How Can I Save A Chart In Excel As An Image?

Saving a chart in Excel as an image is essential for various reasons, whether you want to share it in a presentation, embed it in a document, or use it on a website. This guide from savewhere.net provides a comprehensive overview of how to effectively save your Excel charts as images, ensuring they look their best wherever you use them, and help you discover financial savings. By mastering these techniques, you can enhance your presentations, reports, and overall data communication, while managing your finances with greater ease and confidence.

1. Why Save an Excel Chart as an Image?

Saving an Excel chart as an image is important for sharing, presentation, compatibility, and documentation. This is beneficial because it allows you to easily share charts, maintain chart integrity across platforms, and ensure that your charts are always visually appealing and understandable.

Sharing Made Easy: Ever struggled to send an Excel file just so someone could see a single chart? Saving the chart as an image lets you bypass that hassle. Send it via email, messaging apps, or social media without worrying about compatibility issues.
Presentation-Perfect: Integrating charts into presentations becomes seamless. Images ensure your data is displayed exactly as you intend, without any formatting surprises.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Images are universally viewable. Whether your audience uses Windows, macOS, or even a smartphone, they’ll see your chart without needing Excel.
Documentation and Reports: Embedding charts as images in reports and documents ensures consistency and avoids potential data alterations. This keeps your data visualizations reliable and professional.
Web Integration: For websites or blogs, images load faster and display consistently across different browsers. Your audience gets a smooth experience, no matter their setup.

2. Simple Steps to Save an Excel Chart as an Image

Saving an Excel chart as an image is straightforward, involving selecting the chart, copying it, and pasting it into an image editor. This ensures your chart can be easily shared and used in various applications.

Select Your Chart: The first step is to click on the chart you wish to save. This highlights the chart, making it ready for the next steps.
Copy the Chart: Once selected, copy the chart. You can do this by right-clicking on the chart and selecting “Copy,” or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac).
Open an Image Editor: Open your preferred image editing software. Common choices include Microsoft Paint (pre-installed on Windows), Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (a free, open-source option), or even online editors like Pixlr.
Paste the Chart: In the image editor, paste the chart. Use the “Paste” option in the editor’s menu or the shortcut Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac). The chart appears in the editor.
Save the Image: With the chart pasted, save it as an image file. Go to “File” > “Save As” and choose your desired image format (such as JPEG, PNG, or GIF) and a location to save the file.

3. Choosing the Right Image Format

Selecting the right image format is crucial for maintaining the quality and compatibility of your saved chart. Different formats offer varying levels of compression, color support, and suitability for different uses.

