Vector vs raster output decision in Matplotlib - Hands-On Comparison

Vector vs Raster Output Decision with Matplotlib

📖 Scenario: You are creating simple charts for a report. Sometimes you want sharp, scalable images (vector), and other times you want quick, pixel-based images (raster). You will learn how to decide and save your chart as vector or raster using matplotlib.

🎯 Goal: Build a small program that creates a line chart and saves it as either a vector or raster image based on a setting.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a list of numbers representing data points

Create a variable to choose output type ('vector' or 'raster')

Use matplotlib to plot the data

Save the plot as SVG if vector is chosen, or PNG if raster is chosen

Print the file name saved

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Choosing between vector and raster images is important when preparing charts for reports, presentations, or websites. Vector images keep lines sharp when zoomed, while raster images are good for photos and quick previews.

💼 Career

Data analysts and scientists often need to export charts in the right format for reports or dashboards. Knowing how to control output formats with code helps automate report generation.

1

Create the data list

Create a list called data_points with these exact values: [5, 10, 15, 10, 5].

Matplotlib

# Create the list data_points with values [5, 10, 15, 10, 5]
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use square brackets to create a list and separate numbers with commas.

2

Set the output type

Create a variable called output_type and set it to the string 'vector'.

Matplotlib

data_points = [5, 10, 15, 10, 5]
# Create output_type variable and set it to 'vector'
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use quotes around the word vector to make it a string.

3

Plot the data and save based on output type

Import matplotlib.pyplot as plt. Plot data_points using plt.plot(). Use an if statement to check if output_type is 'vector'. If yes, save the plot as 'chart.svg'. Otherwise, save it as 'chart.png'. Use plt.savefig() to save the file.

Matplotlib

data_points = [5, 10, 15, 10, 5]
output_type = 'vector'
# Import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Plot data_points
# Use if statement to save as 'chart.svg' if output_type is 'vector', else 'chart.png'
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Remember to import matplotlib.pyplot as plt before plotting.

Use if output_type == 'vector': to check the condition.

4

Print the saved file name

Add code to print the exact file name saved. Use print('chart.svg') if output_type is 'vector', else print 'chart.png'.

Matplotlib

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

data_points = [5, 10, 15, 10, 5]
output_type = 'vector'

plt.plot(data_points)
if output_type == 'vector':
    plt.savefig('chart.svg')
else:
    plt.savefig('chart.png')
# Print the saved file name based on output_type
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use print() inside the if and else blocks to show the file name.