In this Python tutorial, we will discuss Matplotlib save as pdf in python. Here we will cover different examples related to saving plot as pdf using matplotlib. And we will also cover the following topics:
- Matplotlib save as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf example
- Matplotlib savefig pdf dpi
- Matplotlib save pdf transparent background
- Matplotlib save graph as pdf
- Matplotlib save subplot to pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf cut off
- Matplotlib save pdf file
- Matplotlib savefig pdf multiple pages
- Matplotlib save table as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf a4
- Matplotlib savefig pdf empty
Matplotlib save as pdf
In this section, we are going to learn about how to save a plot or chart as a pdf file by using the matplotlib library. Firstly, we discuss what does “pdf” mean:
PDF stands for Portable Document Format
PDF format is used to save the files that can’t be modified. The biggest advantage of the PDF file is that it can be easily shared and printed.
The following steps are used to save a plot or graph as pdf are outlined below:
- Defining Libraries: Import the important libraries which are required to save files as pdf and to define data (For data creation and manipulation: Numpy and Pandas, For data visualization: pyplot from matplotlib).
- Define X and Y: Define the data values used for the x-axis and y-axis.
- Create a pLot: By using plot(), scatter(), bar(), method you can create a plot or you can use any other method which ever you like.
- Save as pdf: By using savefig() method you can save a file into your system. Set extension of the file to “pdf” as your main aim is to save as pdf.
- Generate Plot: By using show() function, generate a plot to the user.
Matplotlib savefig as pdf
To export a graph with matplotlib as a pdf file we have to call the savefig() method. The main objective of this method is to save a graph to your local system memory.
The syntax of the savefig() method is as below:
matplotlib.pyplot.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 parameters used are discussed as below:
- fname: specifies file name or file location.
- dpi: specifies No.of dots per inch or picture quality.
- facecolor: specifies the face color of the plot. By default, it is “White”.
- edgecolor: specifies the edge color of the plot. By default, it is “White”.
- orientation: specifies the orientation of the plot as Landscape or Portrait.
- papertype: specifies the type of paper such as “letter”, “legal”, “a0 to a10”, etc.
- format: specifies the extension of the file such as .pdf.
- transparent: to make the background of the image transparent.
- bbox_inches: specifies the portion of the plot to save. For a proper fitting set, it to “tight”.
- pad_inches: specifies space around the plot.
- metadata: specifies key/value pair to store in the plot metadata. Take data in the dictionary format.
Matplotlib savefig pdf example
Let’s have a look at an example to understand the concept of saving a plot as a pdf file in matplotlib more clearly.
Example:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
x= [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y= [1.5, 2, 3.6, 14, 2.5, 3.9]
# Plot
plt.plot(x,y)
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save as pdf.pdf')
# Show image
plt.show()
- In the above example, we firstly import matplotlib.pyplot library. After that, we define data in x and y coordinates for plotting.
- plot() method is used to plot a chart.
- After this, we use the savefig() method to save plot figure in our project directory as a pdf file.
- At last, we use the show() method to generate a plot for the user in a window.
Read Python plot multiple lines using Matplotlib
Matplotlib savefig pdf dpi
The “dpi” argument decides the number of dots per inch. The dot’s values are defined in pixels.
The syntax is as given below:
matplotlib.pyplot.savefig(fname, dpi=None)The arguments used are defined as below:
- fname: Name of file or location.
- dpi: specifies the quality of the plot.
Let’s see an example where we save the plot with dpi:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Define Data
x = np.arange(0, 12, 0.2)
y = np.sin(x)
# Plot figure
plt.plot(x, y)
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save as dpi .pdf', dpi=120, format='pdf', bbox_inches='tight')
# Generate Plot
plt.show()Here we pass the dpi argument to the savefig() method and set its value 120.
Read What is matplotlib inline
Matplotlib save pdf transparent background
Here you will learn how to save files as a pdf with transparent background. You have to use a savefig() method to save a plot as a pdf file and pass an argument transparent and set its value to True.
Example:
The plot having green background color and you have to save it as a pdf file without a Transparent argument.
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
student = [10, 5, 3, 2, 4]
weight = [35, 25, 20, 50, 43]
# Define background color
ax = plt.figure()
ax.set_facecolor('green')
# Plot Graph
plt.bar(weight,student)
# Define axes label
plt.xlabel("Weight of the students")
plt.ylabel("Number of students")
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save pdf without transparent argument.pdf')
# Display Graph
plt.show() In the above example, we plot a bar graph and save it in system local memory by using the savefig() method.
