Unlock the Power of R Plots: Saving and Customizing Your Visualizations
When working with R, it’s essential to know how to save your plots for future reference or sharing. By default, R displays plots on the screen, but with the help of built-in functions, you can easily save them as files on your disk. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways to save plots in R, including bitmap and vector images.
The Importance of Saving Plots
Before we dive into the details, it’s crucial to understand why saving plots is vital. Whether you’re working on a project, creating reports, or sharing insights with others, having access to your plots is essential. By saving them, you can revisit your work, make adjustments, and share your findings with ease.
Bitmap Images: Fixed Resolution and Pixelation
Bitmap images, such as JPEG or PNG, are the most common type of image we encounter. They have a fixed resolution and can become pixelated when zoomed in. In R, you can save plots as bitmap images using the jpeg() and png() functions. These functions work similarly, with the only difference being the file type they produce.
Saving as JPEG Image
To save a plot as a JPEG image, use the jpeg() function. For example:
R
jpeg("histogram1.jpeg")
hist(airquality$Temp)
dev.off()
This code saves a histogram as a JPEG image in your current directory. You can also specify the full path of the file if you prefer to save it elsewhere.
Saving as PNG Image
To save a plot as a PNG image, use the png() function. For example:
R
png(file="C:/Programiz/R-tutorial/histogram1.png", width=600, height=350)
hist(airquality$Temp)
dev.off()
This code saves a histogram as a PNG image with a specified width and height.
The Power of Vector Images
Vector images, such as PDF and PostScript, offer a significant advantage over bitmap images: they’re easily resizable without compromising quality. This makes them ideal for presentations, reports, and sharing with others.
Saving as PDF Image
To save a plot as a PDF image, use the pdf() function. For example:
R
pdf("histogram1.pdf")
hist(airquality$Temp)
dev.off()
This code saves a histogram as a high-quality PDF image in your current directory.
Taking Control of Your Plots
By mastering the art of saving plots in R, you’ll be able to work more efficiently, share your insights with others, and take your data analysis to the next level. Whether you prefer bitmap or vector images, R provides the tools you need to customize and save your visualizations with ease.