File Format	What It Means	Best Use Cases
JPEG (JPG)	Joint Photographic Experts Group. Great for photographs due to its efficient compression, which reduces file size. However, it can lose some image quality, especially with text or graphics.	Photographs, images with many colors, situations where file size is more important than perfect image clarity.
PNG	Portable Network Graphics. Excellent for graphics, logos, and charts because it supports lossless compression, preserving image quality. It also handles transparency well.	Charts, logos, images with text, when transparency is needed, situations where image quality is paramount.
GIF	Graphics Interchange Format. Best for simple graphics with few colors and animations. It uses lossless compression but is limited to 256 colors.	Simple graphics, animations, images with limited colors.
BMP	Bitmap. A basic format that stores images without compression. This means no loss of quality, but the file sizes are very large.	Archiving images, situations where no compression is acceptable, very high-resolution images.
TIFF (TIF)	Tagged Image File Format. Used for storing raster images, popular among photographers and graphic designers. It supports both lossless and lossy compression.	Professional photography, print media, archiving high-quality images.
SVG	Scalable Vector Graphics. An XML-based vector image format that allows images to be scaled without losing quality. It’s ideal for logos, icons, and illustrations on websites.	Logos, icons, illustrations, web graphics that need to be scalable.
WebP	A modern image format developed by Google that provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web.	Web images, particularly when optimizing for speed and quality.
HEIF (HEIC)	High-Efficiency Image File Format. A modern image format that provides better compression than JPEG. Commonly used by Apple devices.	Modern devices and platforms, when smaller file sizes are needed without significant quality loss.
PSD (Photoshop Document)	The native file format for Adobe Photoshop, which supports multiple layers, effects, and adjustments.	Editing and manipulating images in Photoshop, when layers and advanced features are needed.
RAW	A file format that contains unprocessed or minimally processed data from a digital camera’s sensor.	Professional photography, when maximum control over image processing is required.
PDF	Portable Document Format. A versatile file format that can contain images, text, and interactive elements. It’s widely used for documents, presentations, and archiving.	Documents, presentations, archiving files that need to be viewed and printed consistently.
EPS	Encapsulated PostScript. A vector graphics file format often used for printing and professional design.	Professional printing, graphic design, illustrations that need to be scaled without losing quality.
EXIF	Exchangeable Image File Format. A standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras (including smartphones). It stores metadata such as camera settings and date/time.	Digital photography, storing image metadata, organizing and cataloging photos.
ICO	An image file format used for icons in Microsoft Windows. It can contain one or more small images of multiple sizes and color depths, such that the images may be scaled appropriately.	Windows icons, creating custom icons for applications and websites.
CUR	An image file format used for mouse cursors in Microsoft Windows. It can contain static or animated images, and supports transparency.	Windows cursors, creating custom cursors for applications and websites.
PPM/PGM/PBM	Portable Pixmap/Graymap/Bitmap. Simple image formats that store pixel data without compression.	Simple image processing, educational purposes, when a basic uncompressed format is needed.
TGA	Truevision Graphics Adapter. A raster graphics file format used for high-quality images and animations.	Video games, animation, when high-quality images and animations are needed.
DDS	DirectDraw Surface. A file format used for storing textures and cube maps, commonly used in video games and real-time 3D applications.	Video games, 3D applications, storing textures and cube maps.
HDR	High Dynamic Range. An image format that captures a greater range of luminance than standard digital imaging.	Professional photography, rendering, when a wide range of luminance is needed.
PFX/P12	Personal Information Exchange. A file format used to store cryptographic keys and certificates, often used for securing digital communication.	Secure communication, storing cryptographic keys and certificates.
MNG	Multiple-image Network Graphics. A PNG-based animation format that supports lossless compression.	Animation, when lossless compression and transparency are needed.
JNG	JPEG Network Graphics. A PNG-based image format that supports JPEG compression for color images and lossless compression for grayscale images.	Web images, when a combination of JPEG and lossless compression is needed.
BPG	Better Portable Graphics. An image format based on the High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard.	Web images, when high compression and quality are needed.
AVIF	AV1 Image File Format. A modern image format based on the AV1 video codec.	Web images, when high compression and quality are needed.
FLIF	Free Lossless Image Format. A lossless image format that promises better compression than PNG.	Archiving images, when maximum compression and lossless quality are needed.
APNG	Animated Portable Network Graphics. An extension to the PNG format that allows for animated images, similar to GIF, but with better support for transparency and color depth.	Web animations, when transparency and a wide range of colors are needed.
PAM	Pluggable Authentication Modules. A suite of libraries that allows system administrators to configure authentication policies for applications.	System administration, configuring authentication policies.
YUV	A color encoding system typically used as part of a color image pipeline. It encodes a color image or video taking human perception into account, allowing reduced bandwidth for chrominance components, thereby typically enabling transmission errors or compression artifacts to be more efficiently masked by the human perception than using a “direct” RGB-representation.	Video processing, color encoding, signal compression.
YCbCr	A scaled and offset version of the YUV color space.	Video processing, color encoding, signal compression.
XYZ	A color space used as an intermediate step in converting between other color spaces.	Color management, converting between color spaces.
Lab	A color-opponent space with dimension L for lightness and a and b for the color-opponent dimensions, based on nonlinearly compressed (L*) CIE XYZ color space coordinates.	Color management, color processing.
CMYK	A color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors. CMYK is the standard color model used in offset printing for full-color documents.	Printing, color processing.
HSV	A color space that has three components: hue, saturation and value.	Color processing, image manipulation.
HSL	A color space that has three components: hue, saturation and lightness.	Color processing, image manipulation.
CIELAB	The most complete color model used conventionally to describe all colors visible to the human eye.	Color processing, image manipulation.
DICOM	Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. A standard for handling, storing, printing, and transmitting information in medical imaging.	Medical imaging, healthcare.
DCM	Digital Cinema Mastering. A set of standards for digital cinema distribution.	Film, cinema.
3FR	Hasselblad Raw Image Format. The raw image format used by Hasselblad cameras.	Photography, Hasselblad cameras.
ARW	Sony Alpha Raw. The raw image format used by Sony Alpha cameras.	Photography, Sony Alpha cameras.
CR2	Canon Raw 2. The raw image format used by Canon cameras.	Photography, Canon cameras.
CR3	Canon Raw 3. A newer raw image format used by Canon cameras.	Photography, Canon cameras.
DNG	Digital Negative. An open raw image format developed by Adobe.	Photography, Adobe software.
ERF	Epson Raw File. The raw image format used by Epson cameras.	Photography, Epson cameras.
K25	Kodak Raw Image Format. The raw image format used by Kodak cameras.	Photography, Kodak cameras.
KDC	Kodak Digital Camera Format. The raw image format used by Kodak digital cameras.	Photography, Kodak digital cameras.
MEF	Mamiya Electronic Format. The raw image format used by Mamiya cameras.	Photography, Mamiya cameras.
MRW	Minolta Raw. The raw image format used by Minolta cameras.	Photography, Minolta cameras.
NEF	Nikon Electronic Format. The raw image format used by Nikon cameras.	Photography, Nikon cameras.
NRW	Nikon Raw. A newer raw image format used by Nikon cameras.	Photography, Nikon cameras.
ORF	Olympus Raw File. The raw image format used by Olympus cameras.	Photography, Olympus cameras.
PEF	Pentax Electronic File. The raw image format used by Pentax cameras.	Photography, Pentax cameras.
RAF	Fujifilm Raw File. The raw image format used by Fujifilm cameras.	Photography, Fujifilm cameras.
RW2	Panasonic Raw 2. The raw image format used by Panasonic cameras.	Photography, Panasonic cameras.
SR2	Sony Raw 2. The raw image format used by Sony cameras.	Photography, Sony cameras.
SRF	Sony Raw Format. The raw image format used by Sony cameras.	Photography, Sony cameras.
X3F	Sigma Raw File. The raw image format used by Sigma cameras.	Photography, Sigma cameras.

