Arrows around figure - no TikZ

Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP

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2
down vote

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I currently have a grid of figures as follows:

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/
newcommandxdownarrow[1]%
 leftdownarrowvbox to #1right.kern-nulldelimiterspace


begindocument
 beginfigure
 hspace0.6cm$pmbxrightarrowhspace2.3cmlabel1hspace2.9cmlabel2hspace2.4cmlabel3hspace2.95cmlabel4hspace2.2cm$
 \[-0.4cm]
 beginminipage[t][14.2cm][b]0.01linewidth
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$
 vfill
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.01linewidth
 $pmbxdownarrow7.4cm$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.97linewidth
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image1.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image2.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image3.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image4.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image5.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image8.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image9.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image10.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image11.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image12.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image13.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image14.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image15.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image16.pdf
 endminipage
 endfigure
enddocument

This generates a 4x4 grid of images, with a right arrow above with 4 labels spaces, and a down arrow to the left with two spaced labels. Those hard-coded lengths are not practical. As this will not be the last time I need to make such a figure, how can I get the above to work properly? I want the following to happen automatically through the scaling of the 3d mini-page, with the figures:

1. Arrow above spans entire horizontal range of the grid


2. Above said arrow 4 labels spaced equally, such that they are centered on each plot horizontally


3. To the left an arrow spanning the entire vertical range of the grid


4. Two labels rotated to the left of said arrow, the upper one ending at the start of the arrow, the lower one starting at the end

The main problem is that the lengths are somehow not set, so I cannot use vfill and hfill properly, nor are the mini-pages aligned without specifying that first height. If the figures minipage could be set before the rest of the figure elements, perhaps then all the lengths (text height, line width etc.) will be set.

I do not want a tikz solution, but am open to dropping the mini-pages or anything else.

floats alignment

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

I currently have a grid of figures as follows:

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/
newcommandxdownarrow[1]%
 leftdownarrowvbox to #1right.kern-nulldelimiterspace


begindocument
 beginfigure
 hspace0.6cm$pmbxrightarrowhspace2.3cmlabel1hspace2.9cmlabel2hspace2.4cmlabel3hspace2.95cmlabel4hspace2.2cm$
 \[-0.4cm]
 beginminipage[t][14.2cm][b]0.01linewidth
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$
 vfill
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.01linewidth
 $pmbxdownarrow7.4cm$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.97linewidth
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image1.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image2.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image3.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image4.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image5.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image8.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image9.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image10.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image11.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image12.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image13.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image14.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image15.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image16.pdf
 endminipage
 endfigure
enddocument

This generates a 4x4 grid of images, with a right arrow above with 4 labels spaces, and a down arrow to the left with two spaced labels. Those hard-coded lengths are not practical. As this will not be the last time I need to make such a figure, how can I get the above to work properly? I want the following to happen automatically through the scaling of the 3d mini-page, with the figures:

1. Arrow above spans entire horizontal range of the grid


2. Above said arrow 4 labels spaced equally, such that they are centered on each plot horizontally


3. To the left an arrow spanning the entire vertical range of the grid


4. Two labels rotated to the left of said arrow, the upper one ending at the start of the arrow, the lower one starting at the end

The main problem is that the lengths are somehow not set, so I cannot use vfill and hfill properly, nor are the mini-pages aligned without specifying that first height. If the figures minipage could be set before the rest of the figure elements, perhaps then all the lengths (text height, line width etc.) will be set.

I do not want a tikz solution, but am open to dropping the mini-pages or anything else.

floats alignment

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

up vote
2
down vote

favorite

I currently have a grid of figures as follows:

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/
newcommandxdownarrow[1]%
 leftdownarrowvbox to #1right.kern-nulldelimiterspace


begindocument
 beginfigure
 hspace0.6cm$pmbxrightarrowhspace2.3cmlabel1hspace2.9cmlabel2hspace2.4cmlabel3hspace2.95cmlabel4hspace2.2cm$
 \[-0.4cm]
 beginminipage[t][14.2cm][b]0.01linewidth
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$
 vfill
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.01linewidth
 $pmbxdownarrow7.4cm$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.97linewidth
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image1.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image2.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image3.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image4.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image5.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image8.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image9.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image10.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image11.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image12.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image13.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image14.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image15.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image16.pdf
 endminipage
 endfigure
enddocument

This generates a 4x4 grid of images, with a right arrow above with 4 labels spaces, and a down arrow to the left with two spaced labels. Those hard-coded lengths are not practical. As this will not be the last time I need to make such a figure, how can I get the above to work properly? I want the following to happen automatically through the scaling of the 3d mini-page, with the figures:

1. Arrow above spans entire horizontal range of the grid


2. Above said arrow 4 labels spaced equally, such that they are centered on each plot horizontally


3. To the left an arrow spanning the entire vertical range of the grid


4. Two labels rotated to the left of said arrow, the upper one ending at the start of the arrow, the lower one starting at the end

The main problem is that the lengths are somehow not set, so I cannot use vfill and hfill properly, nor are the mini-pages aligned without specifying that first height. If the figures minipage could be set before the rest of the figure elements, perhaps then all the lengths (text height, line width etc.) will be set.

