diff --git a/src/lib/cli.py b/src/lib/cli.py
index 926fa93..799b608 100644
--- a/src/lib/cli.py
+++ b/src/lib/cli.py
@@ -68,4 +68,6 @@ def main():
 
             format = plot.default_save_format()
 
-        plot.save(args.save, format=format)
+        path = args.save / f"{args.get_save_file_stem()}.{format}"
+        plot.save_to_path(path)
+        print(f"wrote to {path}")
diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptor.py b/src/lib/data/adaptor.py
index 00a0e05..486dcaf 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptor.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptor.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import xarray as xr
 
 from lib.data.data_with_attrs import DataWithAttrs, Field, List, Metadata
+from lib.has_name_fragments import HasNameFragments
 
 
 def _fail_apply_field(adaptor_type: type[Adaptor]):
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ def _fail_apply_list(adaptor_type: type[Adaptor]):
     raise RuntimeError(message)
 
 
-class Adaptor:
+class Adaptor(HasNameFragments):
     def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         if isinstance(data, List):
             return self.apply_list(data)
@@ -33,9 +34,6 @@ def apply_list(self, data: List) -> DataWithAttrs:
     def apply_field(self, data: Field) -> DataWithAttrs:
         _fail_apply_list(self.__class__)
 
-    def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
-        return []
-
 
 class MetadataAdaptor(Adaptor):
     """Wraps `apply` to perform standard metadata mutations."""
@@ -49,8 +47,6 @@ def get_modified_unit_latex(self, metadata: Metadata) -> str:
     def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         data = super().apply(data)
 
-        name_fragments = data.metadata.name_fragments + self.get_name_fragments()
-
         var_infos = data.metadata.var_infos
         if data.metadata.active_key is not None and data.metadata.active_key in var_infos:
             display_latex = self.get_modified_display_latex(data.metadata)
@@ -59,10 +55,7 @@ def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
             new_dim = old_dim.assign(display=display_latex, unit=unit_latex)
             var_infos = {**var_infos, data.metadata.active_key: new_dim}
 
-        return data.assign_metadata(
-            name_fragments=name_fragments,
-            var_infos=var_infos,
-        )
+        return data.assign_metadata(var_infos=var_infos)
 
 
 class BareAdaptor(MetadataAdaptor):
diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptors/display.py b/src/lib/data/adaptors/display.py
index 92edab6..e757e08 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptors/display.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptors/display.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ def __init__(self, target: str | None, value: str):
 
     def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         metadata = data.metadata
-        name_fragments = metadata.name_fragments + self.get_name_fragments()
 
         target = self.target or metadata.active_key
         if target is None:
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         old_dim = metadata.var_infos[target]
         new_dim = old_dim.assign(display=self.value)
         new_var_infos = {**metadata.var_infos, target: new_dim}
-        return data.assign_metadata(name_fragments=name_fragments, var_infos=new_var_infos)
+        return data.assign_metadata(var_infos=new_var_infos)
 
     def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
         return [f"display_{self.target or 'active'}={self.value}"]
diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptors/unit.py b/src/lib/data/adaptors/unit.py
index 0e94f4f..45d7e8f 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptors/unit.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptors/unit.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ def __init__(self, target: str | None, value: str):
 
     def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         metadata = data.metadata
-        name_fragments = metadata.name_fragments + self.get_name_fragments()
 
         target = self.target or metadata.active_key
         if target is None:
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
         old_dim = metadata.var_infos[target]
         new_dim = old_dim.assign(unit=self.value)
         new_var_infos = {**metadata.var_infos, target: new_dim}
-        return data.assign_metadata(name_fragments=name_fragments, var_infos=new_var_infos)
+        return data.assign_metadata(var_infos=new_var_infos)
 
     def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
         return [f"unit_{self.target or 'active'}={self.value}"]
diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptors/versus.py b/src/lib/data/adaptors/versus.py
index 9ef2c50..3c127a2 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptors/versus.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptors/versus.py
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ def __init__(self, spatial_dims: list[str], time_dim: str | None, color_dim: str
         self.all_dims = spatial_dims + ([time_dim] if time_dim else []) + ([color_dim] if color_dim else [])
 
