Exporting Diagrams

Diagrammix3 supports exporting your diagrams in various formats for use in documents, presentations, websites, and other applications.

Export Formats

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

• Lossless compression
• Supports transparency
• Best for diagrams with text and sharp edges
• Widely compatible

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

• Lossy compression (smaller file size)
• No transparency support
• Better for photographic content
• Not ideal for text-heavy diagrams

PDF (Portable Document Format)

• Vector format (scales without quality loss)
• Ideal for printing
• Preserves text as searchable/selectable
• Supports multiple pages

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

• Vector format
• Editable in vector editors (Illustrator, Figma, etc.)
• Perfect for web use
• Scales infinitely without quality loss

VSDX (Microsoft Visio)

• Native Visio 2013+ format
• Full round-trip: import → edit → export back
• Preserves shapes, connectors, text, styles, and pages
• See Visio Import & Export for full details

ASCII Text

• Plain text export of ASCII diagram pages
• Choose between ASCII and Unicode character sets
• Set maximum line width
• Perfect for embedding in code, documentation, and terminals
• See ASCII Diagrams for full details

Export as Image

To export your diagram as a bitmap image (PNG or JPEG):

1. Go to File → Export as Image...
2. Configure the export options in the dialog that appears
3. Click Export
4. Choose a save location in the standard Save dialog
5. Click Save

Export Options

The Export as Image dialog provides four settings:

Format

Choose between two image formats:

• PNG — Lossless compression, supports transparency. Best for diagrams with text and sharp edges.
• JPEG — Lossy compression, smaller file size. No transparency support.

DPI (Resolution)

Select the output resolution:

Higher DPI values produce larger, more detailed images.

Background

• White (default) — Solid white background
• Transparent — No background (PNG only)

When JPEG format is selected, the background is automatically set to White and the option is disabled, since JPEG does not support transparency.

Transparent backgrounds are useful for:

• Overlaying diagrams on other content
• Website graphics
• Presentation slides with custom backgrounds

Margin

Extra space around the diagram content in pixels. Default is 5 px. Set to 0 for no margin.

Other Export Methods

Export to PDF

1. Go to File → Print or press Cmd+P
2. Click the PDF dropdown in the bottom-left of the print dialog
3. Select Save as PDF

This creates a high-quality PDF that preserves vector graphics.

Export to SVG

1. Go to File → Export... or press Cmd+Shift+E
2. Choose SVG format
3. Select a save location

See SVG Support for full details.

Export to Visio

See Visio Import & Export for details on exporting to VSDX format.

Export to ASCII Text

See ASCII Diagrams for details on text-based export.

Best Practices

For Web

• Use PNG for diagrams with text and sharp edges
• Use SVG for interactive or scalable graphics
• Export at 144 DPI (Retina) for crisp display on high-DPI screens
• Use transparent background when overlaying on colored pages

For Documents

• Use PDF for Word, Pages, or printing
• Use PNG at 144 or 300 DPI for Google Docs
• Ensure sufficient margin around content

For Presentations

• Use PNG at 144 DPI for clear display on projectors
• Use transparent background for flexible placement

For Printing

• Use PDF for best quality
• Use 300 DPI for raster formats
• Include margins for bleed

Tips

1. Higher DPI = larger files: 300 DPI images are roughly 4× larger than 72 DPI
2. Test transparency: Verify transparent areas display correctly in your target application
3. Keep originals: Always save the .diagramx file alongside exports
4. Name consistently: Use descriptive file names for organization