4. Advanced Techniques for Better Image Quality

To ensure your saved chart images maintain high quality, consider using advanced techniques such as adjusting resolution, using vector graphics, and removing whitespace. These methods help preserve clarity and visual appeal.

Increase Resolution: When saving, opt for a higher resolution. This reduces pixelation and ensures the chart looks crisp, especially when viewed on larger screens or printed. A resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) is generally good for printing.
Use Vector Graphics: If possible, save your chart as a vector graphic (e.g., SVG). Vector graphics can be scaled without losing quality, making them ideal for use in various sizes and applications.
Remove Whitespace: Use the cropping tool in your image editor to eliminate unnecessary whitespace around the chart. This focuses attention on the data and creates a cleaner visual.
Adjust Colors: Depending on the final use of the image, you might want to adjust the color settings. For web use, ensure the colors are web-safe to avoid inconsistencies. For print, CMYK color mode is preferable.
Optimize for Web: If the image is for a website, optimize it for faster loading times. Use image compression tools to reduce the file size without significantly impacting quality. TinyPNG and ImageOptim are excellent choices.

5. Saving Charts Directly as Images in Excel

While the copy-paste method is common, Excel offers a direct way to save charts as images via the ‘Save as Picture’ option. This can streamline the process and maintain image quality.

Right-Click the Chart: In Excel, right-click on the chart you want to save.
Select ‘Save as Picture’: From the context menu, choose the option that says “Save as Picture.”
Choose File Type and Save: A Save As dialog box opens, allowing you to select the file type (such as PNG, JPEG, or GIF) and the location to save the image. Name the file and click “Save.”

