"printing" graphics files through aquaterm on an Apple

[Obed Sands]

I use Octave for a lot of data analysis, statistical analysis of data etc. I frequently make graphics files using Octave. Lots of them. Bar charts, line graphs, pseudo color (viz specgram) etc. Octave's graphics come out on the Apple looking great through auquaterm. 

However, I've been frustrated for some time now with the creation of graphics files as provided by ghostscript using the "print" command in Octave.  If I use a format such as pdf or svg the files can be enormous, if I use jpg then the characters are tiny and I can't rescale them--or if I manage to rescale them then the characters end up running into the graphics or the axis label. Inserting them in documents is always a challenge. The graphics usually come out jaggy or washed out. I've tried all different combinations of -dpdf, -djpg, -deps -FTimes-Roman, etc. I usually get a message that indicates that they font I'm trying to use is no good.

But if I simply use the "save as" feature of aquaterm then all is well. The graphics file that aquaterm makes look as great coming out of the files they're stored in as as they do when first rendered on the screen. pdfs, jpegs, whatever, they all seem to do well. I can insert them in files, print them out, rotate and, generally, abuse them and they always do fine. The problem is that I make so many graphics that I'm wearing out mice (and my patience) generating the graphics files one at a time with aquaterm. The clik-o-rama that I have to do is error prone and frutstrating. 

So here's my question(s): 

1) Is there some way, in octave to "print" so that aquaterm renders the graphics files (instead of GS)? 
2) If no, then is there any plan to 'fix' the rendering of graphics by GS or to get it so that it works and plays better with the Apple? The version of GS that I've got is 9.02 (dated 2011-03-30) and so I don't think that my problem is that I've got an outdated GS.
3) Is there any other hope for me? While I would, personally, prefer it, going to linux is just not an option for me. 

Regards,

oss