# Printing problem: PDF output has a plot error

In my Mathematica file I have several plots that I put together in a grid. One of the plots is coded with the following code:

gr1 = ListPlot[baseplateTemp2, Joined -> True,
ImagePadding -> {{110, 30}, {5, 42}}, ImageSize -> Full,
AspectRatio -> .18, Frame -> {Left, Top, Right},
PlotRange -> {{first, last}, {-40, 80}},
FrameTicks -> {{Automatic, Automatic}, {Automatic, topaxis}},
BaseStyle -> {FontSize -> 14},
FrameLabel -> {{"Baseplate\n Temperature, \[Degree] C", ""}, { "",
"Time Offset, Days"}}, GridLines -> {botax, Automatic},
Axes -> None]


and is then grouped with another set of plots within a Grid:

Grid[{{gr1}, {grf10M}, {gr9}}]


The problem that ensues is the following: my typical output would look something like this on screen:

However, whenever I export the Mathematica slide show (by the way, I save a series of slides together— with similar cells as those shown in the first picture, as a pdf) as a pdf via

File > Save As... > PDF Document (*.pdf)


I get a problem.

Now the problem isn't visible on screen: in fact, it looks exactly the same as the Mathematica output in terms of fidelity. It only becomes apparent when I print the pdf that I see an artifact that I have trouble identifying the root cause. Here is a scan of the printout that I made of the same cell shown in the first picture:

Edit 1: The artifact is readily seen in the second picture in the plot labeled "Baseplate Temperature, °C". You can see there is a line running through the 10 °C line that connects the end and beginning points.

As far as things I have attempted: I tried to Export the entire notebook but I have not been successful. If anyone has any ideas, remember that the notebook is in a slide show format currently and I would like to keep it in that format.

I read through the answers in Graphics elements do not line up perfectly in exported PDFs and tried some of them but they don't really work that well. I'll edit this question tomorrow to try and post more detail as to what happens when I try to Export the entire notebook as a pdf.

Aside: if anyone wants to see the pdf output to confirm that they don't see the line either on screen but only on paper: send me a link of a good pdf hosting website that I could use— possibly Scribd, but I would prefer something like an imgur equivalent.

Edit 2: I'm using Mathematica 9 currently. Not sure if this problem has been resolved in the updated versions of Mathematica. Will send Wolfram Tech Support a query in parallel with this post.

Also, I'll try to modify the data/code provide to allow you to replicate the situation.

Edit 3: I tried using Export to export the notebook as a pdf:

Export["notebook.pdf", EvaluationNotebook[]];


The result is still the same: there is a similar, if not exactly the same artifact as before.

The idea was brought by Szabolcs in Graphics elements do not line up perfectly in exported PDFs.

Update: still waiting on a response email from Wolfram Technical Support. In an auto-reply message it says that it might take up to three days for a formal response.

Edit 4: Here's a link to the pdf that I am having problems with: Thermal Cycle Plot

• If it's at all possible I'd try to gather minimal code which we actually can use to reproduce it, it would help tremendously in troubleshooting. I'd also recommend reaching out to Tech Support so that they can report it, and perhaps help in finding a solution as well, if no one is able to here. – user6014 Oct 28 '16 at 2:22
• Now that you mention it's in V9, I highly expect that it will have been fixed in a later version (not 100% sure though). But just make sure you send them your full code that they can reproduce it on so that they can ensure it works in later versions. – user6014 Oct 28 '16 at 2:40