     def apply_field(self, data: Field) -> Field:
-        # going to cut out name fragments of inner adaptors, since they can be inferred
-        initial_name_fragments = data.metadata.name_fragments
-
         # 1. apply implicit coordinate transforms, as necessary
         for dim_name in self.all_dims:
             # 1a. already have the coordinate; do nothing
@@ -46,13 +43,9 @@ def apply_field(self, data: Field) -> Field:
             spatial_dims=self.spatial_dims.copy(),
             time_dim=self.time_dim,
             color_dim=self.color_dim,
-            name_fragments=initial_name_fragments,
         )
 
     def apply_list(self, data: List) -> List:
-        # going to cut out name fragments of inner adaptors, since they can be inferred
-        initial_name_fragments = data.metadata.name_fragments
-
         # 1. coordinate transform
         # TODO
 
@@ -69,7 +62,6 @@ def apply_list(self, data: List) -> List:
             spatial_dims=spatial_dims,
             time_dim=self.time_dim,
             color_dim=self.color_dim,
-            name_fragments=initial_name_fragments,
         )
 
     def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
diff --git a/src/lib/data/adaptors/with_.py b/src/lib/data/adaptors/with_.py
index 1065859..c7f66a6 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/adaptors/with_.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/adaptors/with_.py
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@ def __init__(self, key: str):
         self.key = key
 
     def apply(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> DataWithAttrs:
-        return data.assign_metadata(
-            active_key=self.key,
-            name_fragments=data.metadata.name_fragments + self.get_name_fragments(),
-        )
+        return data.assign_metadata(active_key=self.key)
 
     def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
         return [f"with_{self.key}"]
diff --git a/src/lib/data/data_with_attrs.py b/src/lib/data/data_with_attrs.py
index d3d84f4..03d4597 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/data_with_attrs.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/data_with_attrs.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 @dataclass(kw_only=True, frozen=True)
 class Metadata:
     active_key: str | None = None
-    name_fragments: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
     spatial_dims: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     time_dim: str | None = None
diff --git a/src/lib/data/loader.py b/src/lib/data/loader.py
index e69b2fc..939ace1 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/loader.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/loader.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 
 from lib.data.data_source import DataSource
 from lib.file_util import get_available_steps
+from lib.has_name_fragments import HasNameFragments
 
 
-class Loader(DataSource):
+class Loader(DataSource, HasNameFragments):
     @classmethod
     @abstractmethod
     def discover_prefixes(cls, data_dir: Path) -> list[str]:
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ def __init__(self, prefix: str, active_key: str | None = None):
         self.steps = get_available_steps(prefix + ".", "." + self.suffix())
         self.active_key = active_key
 
-    def _get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
+    def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
         fragments = [self.prefix]
         if self.active_key is not None:
             fragments.append(self.active_key)
diff --git a/src/lib/data/loaders/field_bp.py b/src/lib/data/loaders/field_bp.py
index 2f1a383..30d4d74 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/loaders/field_bp.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/loaders/field_bp.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ def get_data(self) -> Field:
         var_info = {key: lookup(self.prefix, key) for key in ds.variables}
         metadata = FieldMetadata(
             active_key=self.active_key,
-            name_fragments=self._get_name_fragments(),
             prefix=self.prefix,
             var_infos=var_info,
         )
diff --git a/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_bp.py b/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_bp.py
index c49d3c1..0ff72af 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_bp.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_bp.py
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ def get_data(self) -> LazyList:
         # species suffix when looking up per-column metadata.
         var_infos = {key: lookup("prt", key) for key in data.dims}
         return data.assign_metadata(
-            name_fragments=self._get_name_fragments(),
             active_key=self.active_key,
             var_infos=var_infos,
         )
diff --git a/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_h5.py b/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_h5.py
index 2c97aec..77ffa33 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_h5.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/loaders/particle_h5.py
@@ -215,7 +215,6 @@ def get_data(self) -> LazyList:
 
         var_infos = {key: lookup(self.prefix, key) for key in df_with_metadata.dims}
         return df_with_metadata.assign_metadata(
-            name_fragments=self._get_name_fragments(),
             active_key=self.active_key,
             var_infos=var_infos,
             subject=Latex(r"\text{Particles}"),
diff --git a/src/lib/data/pipeline.py b/src/lib/data/pipeline.py
index a8e9411..2543998 100644
--- a/src/lib/data/pipeline.py
+++ b/src/lib/data/pipeline.py
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ class Pipeline(Adaptor):
     def __init__(self, *adaptors: Adaptor):
         self.adaptors = list(adaptors)
 
