Axis exponent missing when using exportgraphics to export figure in pdf vector format (or image)
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Hi,
When I use exportgraphics to export a figure in pdf vector graphics format (or even image formats such as .png, .tiff), any axis exponents from the figure are missing in the output export file. For my application, I need to export the figure in vector format.
Example code to generate figure:
fig1 = figure(1);
plot(rand(10,1)*10^-5)
exportgraphics(fig1,'testMissingAxisExponent01.pdf','ContentType','vector');
Example figure exported by using 'Save As' in MATLAB figure GUI (which properly shows the axis exponent):
![](https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1650321/image.png)
Example figure generated from exportgraphics (with the missing axis exponent):
![](https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1650326/image.png)
I first discovered this issue when working with plots in nested tiles using tiledlayouts and tried increasing the padding with no success. However, this issue seems to be related to exportgraphics.
Any solutions or workarounds? Thank you!
2 Comments
Matt Latourette
on 12 Jun 2024
I was using the export button from the axes toolbar instead of calling exportgraphics programmatically, but I encounter the same problem with the exponent for the y-axis being cut off when I try to save a plot. I'm using MATLAB R2024a.
After I found this question on the MATLAB Answers web page, I took a look at the documentation for the exportgraphics command. The "Padding" option seemed promising as a potential solution, but when I tried that I got an error message stating, "Illegal option 'padding' given." What I tried, specifically, was to click on the plot axes to select my plot. Then, in the command window:
ax = gca;
exportgraphics(ax, "figurepadding.png", "Padding", "figure")
Accepted Answer
Adam Danz
on 3 Jun 2024
Edited: Adam Danz
on 14 Jun 2024
This issue has been fixed in MATLAB R2024a Update 4.
=================================================
Thanks for reporting this issue. Follow progress on this bug by following the bug report below
The recommended work-around is to call the print function. For example, to export the current figure to a PNG file named myplot.png, use this command:
print("myplot.png","-dpng")
To copy the current figure to the clipboard as pixels, use this command:
print("-clipboard","-dbitmap")
7 Comments
More Answers (1)
Pablo Nicolas
on 27 Mar 2024
Moved: Fangjun Jiang
on 27 Mar 2024
I encountered the same problem and I was looking for an answer or possible solution but unsucessfully. What I did that finally solved the issue was to install an older Matlab version (Matlab 2023a). Hopefully, this was helphul for you!
2 Comments
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