Skip to content
Python Central Hub

Saving Plots as Images

Why saving matters

Saved plots are used in:

  • Reports
  • Notebooks
  • Websites
  • PowerPoint/Docs

Save to PNG

savefig
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
plt.figure(figsize=(7, 4))
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [3, 2, 5])
plt.title("Saved plot")
 
plt.savefig("plot.png", dpi=150, bbox_inches="tight")
savefig
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
plt.figure(figsize=(7, 4))
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [3, 2, 5])
plt.title("Saved plot")
 
plt.savefig("plot.png", dpi=150, bbox_inches="tight")

Notes

  • dpidpi controls resolution
  • bbox_inches="tight"bbox_inches="tight" avoids cutting off labels

Save to PDF (for print)

Save PDF
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [3, 2, 5])
plt.title("PDF plot")
plt.savefig("plot.pdf", bbox_inches="tight")
Save PDF
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
plt.plot([1, 2, 3], [3, 2, 5])
plt.title("PDF plot")
plt.savefig("plot.pdf", bbox_inches="tight")

If this helped you, consider buying me a coffee ☕

Buy me a coffee

Was this page helpful?

Let us know how we did