Why does my plot line appear outside the axes?

I'm trying to make a double y-axis plot of data that extends beyond the x-axis limits of the plot. When I save the plot as a .png, the plot lines appear outside the right axis of the plot.

Here's code for a simplified version of what I'm trying that produces the issue:

x = [0 1 2 3 4];
yl = [0 1 2 4 3];
yr = [0 2 3 1 2];
yyaxis left
plot(x, yl)
yyaxis right
plot(x, yr)
xlim([1 3])
saveas(gcf,'[PATH].png')

And here's the image that's saved:

I know that there's a workaround of shortening the data arrays to the range of the x-axis limits before plotting, but I was wondering if there's a more elegant solution.

[Adam Danz]

I could not reproduce this in MATLAB online. See Star Strider's answer. If that doesn't fix it, please save the figure as a fig file and attach it here.

I'm puzzled because the image in your question has gaps in the lines where the right y axis ticks are. Something's fishy here. @Jamie Bragg, is this image what appears in MATLAB or does it only appear in the png exported image?

Here's the plot your code produces using the Run feature (currently using R2024a)

x = [0 1 2 3 4];
yl = [0 1 2 4 3];
yr = [0 2 3 1 2];
yyaxis left
plot(x, yl)
yyaxis right
plot(x, yr)
xlim([1 3])

[Jamie Bragg]

The image I sent is the png exported image. It looks fine in MATLAB. (I tried exporting as a tiff and it looks the same as the png.)

Here's the fig file.

[Sam Chak]

Actually, when I ran this in MATLAB online, it briefly displayed the extension of the lines before automatically correcting itself and saved the expected result as 'test.png'.

[Adam Danz]

This appears to be a bug but I cannot reproduce it in MATLAB Online on my end.

@Jamie Bragg, @Sam Chak, and anyone else who sees this bug:

Could you share what this returns in MATLAB online using a figure that displays the problem? Feel free to reply here or, if you'd prefer, via email by using the contact button in my profile.

ax = gca(); 
r = rendererinfo(ax)
r.Details

Also, please let me know what browser you're using.

[Paul]

Seems to run o.k. here.

x = [0 1 2 3 4];
yl = [0 1 2 4 3];
yr = [0 2 3 1 2];
figure
yyaxis left
plot(x, yl)
yyaxis right
plot(x, yr)
xlim([1 3])
saveas(gcf,'temp.png')

figure
imshow(imread('temp.png'));

[Sam Chak]

Hi @Adam Danz

I'm using Google Chrome. I re-ran the code in MATLAB Online and added the rendererinfo() command. It briefly displayed the extension of the lines (image 1) before automatically correcting itself (image 2). I also copied the output displayed in the Command Window and pasted it below. The PNG image is also attached.

Thank you for looking into this matter.

Image #1:

Image #2:

Output displayed in the Command Window:

>> untitled

r =

struct with fields:

GraphicsRenderer: 'OpenGL Software'

Vendor: 'Brian Paul'

Version: '2.1 Mesa 17.1.3'

RendererDevice: 'Mesa X11'

Details: [1x1 struct]

ans =

struct with fields:

HardwareSupportLevel: 'None'

SupportsDepthPeelTransparency: 1

SupportsAlignVertexCenters: 1

SupportsGraphicsSmoothing: 0

MaxTextureSize: 16384

MaxFrameBufferSize: 16384

>>

[Jamie Bragg]

@Adam Danz I was originally using MATLAB desktop, which is where the bug occurs. When I run the code you suggest, I get:

r = 

  struct with fields:

    GraphicsRenderer: 'OpenGL Hardware'
              Vendor: 'Intel'
             Version: '4.5.0 - Build 31.0.101.4953'
      RendererDevice: 'Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics'
             Details: [1×1 struct]


ans = 

  struct with fields:

            RendererDriverVersion: '31.0.101.4953'
        RendererDriverReleaseDate: '2023-11-7'
             HardwareSupportLevel: 'Full'
    SupportsDepthPeelTransparency: 1
       SupportsAlignVertexCenters: 1
        SupportsGraphicsSmoothing: 1
                   MaxTextureSize: 16384
               MaxFrameBufferSize: 16384

When using MATLAB online (Firefox), the saved PNG image doesn't have the issue. I get the same information as Sam Chak when running the commands you suggest.

[Adam Danz]

@Sam Chak and @Jamie Bragg thanks for sharing this renderer information. It shows exactly what I needed to see. I'll take it from here and add this bug to our tracker. Thanks again for your help and cooperation!

Answer 1

[Adam Danz]

This appears to be a bug specific to the OpenGL renderer. Thanks for reporting this issue. Investigation will continue internally.

[Sam Chak]

Thank you, @Adam Danz.

Answer 2

[Sam Chak]

Because the xlim() command is used on the right y-axis plot.

x  = [0 1 2 3 4];
yl = [0 1 2 4 3];
yr = [0 2 3 1 2];
yyaxis left
plot(x, yl), xlim([1 3])
yyaxis right
plot(x, yr), xlim([1 3])

% saveas(gcf,'[PATH].png')

[Jamie Bragg]

I tried running your code and I still have the same issue as before. The image you showed is the saved png file right?

[Sam Chak]

Nope, it was generated by MATLAB online. The saveas() command has issue. Try this one instead:

print('myPlot', '-dpng')

[Jamie Bragg]

Tried using the print() command, and I have the same issue.

[Sam Chak]

@Jamie Bragg, If the image is displayed correctly in MATLAB, what happens when you save the figure again after it has been properly rendered?

[Jamie Bragg]

I saved the figure manually from the figure MATLAB figure window after it rendered, and looks fine!

But if I run the command to save it after it's rendered, it still has the clipping issue.