I do not want a tikz solution, but am open to dropping the mini-pages or anything else.

floats alignment

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

I currently have a grid of figures as follows:

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/
newcommandxdownarrow[1]%
 leftdownarrowvbox to #1right.kern-nulldelimiterspace


begindocument
 beginfigure
 hspace0.6cm$pmbxrightarrowhspace2.3cmlabel1hspace2.9cmlabel2hspace2.4cmlabel3hspace2.95cmlabel4hspace2.2cm$
 \[-0.4cm]
 beginminipage[t][14.2cm][b]0.01linewidth
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$
 vfill
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.01linewidth
 $pmbxdownarrow7.4cm$
 endminipage
 beginminipage[t][b]0.97linewidth
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image1.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image2.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image3.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image4.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image5.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image6.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image8.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image9.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image10.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image11.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image12.pdf\
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]image13.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image14.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image15.pdf
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]image16.pdf
 endminipage
 endfigure
enddocument

This generates a 4x4 grid of images, with a right arrow above with 4 labels spaces, and a down arrow to the left with two spaced labels. Those hard-coded lengths are not practical. As this will not be the last time I need to make such a figure, how can I get the above to work properly? I want the following to happen automatically through the scaling of the 3d mini-page, with the figures:

1. Arrow above spans entire horizontal range of the grid


2. Above said arrow 4 labels spaced equally, such that they are centered on each plot horizontally


3. To the left an arrow spanning the entire vertical range of the grid


4. Two labels rotated to the left of said arrow, the upper one ending at the start of the arrow, the lower one starting at the end

The main problem is that the lengths are somehow not set, so I cannot use vfill and hfill properly, nor are the mini-pages aligned without specifying that first height. If the figures minipage could be set before the rest of the figure elements, perhaps then all the lengths (text height, line width etc.) will be set.

I do not want a tikz solution, but am open to dropping the mini-pages or anything else.

floats alignment

floats alignment

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

asked 4 hours ago

kabanus

1404

1404

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 5 more comments

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
  – John Kormylo
  2 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
  – kabanus
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

Would a picture (pict2e package) overlay be acceptable?
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

@JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
– kabanus
2 hours ago

@JohnKormylo anything that doesn't feel like I need to program a drawing from scratch. I am looking for an easy to write, flexible solution, that doesn't require me to set nodes, anchors, coordinates and the like. I feel something like "an arrow the entire length of the figure" should be easy to do.
– kabanus
2 hours ago

The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

The picture environment has few capabilities, but it can draw arrows and labels. It is built into LaTeX, pict2e mostly allows better diagonal lines.
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

OTOH, I would have to replace all your images with something available to me, like example-image.
– John Kormylo
2 hours ago

@JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
– kabanus
2 hours ago

@JohnKormylo the name of everything is just for the example, of course you need your own images to test :). Thanks.
– kabanus
2 hours ago

 | 
show 5 more comments

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
1
down vote

This solution uses the picture environment. It also packs the images into a minimal size using vbox and hbox with a space between each row and column.

One annoying aspect of picture is that it uses its own units. In this case I used unitlength=1pt and used strip@pt (renamed unit) to convert lengths to picture units.

Rather than put each label individually, it was easier to create a row of makeboxes. The only tricky part was determining the height of each row of pictures.

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry

makeatletter
letunit=strip@pt
makeatother

newlengthrowheight

begindocument
 beginfigure
 setbox0=vboxsettowidthlineskipspace%
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image%
 settoheightrowheightincludegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image% if all rows the same
 unitlength=1pt
 centering
 beginpicture(unitdimexpr wd0+14ptrelax,unitdimexpr ht0+14ptrelax)(0,0)
 put(14,0)usebox0
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax) vector(1,0)unitdimexprwd0+4ptrelax
 put(14,unitdimexprht0+8ptrelax) makebox[0.249linewidth]label1 
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label2
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label3
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label4
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax)vector(0,-1)unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax
 put(0,0)rotatebox[origin=tl]90makebox[rowheight]label8
 makebox[rowheight]label7
 makebox[rowheight]label6
 makebox[rowheight]label5
 endpicture
 endfigure
enddocument

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Part 1: a partial non-TikZ solution

Here's the start of a solution that does not resort to TikZ. There's a lot more work that needs to be done, but perhaps it sheds some light on what you need.

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

newcommandmyxdownarrow[2]$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%
newcommandmyxrightarrow[1]rotatebox90$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%

newsaveboxaepic
newlengthaelength

begindocument
 setlengthaelengthdimexpr0.97linewidth%%
 beginlrboxaepic
 setlengthtabcolsep0.5pt%%
 begintabular[t]c@hspace1emcccc
 & label1 & label2 & label3 & label4 \
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$ &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image1.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image2.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image3.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image4.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image5.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image6.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image7.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image8.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image9.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image10.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image11.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image12.pdf\
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$ 
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image13.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image14.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image15.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image16.pdf
 endtabular
 endlrbox%%

beginfigure
 hspace2emmyxrightarrowdimexprwdaepic -2.25em\[-0.4cm]%%
 makebox[0pt][l]raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]
 hspace*1emmyxdownarrowdimexprhtaepic+dpaepic-1exrelax%%
 raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]useboxaepic%%
endfigure

enddocument

Part 2: The Bugaboo of TikZ

So, I know you said you didn't want to use TikZ. But, unless you have constraints coming from a publisher or advisor..., I feel you can get this done very easily and cleanly using TikZ. So, here is my TikZ version of a solution. I explain what I've done after the code for this solution.

