Save a Matplotlib plot to a file in Python
David Y.
—The Problem
How can I save a plot created with Matplotlib to an image file instead of displaying it?
The Solution
We can do this using the savefig function:
from matplotlib import pyplot pyplot.savefig("myPlot.png", bbox_inches="tight")
This function will save the current plot as a PNG image file. By specifying a different file extension, we could instead save it as an SVG (.svg), PostScript file (.ps), or PDF (.pdf).
The argument bbox_inches="tight" ensures that the image is saved without surrounding whitespace. Additional arguments can be specified to change the colors and transparency of the saved image.
Note that pyplot.show clears the current plot, and should therefore only be called after pyplot.savefig, to avoid saving a blank image.
- Sentry BlogPython Performance Testing: A Comprehensive Guide
- Syntax.fmListen to the Syntax Podcast
- Sentry BlogLogging in Python: A Developer’s Guide
- CodecovPython - Codecov
- Listen to the Syntax Podcast
![Syntax.fm logo]()
Tasty treats for web developers brought to you by Sentry. Get tips and tricks from Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski.
SEE EPISODES
Considered “not bad” by 4 million developers and more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, Sentry provides code-level observability to many of the world’s best-known companies like Disney, Peloton, Cloudflare, Eventbrite, Slack, Supercell, and Rockstar Games. Each month we process billions of exceptions from the most popular products on the internet.