LaTeX: Figures - Two-Column Wide Figures

Document 1

Two-Column Wide Figures

LaTeX Source Ready

\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\title{Precision Thin-Film Optical Interferometry}
\author{Laboratory of Applied Optics}
\maketitle

\section{Introduction}
Two-column layouts are the standard formatting standard for physics journal articles (e.g., Physical Review, Applied Physics Letters). Normal figures are restricted to a single column width. However, complex experimental diagrams often require spanning both columns across the full page width.

\begin{figure*}[t]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=0.85\textwidth]{optics_rings.png}
    \caption{Wide-format apparatus schematic: Ray geometry for Newton's rings interferometry spanning both publication columns.}
    \label{fig:wide_apparatus}
\end{figure*}

\section{Interference Theory}
By replacing the standard figure environment with the starred float \texttt{figure*}, the figure container expands across the full text width rather than the single column width.

The central dark spot formed under reflection confirms a relative phase change of $\pi$ radians at the glass-air boundary:
\begin{equation}
    2t = n\lambda
\end{equation}
For a spherical lens surface of radius $R$, the sagitta formula gives $r^2 \approx 2Rt$, establishing the quadratic fringe distribution seen in Figure~\ref{fig:wide_apparatus}.

\end{document}

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Formulation Guide

Create two-column document: \documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
Use starred figure environment: \begin{figure*}[t] ... \end{figure*}
Spans both columns across \textwidth
Note: In LaTeX, figure* floats are placed at the top of a page ([t]) or on a dedicated float page ([p])

In two-column publications, standard figure floats are constrained inside a single column. The starred float \begin{figure*}...\end{figure*} instructs LaTeX to span the graphic and its caption across both columns, producing full-width illustrations.

LaTeX 8.8 Two-Column Wide Figures

Two-Column Wide Figures

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Formulation Guide