plotly save figure

Guri Bee

2 min read

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19-10-2024

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Saving Your Visualizations: A Guide to Plotly Figure Saving

Plotly is a powerful data visualization library that enables users to create interactive and engaging charts. But what good is a beautiful chart if you can't save it for sharing or further use? This article delves into the different ways to save Plotly figures, drawing inspiration from helpful discussions on GitHub.

Understanding the Need for Figure Saving

Saving your Plotly figures allows you to:

• Share your findings: Easily share visualizations with colleagues, clients, or through online platforms.
• Preserve your work: Avoid recreating plots repeatedly and maintain a record of your analyses.
• Integrate into documents and presentations: Embed figures seamlessly into reports, presentations, or web applications.

Methods to Save Your Plotly Figures

Let's explore the key approaches to saving Plotly figures, building on insights from GitHub contributors:

1. plotly.io.write_image() for Static Images:

• Functionality: This function offers a straightforward way to export figures as static images in various formats (PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF).
• Example:

import plotly.graph_objects as go
import plotly.io as pio

fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Scatter(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])])

pio.write_image(fig, 'my_figure.png')

• GitHub Inspiration: https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/issues/404

2. fig.write_html() for Interactive Web Pages:

• Functionality: Creates an HTML file that retains the interactivity of the Plotly figure.
• Example:

import plotly.graph_objects as go

fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Scatter(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])])

fig.write_html('interactive_figure.html')

• GitHub Inspiration: https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/issues/1004

3. fig.write_json() for JSON Representation:

• Functionality: Exports the figure as a JSON object, useful for storing or transferring data in a structured format.
• Example:

import plotly.graph_objects as go

fig = go.Figure(data=[go.Scatter(x=[1, 2, 3], y=[4, 5, 6])])

fig.write_json('figure_data.json')

• GitHub Inspiration: https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/issues/300

Beyond the Basics: Customization and Advanced Techniques

• Controlling Image Resolution: Use the scale parameter in write_image() to adjust the resolution of your saved image.
• Saving Multiple Figures: Create a loop to save multiple figures with different names or formats.
• Embedding in Web Apps: Leverage Plotly's JavaScript library to dynamically render interactive figures within web applications.

Choosing the Right Method:

The best method for saving your Plotly figure depends on your intended use case:

• Static images: Use write_image() for sharing or embedding in documents.
• Interactive web pages: Choose write_html() to preserve interactivity for online viewing.
• Data exchange: Employ write_json() for exchanging figure data with other applications.

Conclusion

Saving Plotly figures is essential for sharing, preservation, and further use. By understanding the different saving methods and incorporating the insights from GitHub discussions, you can effectively capture your visualizations for various purposes. Remember to choose the most appropriate method based on your intended outcome. Happy visualizing!