# 2x2 figure and caption alignment: clash with packages subcaption, subfigure and subfigures

I am trying to align three figures and their three captions as the following 2x2 (four square) pattern:

In order to solve this, I have the following code which works, but not in aesthetic appeal

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\usepackage[]{graphicx}
%\usepackage[scriptsize]{subfigure}
\usepackage{subcaption}
\begin{document}
\begin{figure}

\begin{subfigure}[]{0.50\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=0.8\linewidth]{figure1.png}
\label{fig:networks}
\end{subfigure}
\begin{subfigure}[b]{0.45\textwidth}
\subcaption{An example of Network where $V_a=\ {1,2,3,4\}, E_a=\{\{1,2\},V_b=\{5,6,7,8,9\},E_b=\{\{6,7\},\{8,9\}\}\},E_c=\ {\{1,5\},\{1,6\},\{2,6\},\{2,7\},\{3,5\},\{3,7\},\{4,5\},\{4,8\}\}$}
\end{subfigure}
\begin{subfigure}[b]{0.5\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=0.5\linewidth]{figure2.png}
\caption{ Type 1 sub network of the Network}
\label{fig:pattern1}
\end{subfigure}
\begin{subfigure}[b]{0.45\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=0.5\linewidth]{figure3.png}
\caption{Type 2 sub network of the Network}
\label{fig:pattern2}
\end{subfigure}
\caption{An example of a Network with type 1 and type 2 sub networks}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

Here is the link to overleaf for this code: The above code in overleaf

However, this falls apart when I uncomment \usepackage[scriptsize]{subfigure} I am collaborating on this with some other folks in a file that has subfigure package included with scriptsize, and I cannot remove that. I am trying to work my way around, but can't see how. Any and all help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PS: I don't have enough reputation to do it myself, but if a #2x2 could be created, it may help these type of questions

• The subfigure package was marked obsolete by its author more than 15(!) years ago. – Axel Sommerfeldt Jan 26 at 8:29

package subfigure is obsolete and as i see you not use it in your document. it also clash with used subcaption package. so you should delete \usepackage[scriptsize]{subfigure} and set font size for for subfigures environments for example with \usepackage[font=scriptsize]{subcaption}:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\usepackage[demo,
\usepackage[font=scriptsize]{subcaption}        % <---
\usepackage{mathtools}

\begin{document}
\begin{figure}
\begin{subfigure}[t]{0.5\textwidth}     % <---
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth, valign=t]{figure1.png}% <---
\caption{}
\label{fig:networks}
\end{subfigure}
\hfill
\begin{subfigure}[t]{0.45\textwidth}\raggedright                % <---
An example of Network where                         % <---
\begin{aligned} % <--- V_a & = \{1,2,3,4\}, \\ E_a & = \{\{1,2\}, \\ V_b & = \{5,6,7,8,9\}, \\ E_b & = \{\{6,7\},\{8,9\}\}\}, \\ E_c & = \begin{multlined}[t]\{\{1,5\},\{1,6\},\{2,6\},\\ \{2,7\},\{3,5\},\{3,7\},\{4,5\},\{4,8\}\} \end{multlined} \end{aligned}
\end{subfigure}

\medskip
\begin{subfigure}[t]{0.5\textwidth}
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth,]{figure2.png}
\caption{ Type 1 sub network of the Network}
\label{fig:pattern1}
\end{subfigure}
\hfill
\begin{subfigure}[t]{0.3\textwidth} % <---
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth,
height=0.5\linewidth]{figure3.png} % <---
\caption{Type 2 sub network of the Network}
\label{fig:pattern2}
\end{subfigure}
\caption{An example of a Network with type 1 and type 2 sub networks}
\label{fig:networks}
\end{figure}
\end{document}