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matplotlib.pyplot.savefig

matplotlib.pyplot.savefig(*args, **kwargs)[source]

Save the current figure.

Call signature:

savefig(fname, dpi=None, facecolor='w', edgecolor='w',
        orientation='portrait', papertype=None, format=None,
        transparent=False, bbox_inches=None, pad_inches=0.1,
        frameon=None, metadata=None)

The output formats available depend on the backend being used.

Parameters:
fname : str or file-like object

A string containing a path to a filename, or a Python file-like object, or possibly some backend-dependent object such as PdfPages.

If format is None and fname is a string, the output format is deduced from the extension of the filename. If the filename has no extension, rcParams["savefig.format"] is used.

If fname is not a string, remember to specify format to ensure that the correct backend is used.

Other Parameters:
dpi : [ None | scalar > 0 | 'figure' ]

The resolution in dots per inch. If None, defaults to rcParams["savefig.dpi"]. If 'figure', uses the figure's dpi value.

quality : [ None | 1 <= scalar <= 100 ]

The image quality, on a scale from 1 (worst) to 95 (best). Applicable only if format is jpg or jpeg, ignored otherwise. If None, defaults to rcParams["savefig.jpeg_quality"] (95 by default). Values above 95 should be avoided; 100 completely disables the JPEG quantization stage.

facecolor : color spec or None, optional

The facecolor of the figure; if None, defaults to rcParams["savefig.facecolor"].

edgecolor : color spec or None, optional

The edgecolor of the figure; if None, defaults to rcParams["savefig.edgecolor"]

orientation : {'landscape', 'portrait'}

Currently only supported by the postscript backend.

papertype : str

One of 'letter', 'legal', 'executive', 'ledger', 'a0' through 'a10', 'b0' through 'b10'. Only supported for postscript output.

format : str

One of the file extensions supported by the active backend. Most backends support png, pdf, ps, eps and svg.

transparent : bool

If True, the axes patches will all be transparent; the figure patch will also be transparent unless facecolor and/or edgecolor are specified via kwargs. This is useful, for example, for displaying a plot on top of a colored background on a web page. The transparency of these patches will be restored to their original values upon exit of this function.

frameon : bool

If True, the figure patch will be colored, if False, the figure background will be transparent. If not provided, the rcParam 'savefig.frameon' will be used.

bbox_inches : str or Bbox, optional

Bbox in inches. Only the given portion of the figure is saved. If 'tight', try to figure out the tight bbox of the figure. If None, use savefig.bbox

pad_inches : scalar, optional

Amount of padding around the figure when bbox_inches is 'tight'. If None, use savefig.pad_inches

bbox_extra_artists : list of Artist, optional

A list of extra artists that will be considered when the tight bbox is calculated.

metadata : dict, optional

Key/value pairs to store in the image metadata. The supported keys and defaults depend on the image format and backend:

  • 'png' with Agg backend: See the parameter metadata of print_png.
  • 'pdf' with pdf backend: See the parameter metadata of PdfPages.
  • 'eps' and 'ps' with PS backend: Only 'Creator' is supported.