6. Using Macros to Automate Saving Charts as Images

For those who frequently save multiple charts as images, using VBA macros can automate this task, saving time and effort. Here’s how to do it:

Open VBA Editor: Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor in Excel.
Insert a New Module: In the VBA editor, go to “Insert” > “Module.”
Write the Macro: Copy and paste the following VBA code into the module:

Sub SaveChartAsImage()
    Dim cht As Chart
    Dim strPath As String
    Dim strFileName As String

    ' Set the chart object
    Set cht = ActiveSheet.ChartObjects(1).Chart ' Change (1) to the index number of your chart

    ' Set the path and filename
    strPath = "C:Images" ' Change to your desired folder
    strFileName = cht.Name & ".png" ' Chart name as the filename

    ' Export the chart as a PNG image
    cht.Export Filename:=strPath & strFileName, Filtername:="PNG"

    ' Optional: Display a message box
    MsgBox "Chart saved as image to: " & strPath & strFileName

    ' Clean up
    Set cht = Nothing
End Sub

Modify the Code:
- Change ActiveSheet.ChartObjects(1).Chart to the correct index number of your chart if it’s not the first chart on the sheet.
- Modify strPath = "C:Images" to your desired folder path.
Run the Macro: Close the VBA editor and go back to Excel. Go to “View” > “Macros” > “View Macros,” select the SaveChartAsImage macro, and click “Run.”
Check the Output: The chart is saved as a PNG image in the specified folder.

7. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering issues while saving Excel charts as images is common. Here’s how to troubleshoot and resolve some typical problems.

Issue	Possible Cause(s)	Solution(s)
Blurry or Pixelated Images	Low resolution, incorrect file format, excessive compression.	Increase the resolution before saving, use a lossless format like PNG, avoid over-compressing the image.
Missing Chart Elements	Chart elements not selected, incorrect copy-paste procedure.	Ensure all chart elements are selected before copying, use “Save as Picture” for complete chart capture.
Incorrect Colors	Color mode mismatch, incorrect color settings in the image editor.	Check the color mode (RGB for web, CMYK for print), adjust color settings in the image editor to match the intended output.
File Saving Errors	Insufficient permissions, invalid file path, disk space issues.	Check folder permissions, ensure the file path is valid, free up disk space.
Chart Not Pasting Correctly	Compatibility issues with the image editor, clipboard problems.	Try a different image editor, restart Excel and the image editor, clear the clipboard.
Macro Errors	Incorrect code, missing references, security settings.	Double-check the VBA code for errors, ensure required references are enabled in the VBA editor, adjust macro security settings in Excel.
Image Size Too Large	High resolution, uncompressed format, unnecessary elements.	Reduce the resolution, use a compressed format like JPEG, crop unnecessary whitespace, optimize the image for web use.
Transparency Issues	Format does not support transparency, transparency settings not enabled.	Use a format that supports transparency like PNG, enable transparency settings in the image editor.
Charts Displaying Differently on Other Devices	Font issues, color profile differences, software compatibility.	Use standard fonts, embed fonts in the image file, convert to a universally compatible format, test on multiple devices.
Images Not Embedding Correctly	Incorrect file format, embedding settings, software compatibility.	Use a compatible format like PNG or JPEG, check embedding settings in the target application, ensure both applications are up to date.
Charts Overlapping When Pasted	Copying multiple charts at once, pasting into an area that is too small.	Copy and paste each chart separately, increase the area where you are pasting.
Chart Resolution Issues with Macro	Default settings are not high enough, macro code needs adjustment.	Adjust the macro code to specify a higher resolution.
Colors Distorted After Saving	Color profile is not embedded, image editor is altering colors.	Embed the correct color profile, use an image editor that preserves color profiles, check color settings in the image editor.
File Format Not Supported	Outdated software, missing codecs.	Update your software, install necessary codecs, use a more common file format.
Parts of Chart Cut Off	Cropping tool used incorrectly, pasting outside of the viewable area.	Use the cropping tool carefully, ensure the entire chart is within the viewable area before pasting.
Chart Elements Shifted After Saving	Compatibility issues between Excel and the image editor, font substitution.	Use a universally compatible format, embed fonts, test the saved image on multiple platforms.
Background Color Issues	Default background settings, incorrect color settings.	Adjust the background color in Excel before saving, use an image editor to change the background color.
Missing Data Labels	Data labels are hidden, the resolution is too low.	Ensure data labels are visible in Excel, increase the resolution before saving.
Lines Appear Jagged or Stepped	Low resolution, anti-aliasing not enabled.	Increase the resolution, enable anti-aliasing in the image editor, use a vector graphic format.
Charts Saved with Watermarks	Trial version of software, licensed features not activated.	Purchase a full license, use a different software, remove watermarks using an image editor.
Difficulty Selecting Specific Chart Elements	Overlapping elements, small size.	Zoom in, use the “Select Objects” tool in Excel, adjust the layer order.
Saving the Entire Worksheet Instead of Chart	Accidentally selecting the worksheet, confusion between chart and worksheet selection.	Ensure only the chart is selected before copying or saving, double-check the selection before proceeding.
Images Appear Stretched or Skewed	Incorrect aspect ratio, distortion during pasting.	Maintain the original aspect ratio when resizing, avoid stretching or skewing the image during pasting.
Charts Saved as Blank Images	Copying before the chart is fully rendered, software glitches.	Wait for the chart to fully render before copying, restart Excel, try a different image editor.
Chart Animation Not Saved	Animation is not supported by the saved format, incorrect saving method.	Use a format that supports animation like GIF, use screen recording software to capture the animation as a video.
The Chart is Exported With The Black Background Instead Of Transparent	The picture or the theme has a black background	Change the background to white or another desired color before exporting the picture.