-    def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
-        return [fragment for adaptor in self.adaptors for fragment in adaptor.get_name_fragments()]
-
     def apply(self, data):
         for adaptor in self.adaptors:
             data = adaptor.apply(data)
diff --git a/src/lib/has_name_fragments.py b/src/lib/has_name_fragments.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b987939
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/has_name_fragments.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+class HasNameFragments:
+    def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
+        return []
diff --git a/src/lib/parsing/args.py b/src/lib/parsing/args.py
index 2acda96..7d4dd3b 100644
--- a/src/lib/parsing/args.py
+++ b/src/lib/parsing/args.py
@@ -29,3 +29,8 @@ def get_animation(self) -> Plot:
             plot.add_hook(hook)
 
         return plot
+
+    def get_save_file_stem(self) -> str:
+        sources = [self.loader, *self.adaptors, *self.hooks]
+        fragments = [frag for src in sources for frag in src.get_name_fragments()]
+        return "-".join(fragments)
diff --git a/src/lib/plotting/animated_plot.py b/src/lib/plotting/animated_plot.py
index f17d4eb..fe1a117 100644
--- a/src/lib/plotting/animated_plot.py
+++ b/src/lib/plotting/animated_plot.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def show(self):
     def allowed_save_formats(self) -> list[SaveFormat]:
         return ["mp4", "gif"]
 
-    def _save_to_path(self, path: Path):
+    def save_to_path(self, path: Path):
         self._initialize()
         writer = PillowWriter() if path.suffix == ".gif" else FFMpegWriter()
         self.anim.save(path, writer=writer)
diff --git a/src/lib/plotting/hook.py b/src/lib/plotting/hook.py
index d807d6a..9cb4749 100644
--- a/src/lib/plotting/hook.py
+++ b/src/lib/plotting/hook.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from typing import Any
 
+from lib.has_name_fragments import HasNameFragments
 
-class Hook:
+
+class Hook(HasNameFragments):
     def post_add_hook(self, add_data: Any):
         pass
 
diff --git a/src/lib/plotting/hooks/scale.py b/src/lib/plotting/hooks/scale.py
index e181f48..d2ea080 100644
--- a/src/lib/plotting/hooks/scale.py
+++ b/src/lib/plotting/hooks/scale.py
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ def to_axis_scale(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> plt_util.AxisScaleArg:
     def to_color_norm(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> plt_util.ColorNormArg:
         return self.scale_key
 
+    def to_name_fragment_part(self) -> str:
+        return str(self.scale_key)
+
     @classmethod
     def to_argparse_format(cls) -> str:
         return cls.scale_key
@@ -73,6 +76,11 @@ def to_color_norm(self, data: DataWithAttrs) -> plt_util.ColorNormArg:
         linthresh = self.linear_threshold or self._choose_linear_threshold(data)
         return SymLogNorm(linthresh)
 
+    def to_name_fragment_part(self) -> str:
+        if self.linear_threshold is None:
+            return self.scale_key
+        return f"{self.scale_key}{parse_util.SUBARG_DELIM}{self.linear_threshold}"
+
     @classmethod
     def to_argparse_format(cls) -> str:
         return f"{cls.scale_key}[{parse_util.SUBARG_DELIM}{cls.LINEAR_THRESHOLD_ARG_FORMAT}]"
@@ -122,6 +130,10 @@ def pre_init_fig(self, init_data):
                 message = f"'{self.dim_name}' isn't a dimension"
                 raise Exception(message)
 