Here's the code to produce this

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[showframe,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

usepackagetikz
usetikzlibrarycalc,fit,arrows.meta
newlengthaelength
newboxaepic

newcommandaegraphic[3] %% 
 tikz[remember picture,overlay] node (#2/BL) ;%%
 tikz node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0pt] (#2) at (#2/BL) includegraphics[#1]#3;%%
 

begindocument

setlengthaelengthdimexprlinewidth-3em%%
beginfigure
 setlengthtabcolsep1.5pt%%
 hspace*3em%%
 begintabular[t]cccc
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]A1image1.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A2image2.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A3image3.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A4image4.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]B1image5.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B2image6.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B3image7.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B4image8.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]C1image9.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C2image10.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C3image11.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C4image12.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]D1image13.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D2image14.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D3image15.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D4image16.pdf
 endtabular%%
 begintikzpicture[remember picture,overlay]
 node[fit=(A1) (A2) (A3) (A4)
 (B1) (B2) (B3) (B4)
 (C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)
 (D1) (D2) (D3) (D4),
 inner sep=0pt,
 ] (PIC) ;

 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([xshift=-1em]PIC.north west) -- ([xshift=-1em]PIC.south west);
 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([yshift=1em]PIC.north west) -- ([yshift=1em]PIC.north east);

 node[anchor=south] (COL1/label) at ([yshift=1em]A1|-PIC.north) Column Label 1;
 node[anchor=south] (COL2/label) at ([yshift=1em]A2|-PIC.north) Column Label 2;
 node[anchor=south] (COL3/label) at ([yshift=1em]A3|-PIC.north) Column Label 3;
 node[anchor=south] (COL4/label) at ([yshift=1em]A4|-PIC.north) Column Label 4;

 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW1/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]A1-|PIC.west) ROW 1 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW2/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]B1-|PIC.west) ROW 2 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW3/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]C1-|PIC.west) ROW 3 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW4/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]D1-|PIC.west) ROW 4 label;

 node[blue,anchor=south] at (A1.north) Description of first pic;

 endtikzpicture
endfigure

enddocument

Explanation of TikZ solution

I'm trying to minimize your headaches with TikZ here. The key here is two-fold: using a overlays and fitting.

I still use the tabular environment for laying out the picture. This could be done in a Tikz Picture. But, since I don't know all your potential constraints, I've forgone making the entire figure that way. In particular, I don't know how you want to handle the alignment pictures of unequal height or width.

Each cell of tabular tabular environment has three things going on:

• A TikZ mark is created. This is to help us later remember where the picture is.


• Using the TikZ mark, another TikZ node is created in which the image is going to be placed. This will give us information about where the edges of the picture are that a TikZ mark doesn't provide.


• I define a command aegraphic to simplify things a bit. And, it makes the code more readable. This command takes three arguments. The first is optional and contains the key values you want to pass along to includegraphics, the second argument is the name of the node in which you'll be placing the graphic, and the third argument is name of the image file.

Once the table of images is created, I create a PIC node to fit all the nodes of each individual graphic used. Now I can easily determine where the arrows along the top and left of the image should be place. I can also easily place labels adjacent to rows (properly rotated) and above each column.

The key points of TikZ that I use are the following:

• Anchoring: this helps us place the elements of the picture relative to each other without know exactly where they are.


• Rotation: rotation happens around the anchor of the node.


• The (<node_A>-|<node_B>) syntax: this grabs the y coordinate from node A and the x coordinate of node B. Similarly (<node_A>|-<node_B>) just flips this around.


• The ([<options>]node-name) syntax: this allows fine tuning such as displacing the arrows along the edges of the image relative to the nodes defined by the table.


• 
  remember picture,overlay syntax: this is telling TikZ to remember where this picture is being placed, essentially allowing you to place the TikZ picture wherever you would like on the page irrespective of other content.

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
  – kabanus
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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up vote
1
down vote

This solution uses the picture environment. It also packs the images into a minimal size using vbox and hbox with a space between each row and column.

One annoying aspect of picture is that it uses its own units. In this case I used unitlength=1pt and used strip@pt (renamed unit) to convert lengths to picture units.

Rather than put each label individually, it was easier to create a row of makeboxes. The only tricky part was determining the height of each row of pictures.

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry

makeatletter
letunit=strip@pt
makeatother

newlengthrowheight

begindocument
 beginfigure
 setbox0=vboxsettowidthlineskipspace%
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image%
 settoheightrowheightincludegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image% if all rows the same
 unitlength=1pt
 centering
 beginpicture(unitdimexpr wd0+14ptrelax,unitdimexpr ht0+14ptrelax)(0,0)
 put(14,0)usebox0
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax) vector(1,0)unitdimexprwd0+4ptrelax
 put(14,unitdimexprht0+8ptrelax) makebox[0.249linewidth]label1 
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label2
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label3
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label4
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax)vector(0,-1)unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax
 put(0,0)rotatebox[origin=tl]90makebox[rowheight]label8
 makebox[rowheight]label7
 makebox[rowheight]label6
 makebox[rowheight]label5
 endpicture
 endfigure
enddocument

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

This solution uses the picture environment. It also packs the images into a minimal size using vbox and hbox with a space between each row and column.