8. Best Practices for Sharing Chart Images

To ensure your chart images are well-received and effective, follow these best practices when sharing them:

Choose the Right Format: Select the appropriate image format based on the intended use. PNG is best for quality, while JPEG is suitable for smaller file sizes.
Optimize for the Medium: Adjust the image size and resolution to fit the platform where it will be displayed. For web use, compress the image to reduce loading times.
Provide Context: Always include a caption or accompanying text that explains the chart. Highlight key insights and provide context to help your audience understand the data.
Ensure Accessibility: Make sure the chart is accessible to everyone. Use high-contrast colors, provide alternative text for screen readers, and avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
Maintain Consistency: Use a consistent style across all your chart images. This includes fonts, colors, and layout. Consistency helps create a professional and cohesive look.
Test Before Sharing: Before sending or publishing the chart image, test it on different devices and platforms to ensure it displays correctly.
Consider Your Audience: Tailor the chart image to your audience. Use language and visuals that they will understand and appreciate.
Include a Descriptive File Name: Use a descriptive file name that includes the chart’s subject and date. This makes it easier to find and organize your images.
Use Version Control: If you are making changes to the chart image, use version control to keep track of different versions. This helps avoid confusion and ensures you are always sharing the latest version.
Secure Sensitive Data: If the chart contains sensitive data, make sure to protect it before sharing. This may involve redacting confidential information or using encryption.
Ask for Feedback: After sharing the chart image, ask for feedback from your audience. This can help you improve your charts and ensure they are effectively communicating your message.
Use a Consistent Color Palette: Develop and use a consistent color palette for all your charts. This not only enhances visual appeal but also helps viewers quickly identify different data series and trends.
Design for Mobile Viewing: With the increasing use of mobile devices, ensure that your chart images are easily viewable on smaller screens. Use clear, legible fonts and avoid overcrowding the chart with too much information.
Tell a Story: Use your chart to tell a story. Highlight key trends and insights that will resonate with your audience. A well-crafted chart can be a powerful tool for communicating complex data in a clear and engaging way.

9. Leveraging Online Tools for Chart Creation and Saving

Several online tools can help create and save charts as images, offering additional features and flexibility. These tools are great for users who need advanced charting capabilities or prefer working in a web-based environment.

