LaTeX Figures

One of the biggest problem that has given me a really hard time while using LaTeX is the use of figures. Most of my figures always were MS Visio drawings. As LaTeX accepts figures in PS or EPS formats, so the normal conversion methods mostly resulted in poor image quality. Googling it I was able to find there are numerous methods. some long, some hectic; most of which didn't worked for me. So here I would be telling you a pretty simple method for conversion of MS Visio images to standard PS formats that can result in high qulaity images for you to use in your LaTeX document provided you have a professional Adobe Reader (any version) and the MS office SAVE AS PDF plugin. Just follow these steps.

1. When you Visio drawing is ready, make sure the page setting is as follows. Goto FILE> PAGE SETUP> PAGE SIZE TAB> there make sure the check box SIZE FIT TO DRAWING CONTENTS is enabled.
2. Make sure you have the Visio to PDF plugin installed. You can get it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F1FC413C-6D89-4F15-991B-63B07BA5F2E5&displaylang=en
3. Once you have the plugin installed. Goto File and click PUBLISH AS PDF or XPS.
4. Now open the PDF file you just created. Once the drawing is opened, saves this as a PS by clicking FILE> SAVE AS and from file format select POST SCRIPT (PS).
5. You are done and ready to use the generated PS image in your LaTeX document (:

PS: Always use Enhanced Metafile (EMF) images in your MS WORLD/POWERPOINT documents as they give you a petty high quality resolution.