One annoying aspect of picture is that it uses its own units. In this case I used unitlength=1pt and used strip@pt (renamed unit) to convert lengths to picture units.

Rather than put each label individually, it was easier to create a row of makeboxes. The only tricky part was determining the height of each row of pictures.

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry

makeatletter
letunit=strip@pt
makeatother

newlengthrowheight

begindocument
 beginfigure
 setbox0=vboxsettowidthlineskipspace%
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image%
 settoheightrowheightincludegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image% if all rows the same
 unitlength=1pt
 centering
 beginpicture(unitdimexpr wd0+14ptrelax,unitdimexpr ht0+14ptrelax)(0,0)
 put(14,0)usebox0
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax) vector(1,0)unitdimexprwd0+4ptrelax
 put(14,unitdimexprht0+8ptrelax) makebox[0.249linewidth]label1 
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label2
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label3
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label4
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax)vector(0,-1)unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax
 put(0,0)rotatebox[origin=tl]90makebox[rowheight]label8
 makebox[rowheight]label7
 makebox[rowheight]label6
 makebox[rowheight]label5
 endpicture
 endfigure
enddocument

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

up vote
1
down vote

This solution uses the picture environment. It also packs the images into a minimal size using vbox and hbox with a space between each row and column.

One annoying aspect of picture is that it uses its own units. In this case I used unitlength=1pt and used strip@pt (renamed unit) to convert lengths to picture units.

Rather than put each label individually, it was easier to create a row of makeboxes. The only tricky part was determining the height of each row of pictures.

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry

makeatletter
letunit=strip@pt
makeatother

newlengthrowheight

begindocument
 beginfigure
 setbox0=vboxsettowidthlineskipspace%
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image%
 settoheightrowheightincludegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image% if all rows the same
 unitlength=1pt
 centering
 beginpicture(unitdimexpr wd0+14ptrelax,unitdimexpr ht0+14ptrelax)(0,0)
 put(14,0)usebox0
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax) vector(1,0)unitdimexprwd0+4ptrelax
 put(14,unitdimexprht0+8ptrelax) makebox[0.249linewidth]label1 
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label2
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label3
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label4
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax)vector(0,-1)unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax
 put(0,0)rotatebox[origin=tl]90makebox[rowheight]label8
 makebox[rowheight]label7
 makebox[rowheight]label6
 makebox[rowheight]label5
 endpicture
 endfigure
enddocument

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

This solution uses the picture environment. It also packs the images into a minimal size using vbox and hbox with a space between each row and column.

One annoying aspect of picture is that it uses its own units. In this case I used unitlength=1pt and used strip@pt (renamed unit) to convert lengths to picture units.

Rather than put each label individually, it was easier to create a row of makeboxes. The only tricky part was determining the height of each row of pictures.

documentclassarticle
usepackagegraphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry

makeatletter
letunit=strip@pt
makeatother

newlengthrowheight

begindocument
 beginfigure
 setbox0=vboxsettowidthlineskipspace%
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 hbox%
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image%
 settoheightrowheightincludegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230linewidth]example-image% if all rows the same
 unitlength=1pt
 centering
 beginpicture(unitdimexpr wd0+14ptrelax,unitdimexpr ht0+14ptrelax)(0,0)
 put(14,0)usebox0
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax) vector(1,0)unitdimexprwd0+4ptrelax
 put(14,unitdimexprht0+8ptrelax) makebox[0.249linewidth]label1 
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label2
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label3
 makebox[0.230linewidth]label4
 put(10,unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax)vector(0,-1)unitdimexprht0+4ptrelax
 put(0,0)rotatebox[origin=tl]90makebox[rowheight]label8
 makebox[rowheight]label7
 makebox[rowheight]label6
 makebox[rowheight]label5
 endpicture
 endfigure
enddocument

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 39 mins ago

edited 39 mins ago

edited 39 mins ago

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

answered 53 mins ago

John Kormylo

41.5k12363

41.5k12363

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Part 1: a partial non-TikZ solution

Here's the start of a solution that does not resort to TikZ. There's a lot more work that needs to be done, but perhaps it sheds some light on what you need.

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

newcommandmyxdownarrow[2]$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%
newcommandmyxrightarrow[1]rotatebox90$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%

newsaveboxaepic
newlengthaelength

begindocument
 setlengthaelengthdimexpr0.97linewidth%%
 beginlrboxaepic
 setlengthtabcolsep0.5pt%%
 begintabular[t]c@hspace1emcccc
 & label1 & label2 & label3 & label4 \
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$ &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image1.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image2.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image3.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image4.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image5.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image6.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image7.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image8.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image9.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image10.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image11.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image12.pdf\
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$ 
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image13.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image14.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image15.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image16.pdf
 endtabular
 endlrbox%%

beginfigure
 hspace2emmyxrightarrowdimexprwdaepic -2.25em\[-0.4cm]%%
 makebox[0pt][l]raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]
 hspace*1emmyxdownarrowdimexprhtaepic+dpaepic-1exrelax%%
 raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]useboxaepic%%
endfigure

enddocument

Part 2: The Bugaboo of TikZ

So, I know you said you didn't want to use TikZ. But, unless you have constraints coming from a publisher or advisor..., I feel you can get this done very easily and cleanly using TikZ. So, here is my TikZ version of a solution. I explain what I've done after the code for this solution.

Here's the code to produce this

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[showframe,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

usepackagetikz
usetikzlibrarycalc,fit,arrows.meta
newlengthaelength
newboxaepic

newcommandaegraphic[3] %% 
 tikz[remember picture,overlay] node (#2/BL) ;%%
 tikz node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0pt] (#2) at (#2/BL) includegraphics[#1]#3;%%
 

begindocument

setlengthaelengthdimexprlinewidth-3em%%
beginfigure
 setlengthtabcolsep1.5pt%%
 hspace*3em%%
 begintabular[t]cccc
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]A1image1.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A2image2.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A3image3.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A4image4.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]B1image5.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B2image6.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B3image7.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B4image8.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]C1image9.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C2image10.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C3image11.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C4image12.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]D1image13.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D2image14.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D3image15.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D4image16.pdf
 endtabular%%
 begintikzpicture[remember picture,overlay]
 node[fit=(A1) (A2) (A3) (A4)
 (B1) (B2) (B3) (B4)
 (C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)
 (D1) (D2) (D3) (D4),
 inner sep=0pt,
 ] (PIC) ;

 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([xshift=-1em]PIC.north west) -- ([xshift=-1em]PIC.south west);
 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([yshift=1em]PIC.north west) -- ([yshift=1em]PIC.north east);

 node[anchor=south] (COL1/label) at ([yshift=1em]A1|-PIC.north) Column Label 1;
 node[anchor=south] (COL2/label) at ([yshift=1em]A2|-PIC.north) Column Label 2;
 node[anchor=south] (COL3/label) at ([yshift=1em]A3|-PIC.north) Column Label 3;
 node[anchor=south] (COL4/label) at ([yshift=1em]A4|-PIC.north) Column Label 4;

 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW1/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]A1-|PIC.west) ROW 1 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW2/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]B1-|PIC.west) ROW 2 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW3/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]C1-|PIC.west) ROW 3 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW4/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]D1-|PIC.west) ROW 4 label;

 node[blue,anchor=south] at (A1.north) Description of first pic;

 endtikzpicture
endfigure

enddocument

Explanation of TikZ solution

I'm trying to minimize your headaches with TikZ here. The key here is two-fold: using a overlays and fitting.

I still use the tabular environment for laying out the picture. This could be done in a Tikz Picture. But, since I don't know all your potential constraints, I've forgone making the entire figure that way. In particular, I don't know how you want to handle the alignment pictures of unequal height or width.

Each cell of tabular tabular environment has three things going on:

• A TikZ mark is created. This is to help us later remember where the picture is.


• Using the TikZ mark, another TikZ node is created in which the image is going to be placed. This will give us information about where the edges of the picture are that a TikZ mark doesn't provide.


• I define a command aegraphic to simplify things a bit. And, it makes the code more readable. This command takes three arguments. The first is optional and contains the key values you want to pass along to includegraphics, the second argument is the name of the node in which you'll be placing the graphic, and the third argument is name of the image file.

Once the table of images is created, I create a PIC node to fit all the nodes of each individual graphic used. Now I can easily determine where the arrows along the top and left of the image should be place. I can also easily place labels adjacent to rows (properly rotated) and above each column.

The key points of TikZ that I use are the following:

• Anchoring: this helps us place the elements of the picture relative to each other without know exactly where they are.


• Rotation: rotation happens around the anchor of the node.


• The (<node_A>-|<node_B>) syntax: this grabs the y coordinate from node A and the x coordinate of node B. Similarly (<node_A>|-<node_B>) just flips this around.


• The ([<options>]node-name) syntax: this allows fine tuning such as displacing the arrows along the edges of the image relative to the nodes defined by the table.


• 
  remember picture,overlay syntax: this is telling TikZ to remember where this picture is being placed, essentially allowing you to place the TikZ picture wherever you would like on the page irrespective of other content.

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
  – kabanus
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

Part 1: a partial non-TikZ solution

Here's the start of a solution that does not resort to TikZ. There's a lot more work that needs to be done, but perhaps it sheds some light on what you need.

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

newcommandmyxdownarrow[2]$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%
newcommandmyxrightarrow[1]rotatebox90$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%

newsaveboxaepic
newlengthaelength

begindocument
 setlengthaelengthdimexpr0.97linewidth%%
 beginlrboxaepic
 setlengthtabcolsep0.5pt%%
 begintabular[t]c@hspace1emcccc
 & label1 & label2 & label3 & label4 \
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$ &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image1.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image2.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image3.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image4.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image5.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image6.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image7.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image8.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image9.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image10.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image11.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image12.pdf\
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$ 
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image13.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image14.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image15.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image16.pdf
 endtabular
 endlrbox%%

beginfigure
 hspace2emmyxrightarrowdimexprwdaepic -2.25em\[-0.4cm]%%
 makebox[0pt][l]raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]
 hspace*1emmyxdownarrowdimexprhtaepic+dpaepic-1exrelax%%
 raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]useboxaepic%%
endfigure

enddocument

Part 2: The Bugaboo of TikZ

So, I know you said you didn't want to use TikZ. But, unless you have constraints coming from a publisher or advisor..., I feel you can get this done very easily and cleanly using TikZ. So, here is my TikZ version of a solution. I explain what I've done after the code for this solution.