Google Sheets: Google Sheets allows you to create charts and download them as images. Its collaborative features make it excellent for team projects.
Canva: Canva is a versatile design tool that includes chart creation features. It offers a wide range of templates and customization options.
Plotly: Plotly is a powerful online tool for creating interactive and visually appealing charts. It supports various chart types and customization options.
Infogram: Infogram specializes in creating infographics and charts. It offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of templates.
Visme: Visme is another excellent tool for creating visually engaging charts and infographics. It provides a range of templates and design assets.
ChartBlocks: ChartBlocks is a simple and easy-to-use online chart builder. It supports various chart types and allows you to import data from different sources.

10. How savewhere.net Can Help You Save Money

While mastering Excel charting is great for presentations and data analysis, savewhere.net is your go-to resource for mastering your personal finances. At savewhere.net, we offer a wide array of resources designed to help you save money and achieve your financial goals.

Budgeting Tools: Use our budgeting templates and tools to track your income and expenses, helping you identify areas where you can save.
Deals and Discounts: Discover the latest deals, discounts, and promotions from retailers across the USA, ensuring you get the best prices on your purchases.
Saving Tips: Access expert tips and strategies for saving money on groceries, travel, utilities, and more.
Financial Guides: Explore our comprehensive guides on personal finance topics such as investing, retirement planning, and debt management.
Community Support: Join our community forum to connect with other savers, share tips, and get advice from financial experts.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to transform your financial life. Visit savewhere.net today and start saving money with confidence. Explore our resources, connect with our community, and take control of your financial future.

Address: 100 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States

Phone: +1 (404) 656-2000

Website: savewhere.net

FAQ: Saving Excel Charts as Images

Question	Answer
How do I save a chart in Excel as a high-resolution image?	To save an Excel chart as a high-resolution image, right-click on the chart, select “Save as Picture,” and choose a file format like PNG or TIFF. Ensure the resolution is set to 300 DPI or higher in your image editor before saving.
Can I save multiple charts as images at once in Excel?	Yes, you can save multiple charts as images at once by using a VBA macro. The macro iterates through each chart on the worksheet and saves it as a separate image file.
What is the best image format for saving Excel charts for web use?	The best image format for saving Excel charts for web use is PNG. PNG provides lossless compression, which preserves image quality while keeping the file size relatively small. JPEG is also an option, but it may result in some loss of quality.
How do I remove the background from an Excel chart image?	To remove the background from an Excel chart image, copy the chart, paste it into an image editor like Photoshop or GIMP, and use the background removal tool. Alternatively, you can set the chart’s background to transparent in Excel before saving.
Why does my Excel chart image look blurry?	Your Excel chart image may look blurry due to low resolution, excessive compression, or incorrect scaling. Ensure the resolution is high, use a lossless format like PNG, and avoid stretching the image.
How can I automate saving charts as images in Excel?	You can automate saving charts as images in Excel by using a VBA macro. The macro can be customized to save charts to a specific folder, with a specific file name, and in a specific image format.
Is it possible to save an Excel chart as a vector graphic?	Yes, it is possible to save an Excel chart as a vector graphic by using a format like SVG. However, you may need to use a third-party tool or plugin to export the chart as an SVG file.
How do I ensure my Excel chart image is accessible to everyone?	To ensure your Excel chart image is accessible to everyone, use high-contrast colors, provide alternative text for screen readers, and avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
What online tools can I use to create and save Excel charts as images?	Several online tools can help you create and save Excel charts as images, including Google Sheets, Canva, Plotly, Infogram, and Visme. These tools offer a range of templates and customization options.
How can savewhere.net help me save money?	savewhere.net offers budgeting tools, deals and discounts, saving tips, financial guides, and community support to help you save money and achieve your financial goals. Visit our website to explore our resources and connect with our community.
How do I reduce the file size of an Excel chart image for web use?	To reduce the file size of an Excel chart image for web use, use an image compression tool like TinyPNG or ImageOptim. These tools can significantly reduce the file size without noticeably impacting image quality.
What should I do if my Excel chart image displays differently on other devices?	To ensure your Excel chart image displays consistently on other devices, use standard fonts, embed fonts in the image file, convert to a universally compatible format, and test the image on multiple devices.