Exporting maps
In short: Open the map and click Download at the top right of the map. In Research Map Snapshot, choose a Format (PNG, JPEG, WEBP, SVG or PDF), the Area (Whole diagram or Viewport), a Theme, the size and the Resolution (72 to 600 dpi), then click Export format. The file downloads to your computer.
Steps
- Open the map in the Research Maps tab and style it the way you want. See Map controls and styling.
- Click Download at the top right of the map.
- Choose a Format.
- Choose an Area: Whole diagram for the entire map, or Viewport for exactly what's on screen.
- Choose a Theme: Dark or Light.
- Check the File name.
- Set Dimensions, Resolution and any format-specific options (see the table).
- Click Export PNG (or the format you chose).
Options
| Option | Choices | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | PNG, JPEG, WEBP, SVG, PDF | PNG | WEBP appears only if your browser can create it. |
| Area | Whole diagram, Viewport | Whole diagram | Viewport captures the current view, including zoom. |
| Theme | Dark, Light | Your current stage theme | Changes the background for the export only. |
| File name | Any text | The map's name | The extension changes with the format (JPEG saves as .jpg). |
| Dimensions | Width W and height H in pixels | Your map area's size | The lock button keeps the aspect ratio. It's on by default. |
| Resolution | 72dpi, 96dpi, 150dpi, 300dpi, 600dpi | 96dpi | Not used for SVG or vector PDF. A line shows the final size, for example "Output: 4444 × 3691 px". |
| Quality | 50–100% | 92% | JPEG and WEBP only. |
| Type | Vector, Image | Vector | PDF only. Vector stays sharp at any zoom; Image embeds a picture. |
| Orientation | Portrait, Landscape | Matches your map area's shape | PDF only. |
| Border | Pixels | 0 | Adds a margin around the map. |
| Transparent background | On or off | On | PNG, SVG and WEBP only. Other formats say, for example, "JPEG has no transparency". |
Which format should I use?
| Use | Format |
|---|---|
| Journal figure or poster | PDF (Vector) or SVG, or PNG at 300 or 600 dpi |
| Slides | PNG at 150 dpi, Light theme |
| Web page or chat | WEBP or JPEG |
| Editing in a design tool | SVG |
Tips
- What you see is what you export. Set thresholds, colors, labels and the timeline first.
- For print, switch Theme to Light and turn Transparent background off if your page background isn't white.
- Use Viewport to export a zoomed-in cluster as its own figure.
- Very large outputs show "very large; it may be clamped to what your device can render." Lower the dimensions or resolution if the result looks cut down.
Troubleshooting
- WEBP isn't in the list. Your browser can't create WEBP images. Use PNG or JPEG.
- Resolution is greyed out. It doesn't apply to SVG or to PDF with Vector type.
- Transparent background is greyed out. The format doesn't support transparency. Choose PNG, SVG or WEBP.
- The export looks cut down or blurry. The output was too large for your device. Reduce Dimensions or Resolution, or choose a vector format.
- Labels are missing. Check that labels are turned on under Labeling & length in Node Style, then export again.
FAQ
Can I export the data behind a map?
Not from the map. You can export the publications themselves as a bibliography from the Library. See Citations and reference styles.
How do I get a 300 dpi figure?
Choose PNG, set Resolution to 300dpi and keep your dimensions. Or choose PDF with Vector type, which stays sharp at any size.
Can I export several maps at once?
No. Export one map at a time.
Who can see an exported image?
Only people you share the file with. Exports are saved to your computer. Separately, SciNodes keeps small preview images of maps for the gallery; see Sharing maps.