ggplot2::ggsave()
   get_help() docs


Description

The ggsave() function is part of the {ggplot2} package, which is part of the {tidyverse}.

We use this function within {ggplot2} plots to export and save plots to files.

To use this function, you need to either first load the {ggplot2} library, or always use the function with ggplot2::ggsave() notation.

# Load the library
library(ggplot2)
# Or, load the full tidyverse:
library(tidyverse)

# Or, use :: notation
ggplot2::ggsave()

Conceptual Usage

# Although there are other ways to use the `ggsave()` function, this usage will be the MOST RELIABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE!
ggsave(name of file to save the plot to with extension determining filetype,
       plot variable you want to save,
       # Width and height require some trial/error! Default width/height are not reliably reproducible, so always specify!
       width = width of outputted file in inches,
       height = height of outputted file in inches)

Examples

The examples below use the msleep dataset. Learn more about this dataset with get_help("msleep").

# Show the msleep dataset with head()
head(msleep)
## # A tibble: 6 × 11
##   name  genus vore  order conservation sleep_total sleep_rem sleep_cycle awake  brainwt  bodywt
##   <chr> <chr> <chr> <chr> <chr>              <dbl>     <dbl>       <dbl> <dbl>    <dbl>   <dbl>
## 1 Owl … Aotus omni  Prim… <NA>                17         1.8      NA       7    0.0155    0.48 
## 2 Moun… Aplo… herbi Rode… nt                  14.4       2.4      NA       9.6 NA         1.35 
## 3 Grea… Blar… omni  Sori… lc                  14.9       2.3       0.133   9.1  0.00029   0.019
## 4 Cow   Bos   herbi Arti… domesticated         4         0.7       0.667  20    0.423   600    
## 5 Thre… Brad… herbi Pilo… <NA>                14.4       2.2       0.767   9.6 NA         3.85 
## 6 Nort… Call… carni Carn… vu                   8.7       1.4       0.383  15.3 NA        20.5


# Create a scatterplot to save.
ggplot(msleep) + 
  aes(x = sleep_rem, y = awake) + 
  geom_point() -> my_plot

# Save to a PNG image file called "my_saved_plot.png"
ggsave("my_saved_plot.png", # output file name to save a PNG file
       my_plot,             # previously defined variable containing the plot we want to save
       width = 6,           # The image will be 6 inches wide
       height = 6)          #  The image will be 6 inches tall


# Create a scatterplot to save.
ggplot(msleep) + 
  aes(x = sleep_rem, y = awake) + 
  geom_point() -> my_plot

# Save to a PDF image file called "my_saved_plot.pdf"
ggsave("my_saved_plot.pdf", # output file name to save a PDF file
       my_plot,             # previously defined variable containing the plot we want to save
       width = 6,           # The image will be 6 inches wide
       height = 6)          #  The image will be 6 inches tall