To show you a difference here we set the background color to green.
Example:
The plot having green background color and you have to save the pdf file with the Transparent argument.
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
student = [10, 5, 3, 2, 4]
weight = [35, 25, 20, 50, 43]
# Define background color
ax = plt.figure()
ax.set_facecolor('green')
# Plot Graph
plt.bar(weight,student)
# Define axes label
plt.xlabel("Weight of the students")
plt.ylabel("Number of students")
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save pdf with transparent argument.pdf',transparent = True)
# Display Graph
plt.show() Here we pass the transparent as an argument to savefig() method and set its value to True.
Read Matplotlib plot bar chart
Matplotlib save graph as pdf
Here we are going to learn how you can save bar graphs as a pdf file. For this firstly, you have to plot the bar chart and after that save it in pdf form.
The syntax is as below:
# Plot graph
matplotlib.pyplot.bar(x,y)
# Save as pdf
matplotlib.pyplot.savefig(fname)Let’s see an example related to a bar chart save as a pdf file:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Define Data
subjects = ['MATHS', 'SCIENCE', 'ENGLISH', 'USA ENGLISH', 'SOCIAL-SCIENCE']
data = [20, 7, 31, 25, 12]
# Creating plot
plt.bar(subjects, data)
# save as pdf
plt.savefig('save graph as pdf.pdf')
# show plot
plt.show()In the above example, we plot the bar chart by using the plt.bar() method and after that we use plt.savefig() method to save bar chart as a pdf file. So we set the extension to .pdf.
Read Matplotlib subplot tutorial
Matplotlib save subplot to pdf
Here we will discuss how you can save subplots to a pdf file. By simply, using the savefig() method you can save it in a file. Take care of one thing, that you have to pass .pdf as an extension to the filename.
Let’s have a look at an example:
# Importing Libraries
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
x1= [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y1= [0, 1.5, 2.3, 6.5, 15, 2.6]
x2= [2, 4, 6, 8]
y2= [3, 6, 9, 12]
x3= [2.3, 5.6, 4.6, 9.36, 5.6]
y3= [10, 5, 4, 6, 2]
x4= [7, 8, 15]
y4= [6, 12, 18]
fig, ax = plt.subplots(2, 2)
# Set title
ax[0, 0].set_title("Plot 1")
ax[0, 1].set_title("Plot 2")
ax[1, 0].set_title("Plot 3")
ax[1, 1].set_title("Plot 4")
# Plot graph
ax[0, 0].plot(x1, y1)
ax[0, 1].plot(x2, y2)
ax[1, 0].plot(x3, y3)
ax[1, 1].plot(x4,y4)
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save subplot as pdf.pdf')
# Display Subplot
fig.tight_layout()
plt.show()- In the above example, we import important libraries such as matplotlib.pyplot and numpy.
- After this we define data to draw subplots in a figure area.
- Then we use set_title() method to set different titles for each of the subplot.
- By using savefig() method we save subplots in a pdf file by passing extension .pdf to filename.
- In last, we use tight_layout() method for auto adjustment of subplots and show() method to generate subplots on user screen.
Matplotlib savefig pdf cut off
When we save the plot into a pdf file we get an extra border or space along with the plot.
If you want to cut off the extra space pass the bbox_inches argument in the savefig() method and set its value to ‘tight’.
Let’s have a look at examples:
Example: When we normally save a plot into pdf file
Code:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Define Data
subjects = ['MATHS', 'SCIENCE', 'ENGLISH', 'HINDI', 'SOCIAL-SCIENCE']
data = [20, 7, 31, 25, 12]
# Creating plot
plt.pie(data, labels = subjects)
# save as pdf
plt.savefig('save as pdf without cutoff.pdf')
# show plot
plt.show()In the above example, we plot the pie chart by using the plt.pie() method, and then by using the plt.savefig() method we save the plot as a pdf file.
Output:
Example: When we save plot into pdf and also remove extra spacing
Code:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Define Data
subjects = ['MATHS', 'SCIENCE', 'ENGLISH', 'HINDI', 'SOCIAL-SCIENCE']
data = [20, 7, 31, 25, 12]
# Creating plot
plt.pie(data, labels = subjects)
# save as pdf
plt.savefig('save as pdf with cutoff.pdf', bbox_inches='tight')
# show plot
plt.show()In the above example, we plot the pie chart by using the plt.pie() method, and then by using the plt.savefig() method we save the plot as a pdf file.