+    def get_name_fragments(self) -> list[str]:
+        maybe_dim_name = f"{self.dim_name}=" if self.dim_name is not None else ""
+        return [f"scale_{maybe_dim_name}{self.scale.to_name_fragment_part()}"]
+
 
 ANY_SCALE_ARGS_FORMAT = "{" + ",".join(scale_type.to_argparse_format() for scale_type in SCALE_TYPES) + "}"
 SCALE_FORMAT = f"[dim_name=]{ANY_SCALE_ARGS_FORMAT}"
@@ -133,7 +145,7 @@ def pre_init_fig(self, init_data):
     help="set the axis/color scale of the dependent variable or specified dimension (default: linear)",
     dest="hooks",
 )
-def parse_vline(arg: str) -> Scale:
+def parse_scale(arg: str) -> Scale:
     if "=" in arg:
         dim_name, scale_arg = parse_util.parse_assignment(arg, SCALE_FORMAT)
         parse_util.check_identifier(dim_name, "dim_name")
diff --git a/src/lib/plotting/plot.py b/src/lib/plotting/plot.py
index 99d7150..8e33d60 100644
--- a/src/lib/plotting/plot.py
+++ b/src/lib/plotting/plot.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def add_hook(self, hook: Hook):
     def show(self): ...
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def _save_to_path(self, path: Path): ...
+    def save_to_path(self, path: Path): ...
 
     @abstractmethod
     def allowed_save_formats(self) -> list[SaveFormat]: ...
@@ -40,13 +40,6 @@ def allowed_save_formats(self) -> list[SaveFormat]: ...
     def default_save_format(self) -> SaveFormat:
         return self.allowed_save_formats()[0]
 
-    def save(self, dir: Path, format: SaveFormat | None = None):
-        format = format or self.default_save_format()
-        name = "-".join(self.data.metadata.name_fragments) + "." + format
-        path = dir / name
-        self._save_to_path(path)
-        print(f"wrote to {path}")
-
     def pre_init_fig(self, init_data: Any):
         for hook in self.hooks:
             hook.pre_init_fig(init_data)
diff --git a/src/lib/plotting/static_plot.py b/src/lib/plotting/static_plot.py
index 3ed2732..9f0e37e 100644
--- a/src/lib/plotting/static_plot.py
+++ b/src/lib/plotting/static_plot.py
@@ -32,6 +32,6 @@ def show(self):
     def allowed_save_formats(self) -> list[SaveFormat]:
         return ["png"]
 
-    def _save_to_path(self, path: Path):
+    def save_to_path(self, path: Path):
         self._initialize()
         self.fig.savefig(path, dpi=300.0)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 9d354ba..ea4b2a5 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -45,10 +45,9 @@ def make_save(args_list: list[str], save_dir: Path, format: SaveFormat, data_dir
         args = get_parsed_args(args_list)
         plot = args.get_animation()
         save_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
-        plot.save(save_dir, format=format)
-
-        name = "-".join(plot.data.metadata.name_fragments) + "." + format
-        return save_dir / name
+        path = save_dir / f"{args.get_save_file_stem()}.{format}"
+        plot.save_to_path(path)
+        return path
     finally:
         if data_dir is not None:
             CONFIG.data_dir = original_dir
diff --git a/tests/test_save_filename.py b/tests/test_save_filename.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79b0b37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_save_filename.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import pytest
+
+from lib.data.compile import compile_source
+from lib.parsing.parse import get_parsed_args
+
+
+def _stem(args_list: list[str]) -> str:
+    args = get_parsed_args(args_list)
+    compile_source(args.loader, args.adaptors)  # mutates args.adaptors: appends default Versus
+    return args.get_save_file_stem()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "args_list, expected_stem",
+    [
+        (["pfd", "hx_fc"], "pfd-hx_fc-vs_y,z;time=t"),
+        (["pfd", "hx_fc", "--nan0"], "pfd-hx_fc-nan0-vs_y,z;time=t"),
+        (["pfd", "hx_fc", "--scale", "log"], "pfd-hx_fc-vs_y,z;time=t-scale_log"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_save_file_stem(args_list, expected_stem):
+    assert _stem(args_list) == expected_stem