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In the swfigure LaTeX package, the image width test is an optional threshold used in vertical slim (VS) display mode. It compares the image’s width after scaling with a fraction of the document’s text-block width; if the image is too narrow, the package skips inserting the figure. It is a typesetting-layout check, not a test of the source image’s pixel dimensions or quality.

What the image width test checks

The test is specific to swfigure, rather than a general image-processing or web-design standard. In vertical slim mode, the package scales an image to fit the available space while preserving its aspect ratio. It then compares that scaled width with a chosen fraction of the text block. If the image falls below the threshold, the package omits the figure and prints a message.

The threshold relates to the document’s text-block width—not the image file’s pixel width. The check is intended to avoid placing a very narrow image when there would not be enough room for a well-typeset caption beneath it.

Default value and how to interpret it

The swfigure package manual documents a default width-test fraction of 0.25. In practical terms, the scaled image must meet the quarter-text-block-width threshold to be included in vertical slim mode. The manual also allows another fraction, including 0; zero disables the width test.

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  • A larger fraction sets a stricter minimum width, so more narrow images may be skipped.
  • A smaller positive fraction makes the test less likely to reject an image.
  • Setting the fraction to zero skips this width check.

These are configuration values for the package, not image-quality measurements or results from a published study.

Where the setting applies

The manual associates the optional width-test value with the DFimage command or environment and the vertical slim (VS) display mode. That mode is intended for tall, slim images. The test addresses the layout consequences of scaling such an image: whether it remains wide enough in the text block for a caption to fit well.

It does not establish whether the original image has sufficient resolution for printing or display. A file can have many pixels and still be too narrow after scaling for this layout check; conversely, passing the width test does not certify image quality.

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Package requirements and availability

The manual says that complete, up-to-date TeX Live and MiKTeX distributions include swfigure; for a basic or partial installation, it describes obtaining the package from CTAN. It also specifies a LaTeX kernel dated after 2019-01-01. Distribution contents and compatibility can change, so consult the package manual and your installed distribution when checking a particular setup.

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