How to export plots from matplotlib with transparent background?

Question

I am using matplotlib to make some graphs and unfortunately I cannot export them without the white background.

Answer 1

Use the matplotlib savefig function with the keyword argument transparent=True to save the image as a png file.

In [30]: x = np.linspace(0,6,31)

In [31]: y = np.exp(-0.5*x) * np.sin(x)

In [32]: plot(x, y, 'bo-')
Out[32]: []            

In [33]: savefig('demo.png', transparent=True)

Result:

Of course, that plot doesn't demonstrate the transparency. Here's a screenshot of the PNG file displayed using the ImageMagick display command. The checkerboard pattern is the background that is visible through the transparent parts of the PNG file.