We pass the bbox_inches as an argument and set its value to ‘tight’ to get cut off the plot.
Output:
Conclusion: When we use bbox_inches as an argument in the savefig() method we get cut off of the plot.
Read Matplotlib subplots_adjust
Matplotlib save pdf file
In matplotlib, the generated plot can be saved as a PDF file by using the savefig() method of PdfPages Class.
Firstly, you have to import the matplotlib library.
The syntax is as given below:
from matplotlib.backends.backend_pdf import PdfPages Next, you have to implement PdfPages
The syntax is as given below:
PdfPages(filename = None, keep_empty = True, metadata = None)The above-used parameters are as given below:
- filename: specifies the name and location of the file you want to save as.
- keep_empty: It takes boolean values. If false, the empty PDF files delete automatically.
- metadata: It takes data in the form of dictionary. It has information like Title, Author, Subjects, Keywords, etc.
In last, PdfPages creates objects of a class.
The following are the main functions used by class object:
- get_pagecount(): This method returns the number of pages in pdf file.
- close(): This method is used to close the object.
- savefig(): This method is used to save a figure to the pdf file.
Note: Specify the format. As your main aim is pdf so use .pdf as an extension.
Let’s see an example to have a better understanding:
# Import Libraries
from matplotlib.backends.backend_pdf import PdfPages
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
X = np.arange(20)
Y = X**2
# PdfPages method
pp = PdfPages('save as pdf file in matplotlib.pdf')
# Plot graph
plt.plot(X,Y)
# Object of class
pp.savefig()
# Close object
pp.close()- In this above example, we first import the PdfPages library.
- PdfPages() method is used to save the plot as a pdf.
- Next, we define data for plotting and use plt.plot() method to plot graph.
- Then we define savefig() and close() as an object of the class
Matplotlib savefig pdf multiple pages
If you want to save multiple plots in a single file, you have to use the savefig() method of the PdfPages class.
Let’s see an example of multiple pages pdf:
# Import Library
from matplotlib.backends.backend_pdf import PdfPages
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
x = np.arange(10)
y1 = np.sin(x)
y2 = np.cos(x)
y3 = np.tan(x)
# PdfPages()
pdf = PdfPages('hi.pdf')
# Create function
def multiple_plot(X,Y):
plt.figure()
plt.clf()
plt.plot(X,Y)
plt.xlabel('x axis')
plt.ylabel('y axis')
pdf.savefig()
# call function
multiple_plot(x,y1)
multiple_plot(x,y2)
multiple_plot(x,y3)
# class function
pdf.close()- In the above example, firstly we import important libraries PdfPages, numpy, and matplotlib.pyplot.
- After this, we define data that is used for plotting, and by using the PdfPages() method we define the name of the file and set .pdf as an extension of the file.
- We create user define function name as multiple_plot() and in this we define plot() method xlabel(), ylabel() method and savefig() method of the class object.
- Then we call the user-defined function to plot multiple graphs and the close() method of the class object.
Here we save three different plots in a single pdf file instead of three separate files.
Read Matplotlib plot_date
Matplotlib save table as pdf
If you want to create a table in matplotlib and save it as a pdf file. You have to perform the following steps:
- Import PdfPages, matplotlib.pyplot, and numpy libraries.
- Define col_names and data.
- Then set figsize by using plt.subplot() method and set the axis off to invisible the axes.
- Next by using plt.table() method plot the table and pass the cellText, colLabels, loc, and, colLoc as an argument and set its value as data, col_names, center, and right respectively.
- Then use PdfPages() method and pass the location of the file to save it as Pdf.
- Then in the last call the savefig() and close() method of the class object.
Example:
# Import Libraries
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.backends.backend_pdf import PdfPages
# Define Data
col_names = ["Col-1", "Col-2", "Col-3", "Col-4", "Col-5", "Col-6"]
data = np.random.randint(100, size=(30,6))
# Plot table
fig, ax = plt.subplots(1, figsize=(10,10))
ax.axis('off')
table = plt.table(cellText=data, colLabels=col_names,loc='center',colLoc='right')
# save as Pdf
pdf = PdfPages('save table as pdf.pdf')
pdf.savefig()
pdf.close()
Matplotlib save vector as pdf
Firstly we have to understand what does vector means and how we have to plot vector in matplotlib.
