I have two plots, say
set multiplot # First plot with inset
plot exp(-x)
set size 0.6, 0.5
set origin 0.4, 0.5
plot cos(x)
unset multiplot
set multiplot # Second plot with inset
plot exp(-2x)
set size 0.6, 0.5
set origin 0.4, 0.5
plot sin(x)
unset multiplot
This will create two separate plots, but I really would like a single output with both plots next to each other. As a pseudo-code, I would expect something like
set multiplot layout 1,2
set multiplot
plots+insets of first plot here
unset multiplot
set multiplot
plots+insets of second plot here
unset multiplot
unset multiplot
Of course, I dont think you can (easily) nest multiplot like that, so maybe a different approach is necessary? To re-phrase the question: how does one use multiplot to create different plots next to each other so that some of these plots also contain insets (which itself requires the use of multiplot)?
EDIT: as a response to Ethan's comment: The final output is only intended to be a pdf image. I am ok to first create the individual plots and afterwards put them together, however I would like to still be able to position the two images relative to each other. In particular, it should be possible to "fuse" the right border of the first image and the left border of the second image. Within a single multiplot, this can for example be done by modifying the tmargins and bmargins. Can this still be done with separate images?
This is how I understand your question. I guess you simply need to set the origin and sizes yourself. You can use variables to calculate the necessary values.
Code:
### multiplot with "insets"
reset session
set key top left
set multiplot
# settings for main plots
set ytics auto
# first plot
s1x = 0.5
s1y = 1.0
set size s1x, s1y
o1x = 0.0
o1y = 0.0
set origin o1x, o1y
plot exp(-x)
# second plot
s2x = 0.5
s2y = 1.0
set size s2x, s2y
o2x = 0.5
o2y = 0.0
set origin o2x, o2y
set ytics auto
plot exp(-2*x)
# settings for insets
set ytics 0.5
# first inset
set size s1x*0.6, s1y*0.5
set origin o1x+s1x*0.4, o1y+s1y*0.5
plot cos(x)
# second inset
set size s2x*0.6, s2y*0.5
set origin o2x+s2x*0.4, o2y+s2y*0.5
plot sin(x)
unset multiplot
### end of code
Result: