Print Targeted Plots

Make plots suitable for printed publication.

This module contains functions to improve the appearance of matplotlib plots that will appear in print. The recommended usage is to first decide on a font size that suits the figure; for example, 8 point font may be used for a single-column figure. The font size will be passed to the relevant convenience functions, which adjust plot features in accordance with it.

Next, run set_ink_weight() before creating the figure. After plotting, use the other convenience functions to adjust the figure parameters before calling show() or savefig().

Current capabilities of the module

set_ink_weight

Change the rc settings for widths of figure lines, markers, and fonts.

adjust_label_padding

Change axes label padding of all axes.

adjust_eb_caps

Change errorbar cap widths.

adjust_grid_dashes

Change dash spacing of grid lines of all axes.

adjust_legends

Change legends to be borderless, but with a background.

turn_frame_off

Turn off axes frame box and ticks, but leave background.

adjust_boxplot

Change colors of boxplot to be more subtle. Uses blue and black. Also changes some line weights and dash spacing.

Example

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import print_targeted_plots as ptp
font_size = 8
ptp.set_ink_weight(font_size)
fig1, (ax1, ax2) = plt.subplots(2, 1, figsize=(3.42, 3.), dpi=150)
abc = np.array([1,2,3,4])
ax1.plot(abc, 'go--', label='abc')
(_, caps, _) = ax1.errorbar(abc-1, abc, yerr=abc/10., fmt=None)
ax1.yaxis.grid(True)
ax1.set_axisbelow(True)
ax1.legend()
ptp.adjust_label_padding(font_size)
ptp.adjust_eb_caps(font_size, caps)
ptp.adjust_grid_dashes(font_size)
ptp.adjust_legends()
ptp.turn_frame_off(ax2)