How to generate images of mathematical equations?

Question

I would like to use Mathematica to generate nice-looking equations for my presentation on Google Slides (which as far as I know can only be an image an image). What's the best way? To be more concrete, I want to convert the following two equations to something that I can directly copy from a Mathematica notebook and past to a Google Slide.The first example is an executable expression and the second one is the TraditionalForm of a string equation (typed using handy Mathematica shortcuts).

Example 1:

Integrate[Sqrt[x], {x, 0, 1}]

Example 2:

TraditionalForm["\!\(\*SqrtBox[\(1 + \*FractionBox[\(x\), \
\(2\)]\)]\)"]

I am hoping to avoid using third-party websites, taking screenshots, and exporting image files.

@yohbs, I will look into MaTex, but it is a third-party software. — Miladiouss, Jul 26 '17 at 03:49
Since you're planning to copy into a slide program, you'll want transparent background, right? So do you agree that this is a duplicate of Clipboard with transparency, since Rasterize in itself can be found in the docs? If not, pleas explain what makes this question different. — Jens, Jul 26 '17 at 21:12
Sorry, I linked only one of two related threads: Clipboard with transparency and How to export transparent raster plots?. There are probably other related links, too. — Jens, Jul 26 '17 at 21:37
@mpourrah MaTeX is a good quality piece of software; there should be no reason to avoid it (like certain other Mathematica packages). — QuantumDot, Jul 26 '17 at 23:21
@Jens, it doesn't work on Mathematica 11.1 on Linux (SetData is not defined). — Miladiouss, Jul 27 '17 at 01:17
@QuantumDot I used MaTeX. It is great. Thanks. How can I make images transparent or change the font color? — Miladiouss, Jul 27 '17 at 01:22
@yohbs, Do you know how I can make transparent images with a different font color? — Miladiouss, Jul 27 '17 at 01:31
When you copy the output of Rasterize[HoldForm[Integrate[Sqrt[x], {x, 0, 1}]]//TraditionalForm,ImageSize->300,Background->None] and paste it into a graphics program like Gimp on Linux, do you see transparent background? You should... — Jens, Jul 27 '17 at 01:43
OK, I guess then it requires a Linux specific solution. So I won't vote to close the question, but unfortunately can't give any better advice... — Jens, Jul 27 '17 at 23:20

Nasser · Answer 1 · 2021-10-09T18:42:46.963

If you want to copy an image directly using the mouse, you can try Rasterize which generates an image which you can copy/paste directly.

Example 1:

eq1 = HoldForm[Integrate[Sqrt[x], {x, 0, 1}]];
Rasterize[eq1 // TraditionalForm, ImageSize -> 300]

Output 1:

Example 2:

eq2 = TraditionalForm[
   "\!\(\*SqrtBox[\(1 + \*FractionBox[\(x\), \(2\)]\)]\)"];
Rasterize[eq2, ImageSize -> 300]

Output 2:

Update Oct 9,2021

Another option to copy Mathematica expression as graphics directly is to use MaTeX. It generates an image, which you can copy as graphics and paste it outside of Mathematica

Needs["MaTeX`"]
eq1 = MaTeX[HoldForm[Integrate[Sqrt[x], {x, 0, 1}]],Magnification -> 3]

No need to rasterize it, as MaTeX output is already an image.

(ps. this option was also mentioned in comments above. This require having MaTeX installed and also a latex compiler and the other requirements it needs. But everything it needs is available free software. ).

The image qualities are not good. Is it possible to convert equations to graphics? — Miladiouss, Jul 27 '17 at 01:24

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 10 '21 at 05:54

2

I'm surprised nobody pointed out that (in the Windows Front End at least), you can simply select the expression (in Traditional Form), go to the Edit menu and do Copy As.../Bitmap and then paste it into your slides. For some reason (and this has been the case for many years), this option is not present in the right-click/Copy As... options. This also works with plots or any other kind of graphics.

answered Oct 10 '21 at 05:54

John Jowett

599
2
9

You said, (in Traditional Form), This works for any selected expression. It does not have to be in tradition form. – Nasser Oct 10 '21 at 07:07

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 26 '17 at 19:48

Another approach is to use

Style[HoldForm[eq1 = Integrate[Sqrt[x], {x, 0, 1}]], Large]

Then right-click on the right bracket of the output and Save Selection As one of several possible formats. Alternatively, follow the desired expression by, for instance,

Export["C:\\Temp\\test.png", %]

Likewise,

Style[HoldForm[eq2 = TraditionalForm[Sqrt[1 + x/2]]], Large]

Style is quite flexible and can give the desired expression quite a range of appearances.

This cannot be directly copied, hence doesn't satisfy the question requirements. — Miladiouss, Jul 26 '17 at 20:55

How to generate images of mathematical equations?

3 Answers3