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Savefig

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Hello and welcome to the tutorial. In this tutorial you will learn how

to save plots using Python.

Start your IPython interpreter with the command ::

  ipython -pylab

It will start your IPython interpreter with the required python

modules for plotting and saving your plots.

{{{ Open ipython }}}

Now let us plot something, let us plot a sine wave from minus 3 pi to

3 pi. Let us start by calculating the required points for the plot. It

can be done using linspace as, ::

  x = linspace(-3*pi,3*pi,100)

We have stored required points in x. Now let us plot the points using

the statement ::

  plot(x,sin(x))

{{{ Keep the plot open }}}

Done! we have made a very basic sine plot, now let us see how to save

the plot for future use so that you can embed the plot in your

reports.

{{{ Switch the focus to IPython interpreter window }}}

For saving the plot, we will use savefig function, and it has to be

done with the plot window open. The statement is, ::

  savefig('/home/fossee/sine.png')

Notice that ``savefig`` function takes one argument which is a string

which is the filename. The last 3 characters after the ``.`` in the

filename is the extension or type of the file which determines the

format in which you want to save.

{{{ Highlight the /home/fossee part using mouse movements }}}

Also, note that we gave the full path or the absolute path to which we

want to save the file.

{{{ Highlight the .png part using mouse movements }}}

Here I have used an extension ``.png`` which means i want to save the

image as a PNG file.

Now let us locate ``sine.png`` file saved. We saved the file to

``/home/fossee`` so let us navigate to ``/home/fossee`` using the

file browser.

{{{ Open the browser, navigate to /home/fossee and highlight the file

sine.png }}}

Yes, the file ``sine.png`` is here and let us check the it.

{{{ Open the file sine.png and show it for two-three seconds and then

close it and return to IPython interpreter, make sure the plot window

is still open, also don't close the file browser window }}}

So in-order to save a plot, we use ``savefig`` function. ``savefig``

can save the plot in many formats, such as pdf - portable document

format, ps - post script, eps - encapsulated post script, svg -

scalable vector graphics, png - portable network graphics which

support transparency etc.

#[slide must give the extensions for the files - Anoop]

Let us now try to save the plot in eps format. ``eps`` stands for

encapsulated post script, and it can be embedded in your latex

documents.

{{{ Switch focus to the already open plot window }}}

We still have the old sine plot with us, and now let us save the plot

as ``sine.eps``.

{{{ Switch focus to IPython interpreter }}}

Now, We will save the plot using the function ``savefig`` ::

  savefig('/home/fossee/sine.eps')

{{{ Switch focus to file browser window }}}

Now let us go to ``/home/fossee`` and see the new file created.

{{{ Highlight the file sine.eps with a single mouse click for 2

seconds and then double click and open the file }}}

Yes! the new file ``sine.eps`` is here.

Now you may try saving the same in pdf, ps, svg formats.

Let us review what we have learned in this session! We have learned to

save plots in different formats using the function ``savefig()``.

Thank you!

..  Author: Anoop Jacob Thomas <anoop@fossee.in>

    Reviewer 1:

    Reviewer 2:

    External reviewer: