matplotlib: generating vector plot

Question

I want to generate a vector plot with matplotlib. I tried hard - but the output is a raster image. Here's what I use:

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('Agg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

and finally:

myfig.savefig('myfig.eps', format='eps')

I've found that export to ps gives a vector image, but the problem with eps remains.

Manners

Can you give an example (make up some data if you need to) of the actual calls to plt? This will help others contribute. – Culliton

I am confident that the problem you are describing is not as you suggest and that the eps output really is a fully fledged vector rendition. It may be that you are looking at the eps through a poor viewer - which application are you using to view the eps? – Salary

plt.savefig('some_name.eps', bbox_inches='tight') produces a vectorized plot on my system. – Began

Answer 1

I use the following code:

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt

fig, ax = plt.subplots() # or 
fig.savefig('filename.eps', format='eps')

Qulllon

Answer 2

If you need emf files as output format, e.g. to insert high quality plots into ms word/powerpoint and you are willing to use inkscape as converter you can apply this solution:

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
import subprocess, os

def plot_as_emf(figure, **kwargs):
    inkscape_path = kwargs.get('inkscape', "C://Program Files//Inkscape//inkscape.exe")
    filepath = kwargs.get('filename', None)

    if filepath is not None:
        path, filename = os.path.split(filepath)
        filename, extension = os.path.splitext(filename)

        svg_filepath = os.path.join(path, filename+'.svg')
        emf_filepath = os.path.join(path, filename+'.emf')

        figure.savefig(svg_filepath, format='svg')

        subprocess.call([inkscape_path, svg_filepath, '--export-emf', emf_filepath])
        os.remove(svg_filepath)

In order to test this function you can run a simple example:

plt.plot([1,2], [4,5])
fig = plt.gcf()
plot_as_emf(fig, filename="C:/test.emf")

Neurosis

Answer 3

Can try for svg format:

plt.savefig("filepath.svg", format = 'svg', dpi=300)

Heywood

Answer 4

Try exporting as a pdf or svg as described in http://neuroscience.telenczuk.pl/?p=331 If you need an eps the pdf2ps command works great.

Mineraloid

That website has all broken image links at the moment. – Scarlatti

I used waybackmachine to get the previous snapshots: web.archive.org/web/20230205040301/https://… – Ramble