Fullpage picture in two column layout

Question

I'd like to insert a picture (figure) into a document which is using a two-column layout. However, I want it to take one whole page and not be centered on one of the columns. Currently if I add a [p] modifier to the figure, the whole image lands on the last page, instead in the middle of the document.

How can I force one page to switch back to a single-column layout and insert a single big picture there?

Answer 1

Use the figure* environment. So instead of

\begin{figure}[ht] % I typically use ht
\centering
...
\end{figure}

you should use

\begin{figure*}[ht]
\centering
...
\end{figure*}

This also works for tables (i.e. table*). Hope this helps!

Answer 2

It is not elegant, but with float package loaded you can use:

\begin{figure}[H]
\onecolumn\includegraphics{arc}
\end{figure}
\twocolumn

But you have to place this piece of code to exact locetion in source code. Otherwise you'll get pagebreak anywhere in twocolumned page, then page with image image.

Answer 3

\usepackage{multicol} in your preamble.

Then

\begin{document}
\begin{multicols}{2}

blah blah blah text

\end{multicols}

\begin{figure}[H]
\includegraphics[width=1\textwidth]{arc}
\end{figure}

\begin{multicols}{2}

blah blah blah text

\end{multicols}
\end{document}

This is ugly, and dirty. and you will need to fiddle with where you figure is in order to get the text balanced, but it is exactly what you asked for.