset graphic using the orange frame.
When you are done just click outside of the main gray frame.

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  • $\begingroup$ Even easier, thanks a lot! $\endgroup$
    – pablo
    Nov 14, 2012 at 11:25
  • $\begingroup$ This is a good solution, but in the end I would like to have a code from where I can re-run if I want those specifications again. Any simple way of retrieving that information? $\endgroup$
    – Jorge Leitao
    Dec 27, 2012 at 13:37
  • $\begingroup$ @J.C.Leitão Sorry, I never saw your comment. I can't think of anything practical but that could be a good question; why don't you post it? (If you haven't done so already in the long time since you asked this.) $\endgroup$
    – Mr.Wizard
    Aug 14, 2013 at 22:54
  • $\begingroup$ hahah I love this one because of the simplicity, though it won't show any useful technique . $\endgroup$
    – Ying Zhang
    Aug 13, 2020 at 3:14

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