A vector is an object that has both magnitude and direction.
Graphically we can plot a vector as a line segment whose length represents its magnitude and the arrow indicates the direction of the vector.
In matplotlib to plot a vector field we have two methods which are described as follow:
By using the quiver() method we can plot vector:
matplotlib.pyplot.quiver(X,Y,U,V,**kw)The parameters used above are given as below:
- X and Y: specifies the location of the vector.
- U and V: specifies the direction of the vector.
By using the streamplot() method we can plot vector:
matplotlib.pyplot.streamplot(X,Y,U,V,density=1,linewidth=none,color=None,**kw)The parameters used above are given as below:
- X and Y: specifies 1D array spaced grid.
- U and V: specifies the velocity of each point.
- Density: specifies no. of vector per area of the plot.
- Linewidth: represent thickness.
Let’s see an example of vector as pdf:
# Import libraries
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Vector location
X = [7]
Y = [1]
# Directional vectors
U = [5]
V = [3]
# Creating plot
plt.quiver(X, Y, U, V)
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('vector as pdf.pdf')
# Show plot
plt.show()
- In the above example, we firstly import matplotlib.pyplot, and numpy library.
- Then we define the Vector location and Direction of the vector.
- By using plt.quiver() we plot a vector graph and we use the plt.savefig() method to save the generated plot into a pdf file.
Read Matplotlib scatter marker
Matplotlib savefig pdf a4
If you want to save the plot on a4 size sheet you have to set the papertype to a4 size and pass it to the savefig() method.
Example:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
# Define Data
x = np.arange(0, 12, 0.2)
y = np.sin(x)
# Plot figure
plt.plot(x, y)
# Save image
plt.savefig('save as pdf on a4 size paper.pdf', papertype='a4')
# Generate Plot
plt.show()Here we pass the papertype argument to the savefig() method and set its value to a4.
Note: This papertype argument only works on editors having versions older than 3.3 otherwise, you will have a warning like below:
Read Matplotlib title font size
Matplotlib savefig pdf empty
Here we are going to discuss a very common issue that was faced by many new matplotlib learners.
The issue is that when a user plots a graph in matplotlib and tries to save it as a PDF file in their local system they get an empty file.
Let’s see an example where you find this issue:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
x= [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y= [1.5, 2, 3.6, 14, 2.5, 3.9]
# Plot
plt.scatter(x,y)
# Show plot
plt.show()
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('save as pdf.pdf')- In the above example, we firstly import matplotlib.pyplot library.
- After this, we define data coordinates and use plt.scatter() method to draw a scatter plot.
- After this we use plt.show() method to visualize the plot on the screen.
- Finally, we use plt.savefig() method to save your plot as an image.
Instead of getting the plot in the Pdf file, we get an empty pdf.
Solution:
Now I tell you the solution to solve this problem. The solution is that you have to call plt.show() method after the plt.savefig() method.
Let’s have a look at a solution code:
# Import Library
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Define Data
x= [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y= [1.5, 2, 3.6, 14, 2.5, 3.9]
# Plot
plt.scatter(x,y)
# Save as pdf
plt.savefig('Pdf file consist plot.pdf')
# Show plot
plt.show()
You may like the following tutorials:
- Matplotlib default figure size
- Matplotlib savefig blank image
- Matplotlib save as png
- Matplotlib two y axes
In this Python tutorial, we have discussed the “Matplotlib save as pdf” and we have also covered some examples related to it. These are the following topics that we have discussed in this tutorial.
- Matplotlib save as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf example
- Matplotlib savefig pdf dpi
- Matplotlib save pdf transparent background
- Matplotlib save graph as pdf
- Matplotlib save subplot to pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf cut off
- Matplotlib save pdf file
- Matplotlib savefig pdf multiple pages
- Matplotlib save table as pdf
- Matplotlib savefig pdf a4
- Matplotlib savefig pdf empty
I am Bijay Kumar, a Microsoft MVP in SharePoint. Apart from SharePoint, I started working on Python, Machine learning, and artificial intelligence for the last 5 years. During this time I got expertise in various Python libraries also like Tkinter, Pandas, NumPy, Turtle, Django, Matplotlib, Tensorflow, Scipy, Scikit-Learn, etc… for various clients in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Check out my profile.