# rotate text in multirow table of figures

My question is similar to this one: How to rotate text in multirow table? but my table is composed of individual .eps files (which are all the same size, created in a different program) via \includegraphics. I want to rotate the text in column one of the table to serve as an overall y-axis label. However, I can't figure out how to align it properly.

My output currently has the desired y-axis label too low, ending about at the middle rather than centered vertically. I can adjust the placement manually using the fixup parameter described at the bottom here: Placing a figure inside a multirow table cell but it would be great if I could do this programmatically.

In case it matters, my actual table consists of 8 panels in two rows and four columns (plus an additional column/row for the overall axis labels).
Any suggestions?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{multirow}
\begin{document}
\newcommand{\scale}{0.8}
\begin{table}
\centering
\setlength{\tabcolsep}{0.2\tabcolsep}

\begin{tabular}{c@{}cc}
\parbox[t]{0.25in}{\multirow{2}{*}[0.8in]{\rotatebox[origin=c]{90}{\Large dM/dlnD$_p$ ($\mu$g m$^{-3}$)}}} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{image1} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{image2}\\
& \includegraphics[scale=\scale]{image3} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{image4}\\
\multicolumn{3}{c}{\Large Aerodynamic diameter ($\mu$m)}\\
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

• I'm really unclear what you're asking for. You are already using \rotatebox, which would be my recommendation. So, how is this not achieving the effect you want? – A.Ellett Jan 10 '15 at 21:28
• The text within \rotatebox is not centered in the overall 2x2 table of figures. At least, not without manual adjustment via the fixup parameter. – Chris Nolte Jan 10 '15 at 23:02
• Since I don't have access to your images, I replaced them with images from the mwe package, and it looked fine. Perhaps you images are assymetrical. – John Kormylo Jan 11 '15 at 0:45
• I did not know about the existence of the mwe package. Here is a new example. – Chris Nolte Jan 11 '15 at 12:51
• Thanks @John. In this line: \parbox[t]{0.25in}{\multirow{2}{*}[0.8in]{\rotatebox[origin=c]{90}{\Large dM/dlnD$_p$ ($\mu$g m$^{-3}$)}}} & the [0.8in] is a fixup parameter, adjusted by trial and error. Take it out and you'll see the misalignment I am talking about. – Chris Nolte Jan 11 '15 at 13:00

You still need a fixup, but you can compute it rather than use trial and error.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{multirow}
\usepackage{mwe}

\newlength{\tempdima}
\newlength{\tempdimb}

\begin{document}
\newcommand{\scale}{0.5}

% get size of multicol
\settoheight{\tempdima}{\begin{tabular}[b]{cc}
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-a} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-b}\\
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-c} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image}
\end{tabular}}
%subtract width of text
\settowidth{\tempdimb}{\Large dM/dlnD$_p$ ($\mu$g m$^{-3}$)}

\centering
\setlength{\tabcolsep}{0.2\tabcolsep}
\begin{tabular}{p{0.25in}@{}cc}
\multirow{2}{*}[0.5\tempdima]{\rotatebox[origin=c]{90}{\Large dM/dlnD$_p$ ($\mu$g m$^{-3}$)}} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-a} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-b}\\
& \includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image-c} &
\includegraphics[scale=\scale]{example-image}\\
\multicolumn{3}{c}{\Large Aerodynamic diameter ($\mu$m)}
\end{tabular}

\end{document}


• The original calculation looked good, but was in fact incorrect. Basically one needs to use the height a bottom aligned tabular (or add the depth), subtract the width of the text, then divide by two. – John Kormylo Jan 13 '15 at 15:12