# GMT Modern Mode -Xc option

**URL:** <https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/gmt-modern-mode-xc-option/6503>\
**Category:** Q&A\
**Created:** [October 23, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/gmt-modern-mode-xc-option/6503 "2026-10-23T16:23:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Esteban82](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/esteban82/32/54_2.png) [@Esteban82](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Esteban82)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/gmt-modern-mode-xc-option/6503/2 "2026-10-23T17:26:58Z")

</div>

This is intended behavior. Since [GenericMappingTools/gmt#4735](https://github.com/GenericMappingTools/gmt/pull/4735), modern mode ignores any `PS_MEDIA` set before `gmt begin`, because modern plots use an auto-cropped canvas. `-Xc`/`-Xf` need a fixed page, so set it inside the session:

```auto
gmt begin test1 ps
  gmt set PS_MEDIA letter
  gmt basemap -R0/1/0/1 -JX4i -Baf -Xc
gmt end

```

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