Here's the code to produce this

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[showframe,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

usepackagetikz
usetikzlibrarycalc,fit,arrows.meta
newlengthaelength
newboxaepic

newcommandaegraphic[3] %% 
 tikz[remember picture,overlay] node (#2/BL) ;%%
 tikz node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0pt] (#2) at (#2/BL) includegraphics[#1]#3;%%
 

begindocument

setlengthaelengthdimexprlinewidth-3em%%
beginfigure
 setlengthtabcolsep1.5pt%%
 hspace*3em%%
 begintabular[t]cccc
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]A1image1.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A2image2.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A3image3.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A4image4.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]B1image5.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B2image6.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B3image7.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B4image8.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]C1image9.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C2image10.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C3image11.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C4image12.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]D1image13.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D2image14.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D3image15.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D4image16.pdf
 endtabular%%
 begintikzpicture[remember picture,overlay]
 node[fit=(A1) (A2) (A3) (A4)
 (B1) (B2) (B3) (B4)
 (C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)
 (D1) (D2) (D3) (D4),
 inner sep=0pt,
 ] (PIC) ;

 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([xshift=-1em]PIC.north west) -- ([xshift=-1em]PIC.south west);
 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([yshift=1em]PIC.north west) -- ([yshift=1em]PIC.north east);

 node[anchor=south] (COL1/label) at ([yshift=1em]A1|-PIC.north) Column Label 1;
 node[anchor=south] (COL2/label) at ([yshift=1em]A2|-PIC.north) Column Label 2;
 node[anchor=south] (COL3/label) at ([yshift=1em]A3|-PIC.north) Column Label 3;
 node[anchor=south] (COL4/label) at ([yshift=1em]A4|-PIC.north) Column Label 4;

 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW1/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]A1-|PIC.west) ROW 1 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW2/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]B1-|PIC.west) ROW 2 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW3/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]C1-|PIC.west) ROW 3 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW4/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]D1-|PIC.west) ROW 4 label;

 node[blue,anchor=south] at (A1.north) Description of first pic;

 endtikzpicture
endfigure

enddocument

Explanation of TikZ solution

I'm trying to minimize your headaches with TikZ here. The key here is two-fold: using a overlays and fitting.

I still use the tabular environment for laying out the picture. This could be done in a Tikz Picture. But, since I don't know all your potential constraints, I've forgone making the entire figure that way. In particular, I don't know how you want to handle the alignment pictures of unequal height or width.

Each cell of tabular tabular environment has three things going on:

• A TikZ mark is created. This is to help us later remember where the picture is.


• Using the TikZ mark, another TikZ node is created in which the image is going to be placed. This will give us information about where the edges of the picture are that a TikZ mark doesn't provide.


• I define a command aegraphic to simplify things a bit. And, it makes the code more readable. This command takes three arguments. The first is optional and contains the key values you want to pass along to includegraphics, the second argument is the name of the node in which you'll be placing the graphic, and the third argument is name of the image file.

Once the table of images is created, I create a PIC node to fit all the nodes of each individual graphic used. Now I can easily determine where the arrows along the top and left of the image should be place. I can also easily place labels adjacent to rows (properly rotated) and above each column.

The key points of TikZ that I use are the following:

• Anchoring: this helps us place the elements of the picture relative to each other without know exactly where they are.


• Rotation: rotation happens around the anchor of the node.


• The (<node_A>-|<node_B>) syntax: this grabs the y coordinate from node A and the x coordinate of node B. Similarly (<node_A>|-<node_B>) just flips this around.


• The ([<options>]node-name) syntax: this allows fine tuning such as displacing the arrows along the edges of the image relative to the nodes defined by the table.


• 
  remember picture,overlay syntax: this is telling TikZ to remember where this picture is being placed, essentially allowing you to place the TikZ picture wherever you would like on the page irrespective of other content.

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
  – kabanus
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

up vote
1
down vote

Part 1: a partial non-TikZ solution

Here's the start of a solution that does not resort to TikZ. There's a lot more work that needs to be done, but perhaps it sheds some light on what you need.

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

newcommandmyxdownarrow[2]$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%
newcommandmyxrightarrow[1]rotatebox90$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%

newsaveboxaepic
newlengthaelength

begindocument
 setlengthaelengthdimexpr0.97linewidth%%
 beginlrboxaepic
 setlengthtabcolsep0.5pt%%
 begintabular[t]c@hspace1emcccc
 & label1 & label2 & label3 & label4 \
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$ &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image1.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image2.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image3.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image4.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image5.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image6.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image7.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image8.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image9.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image10.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image11.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image12.pdf\
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$ 
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image13.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image14.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image15.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image16.pdf
 endtabular
 endlrbox%%

beginfigure
 hspace2emmyxrightarrowdimexprwdaepic -2.25em\[-0.4cm]%%
 makebox[0pt][l]raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]
 hspace*1emmyxdownarrowdimexprhtaepic+dpaepic-1exrelax%%
 raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]useboxaepic%%
endfigure

enddocument

Part 2: The Bugaboo of TikZ

So, I know you said you didn't want to use TikZ. But, unless you have constraints coming from a publisher or advisor..., I feel you can get this done very easily and cleanly using TikZ. So, here is my TikZ version of a solution. I explain what I've done after the code for this solution.

