# R: List of Graphical Devices

Devices {grDevices} | R Documentation

## List of Graphical Devices

### Description

The following graphics devices are currently available:

- `postscript` Writes PostScript graphics commands to a file
- `pdf` Write PDF graphics commands to a file
- `pictex` Writes LaTeX/PicTeX graphics commands to a file
- `xfig` Device for XFIG graphics file format
- `bitmap` bitmap pseudo-device via `GhostScript` (if available).

The following devices will be available if R was compiled to use them:

- `X11` The graphics driver for the X11 Window system
- `png` PNG bitmap device
- `jpeg` JPEG bitmap device

### Details

If no device is open, using a high-level graphics function will cause a device to be opened. Which device is given by `options("device")` which is initially set as the most appropriate for each platform: a screen device for most interactive use and `postscript` otherwise. The exception is interactive use under Unix if no screen device is known to be available, when `postscript()` is used for most systems; `pdf()` for Mac OS X.

### See Also

The individual help files for further information on any of the devices listed here;

`dev.interactive`, `dev.cur`, `dev.print`, `graphics.off`, `image`, `dev2bitmap`.

`capabilities` to see if `X11`, `jpeg` and `png` are available.

### Examples

    ## Not run:
    ## open the default screen device on this platform if no device is
    ## open
    if(dev.cur() == 1) get(getOption("device"))()
    ## End(Not run)

[Package grDevices version 2.6.0 Index]