eqn2graph(1) General Commands Manual eqn2graph(1)

# [Name](#Name)

eqn2graph - convert an *eqn* equation into a cropped image

# [Synopsis](#Synopsis)

`eqn2graph` \[**-format output-format**] \[*convert-argument* ...]

`eqn2graph` **--help**

`eqn2graph` **-v**

`eqn2graph` **--version**

# [Description](#Description)

*eqn2graph* reads a one-line [*eqn*(1)](/man/os/groff/eqn.1) equation from the standard input and writes an image file, by default in Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format, to the standard output.

The input EQN code should *not* be preceded by the **.EQ** macro that normally precedes it within [*groff*(1)](/man/os/groff/groff.1) macros; nor do you need to have dollar-sign or other delimiters around the equation.

Arguments not recognized by *eqn2graph* are passed to the ImageMagick or GraphicsMagick program [*convert*(1)](/man/os/groff/convert.1). By specifying these, you can give your image a border, set the image's pixel density, or perform other useful transformations.

The output image is clipped using *convert*'s **-trim** option to the smallest possible bounding box that contains all the black pixels.

# [Options](#Options)

**--help** displays a usage message, while **-v** and **--version** show version information; all exit afterward.

[**-format output-format**](#format)

Write the image in *output-format*, which must be understood by *convert*; the default is PNG.

# [Environment](#Environment)

[*GROFF\_TMPDIR*](#GROFF_TMPDIR)

[*TMPDIR*](#TMPDIR)

[*TMP*](#TMP)

[*TEMP*](#TEMP)

These environment variables are searched in the order shown to determine the directory where temporary files will be created. If none are set, */tmp* is used.

# [Authors](#Authors)

*eqn2graph* was written by [Eric S. Raymond](mailto:esr@thyrsus.com), based on a recipe for [*pic2graph*(1)](/man/os/groff/pic2graph.1), by W. Richard Stevens.

# [See also](#See_also)

[*pic2graph*(1)](/man/os/groff/pic2graph.1), [*grap2graph*(1)](/man/os/groff/grap2graph.1), [*eqn*(1)](/man/os/groff/eqn.1), [*groff*(1)](/man/os/groff/groff.1), [*convert*(1)](/man/os/groff/convert.1)

2026-08-30 groff 1.24.1

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Document: eqn2graph(1) from groff 1.24.1-r4 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/groff.git