Here's the code to produce this

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[showframe,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

usepackagetikz
usetikzlibrarycalc,fit,arrows.meta
newlengthaelength
newboxaepic

newcommandaegraphic[3] %% 
 tikz[remember picture,overlay] node (#2/BL) ;%%
 tikz node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0pt] (#2) at (#2/BL) includegraphics[#1]#3;%%
 

begindocument

setlengthaelengthdimexprlinewidth-3em%%
beginfigure
 setlengthtabcolsep1.5pt%%
 hspace*3em%%
 begintabular[t]cccc
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]A1image1.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A2image2.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A3image3.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A4image4.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]B1image5.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B2image6.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B3image7.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B4image8.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]C1image9.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C2image10.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C3image11.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C4image12.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]D1image13.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D2image14.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D3image15.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D4image16.pdf
 endtabular%%
 begintikzpicture[remember picture,overlay]
 node[fit=(A1) (A2) (A3) (A4)
 (B1) (B2) (B3) (B4)
 (C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)
 (D1) (D2) (D3) (D4),
 inner sep=0pt,
 ] (PIC) ;

 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([xshift=-1em]PIC.north west) -- ([xshift=-1em]PIC.south west);
 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([yshift=1em]PIC.north west) -- ([yshift=1em]PIC.north east);

 node[anchor=south] (COL1/label) at ([yshift=1em]A1|-PIC.north) Column Label 1;
 node[anchor=south] (COL2/label) at ([yshift=1em]A2|-PIC.north) Column Label 2;
 node[anchor=south] (COL3/label) at ([yshift=1em]A3|-PIC.north) Column Label 3;
 node[anchor=south] (COL4/label) at ([yshift=1em]A4|-PIC.north) Column Label 4;

 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW1/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]A1-|PIC.west) ROW 1 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW2/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]B1-|PIC.west) ROW 2 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW3/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]C1-|PIC.west) ROW 3 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW4/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]D1-|PIC.west) ROW 4 label;

 node[blue,anchor=south] at (A1.north) Description of first pic;

 endtikzpicture
endfigure

enddocument

Explanation of TikZ solution

I'm trying to minimize your headaches with TikZ here. The key here is two-fold: using a overlays and fitting.

I still use the tabular environment for laying out the picture. This could be done in a Tikz Picture. But, since I don't know all your potential constraints, I've forgone making the entire figure that way. In particular, I don't know how you want to handle the alignment pictures of unequal height or width.

Each cell of tabular tabular environment has three things going on:

• A TikZ mark is created. This is to help us later remember where the picture is.


• Using the TikZ mark, another TikZ node is created in which the image is going to be placed. This will give us information about where the edges of the picture are that a TikZ mark doesn't provide.


• I define a command aegraphic to simplify things a bit. And, it makes the code more readable. This command takes three arguments. The first is optional and contains the key values you want to pass along to includegraphics, the second argument is the name of the node in which you'll be placing the graphic, and the third argument is name of the image file.

Once the table of images is created, I create a PIC node to fit all the nodes of each individual graphic used. Now I can easily determine where the arrows along the top and left of the image should be place. I can also easily place labels adjacent to rows (properly rotated) and above each column.

The key points of TikZ that I use are the following:

• Anchoring: this helps us place the elements of the picture relative to each other without know exactly where they are.


• Rotation: rotation happens around the anchor of the node.


• The (<node_A>-|<node_B>) syntax: this grabs the y coordinate from node A and the x coordinate of node B. Similarly (<node_A>|-<node_B>) just flips this around.


• The ([<options>]node-name) syntax: this allows fine tuning such as displacing the arrows along the edges of the image relative to the nodes defined by the table.


• 
  remember picture,overlay syntax: this is telling TikZ to remember where this picture is being placed, essentially allowing you to place the TikZ picture wherever you would like on the page irrespective of other content.

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

Part 1: a partial non-TikZ solution

Here's the start of a solution that does not resort to TikZ. There's a lot more work that needs to be done, but perhaps it sheds some light on what you need.

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[verbose,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

newcommandmyxdownarrow[2]$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%
newcommandmyxrightarrow[1]rotatebox90$pmbleftdownarrowrule[-0.5dimexpr#1]0pt#1right.$%%

newsaveboxaepic
newlengthaelength

begindocument
 setlengthaelengthdimexpr0.97linewidth%%
 beginlrboxaepic
 setlengthtabcolsep0.5pt%%
 begintabular[t]c@hspace1emcccc
 & label1 & label2 & label3 & label4 \
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel1$ &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image1.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image2.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image3.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image4.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image5.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image6.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image7.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image8.pdf\
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image9.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image10.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image11.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image12.pdf\
 rotatebox90$pmbvlabel2$ 
 &
 includegraphics[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]image13.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image14.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image15.pdf &
 includegraphics[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]image16.pdf
 endtabular
 endlrbox%%

beginfigure
 hspace2emmyxrightarrowdimexprwdaepic -2.25em\[-0.4cm]%%
 makebox[0pt][l]raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]
 hspace*1emmyxdownarrowdimexprhtaepic+dpaepic-1exrelax%%
 raisebox-height[0pt][dimexprheight+depth]useboxaepic%%
endfigure

enddocument

Part 2: The Bugaboo of TikZ

So, I know you said you didn't want to use TikZ. But, unless you have constraints coming from a publisher or advisor..., I feel you can get this done very easily and cleanly using TikZ. So, here is my TikZ version of a solution. I explain what I've done after the code for this solution.

Here's the code to produce this

documentclassarticle
usepackage[draft]graphicx
usepackageamsmath
usepackage[showframe,margin=0.1in]geometry
graphicspath./images/

usepackagetikz
usetikzlibrarycalc,fit,arrows.meta
newlengthaelength
newboxaepic

newcommandaegraphic[3] %% 
 tikz[remember picture,overlay] node (#2/BL) ;%%
 tikz node[anchor=south west,inner sep=0pt] (#2) at (#2/BL) includegraphics[#1]#3;%%
 

begindocument

setlengthaelengthdimexprlinewidth-3em%%
beginfigure
 setlengthtabcolsep1.5pt%%
 hspace*3em%%
 begintabular[t]cccc
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]A1image1.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A2image2.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A3image3.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]A4image4.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]B1image5.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B2image6.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B3image7.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]B4image8.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]C1image9.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C2image10.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C3image11.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 1.1cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]C4image12.pdf\
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 aegraphic[trim=0.0cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.249aelength]D1image13.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D2image14.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D3image15.pdf &
 aegraphic[trim=1.1cm 0.0cm 0 0,clip,width=0.230aelength]D4image16.pdf
 endtabular%%
 begintikzpicture[remember picture,overlay]
 node[fit=(A1) (A2) (A3) (A4)
 (B1) (B2) (B3) (B4)
 (C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)
 (D1) (D2) (D3) (D4),
 inner sep=0pt,
 ] (PIC) ;

 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([xshift=-1em]PIC.north west) -- ([xshift=-1em]PIC.south west);
 draw[line width=1pt,arrows=-Stealth[length=4mm]] ([yshift=1em]PIC.north west) -- ([yshift=1em]PIC.north east);

 node[anchor=south] (COL1/label) at ([yshift=1em]A1|-PIC.north) Column Label 1;
 node[anchor=south] (COL2/label) at ([yshift=1em]A2|-PIC.north) Column Label 2;
 node[anchor=south] (COL3/label) at ([yshift=1em]A3|-PIC.north) Column Label 3;
 node[anchor=south] (COL4/label) at ([yshift=1em]A4|-PIC.north) Column Label 4;

 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW1/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]A1-|PIC.west) ROW 1 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW2/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]B1-|PIC.west) ROW 2 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW3/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]C1-|PIC.west) ROW 3 label;
 node[anchor=center,rotate=90] (ROW4/label) at ([xshift=-1.5em]D1-|PIC.west) ROW 4 label;

 node[blue,anchor=south] at (A1.north) Description of first pic;

 endtikzpicture
endfigure

enddocument

Explanation of TikZ solution

I'm trying to minimize your headaches with TikZ here. The key here is two-fold: using a overlays and fitting.

I still use the tabular environment for laying out the picture. This could be done in a Tikz Picture. But, since I don't know all your potential constraints, I've forgone making the entire figure that way. In particular, I don't know how you want to handle the alignment pictures of unequal height or width.

Each cell of tabular tabular environment has three things going on:

• A TikZ mark is created. This is to help us later remember where the picture is.


• Using the TikZ mark, another TikZ node is created in which the image is going to be placed. This will give us information about where the edges of the picture are that a TikZ mark doesn't provide.


• I define a command aegraphic to simplify things a bit. And, it makes the code more readable. This command takes three arguments. The first is optional and contains the key values you want to pass along to includegraphics, the second argument is the name of the node in which you'll be placing the graphic, and the third argument is name of the image file.

Once the table of images is created, I create a PIC node to fit all the nodes of each individual graphic used. Now I can easily determine where the arrows along the top and left of the image should be place. I can also easily place labels adjacent to rows (properly rotated) and above each column.

The key points of TikZ that I use are the following:

• Anchoring: this helps us place the elements of the picture relative to each other without know exactly where they are.


• Rotation: rotation happens around the anchor of the node.


• The (<node_A>-|<node_B>) syntax: this grabs the y coordinate from node A and the x coordinate of node B. Similarly (<node_A>|-<node_B>) just flips this around.


• The ([<options>]node-name) syntax: this allows fine tuning such as displacing the arrows along the edges of the image relative to the nodes defined by the table.


• 
  remember picture,overlay syntax: this is telling TikZ to remember where this picture is being placed, essentially allowing you to place the TikZ picture wherever you would like on the page irrespective of other content.

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 17 mins ago

edited 17 mins ago

edited 17 mins ago

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

answered 1 hour ago

A.Ellett

34.7k1063162

34.7k1063162

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
  – kabanus
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
  – kabanus
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
– kabanus
1 hour ago

I like it, but I will wait a few days before marking the solution. Using a table is smart, did not consider that.
– kabanus
1 hour ago

add a comment | 

 

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