[Python] How to convert a 3d RGB NumPy array to float without changing the image?

I am trying to save an image that is in RGB pixel form. For whatever reason, when I call matplotlib.pyplot.imshow, the image is displayed properly.

However, when I call matplotlib.pyplot.imsave, I get an error that the array has to be in float. When I decided to change all the values to float, the image is completely modified. It makes no sense to me.

def display_image(pixels, name=""):
if name:
plt.imsave(name, array)
plt.imshow(array)

pixels = im.getdata()
pixelMap = im.load()
npImage = np.array(pixels).reshape(671, 450, 3)
display_image(npImage) ## great!

# things that I tried
display_image(npImage, "image.jpg") ## error, must be floats.

# changes the images
pixels = list(pixels) ## pixels var originally imagecore class
for index in range(len(pixels)):
pixels[index] = (float(pixels[index][0]), float(pixels[index][1]), float(pixels[index][2]))
display_image(npImage, "monaLisa.jpg") ## works but incorrect image

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