then:
- each plot in the matplotlib gallery should have a drop-down menu with
~3-5 style options
- these options can be named or whatever, but should be complete
matplotlibrc files that can either be a) shipped with matplotlib, or b)
very easily downloaded and installed (think:
matplotlib.rc_install('name-of-style'))
- on each gallery entry page, selecting an option from the drop-down should
show the same plot made with the specified rc style
I'm happy to help implement this stuff, but I think this would be a
tremendous resource to the community.
And if you decide to reject everything from this email, *please* at least
change the default colormap 
#downwithJet
- Adrian
From: Chris Beaumont <beaumont@…229…>
> Date: Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 5:47 PM
> Subject: Re: Plot or Not: voting to create better matplotlibrc
> To: matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>
>
> Hi,
>
> I thought I'd chime in on this discussion – Adrian Price-Whelan and I
put
> together plotornot during the SciPy sprints.
>
> I wouldn't advocate for linking to plotornot from matplotlib – the idea
> is semi tongue-in-cheek, and meant to gauge to what extent there is
> consensus about plot styles. It's not set up to teach about rcParams, nor
> does it systematically explore all possible styles. The votes (>10K,
last I
> checked) are saved, and eventually Adrian or I will look over the
feedback
> and report back to you all. I haven't had time for that yet. I hope the
> name didn't *actually* offend anyone.
>
> At the risk of sounding unappreciative of MPL (which I love, and rely
upon
> daily), I must admit I was disheartened after hearing the MPL devs at
SciPy
> discuss styles and defaults. I understand that you don't want to change
the
> default styles without a clearly better alternative. I also understand
> that, to some extent, style preferences are subjective. However, there
> seemed to be quite a bit of resistance to the idea that MPL defaults
should
> change *at all.*
>
> Even if you ignore the subjective component of this (which I think is a
> mistake, since in my experience there is broad consensus that projects
like
> ggplot2, d3, tableau, and spotfire do a "better" job than MPL at
styling),
> there are some well-established visual principles that matplotlib
violates.
> Some of my biggest pet peeves are:
>
> 1) The default 'axes.color_cycle' values should be equally visible, with
> similar luminance values. The current defaults (bgrcmyk) do not have this
> property – c and y are harder to see, and thus carry less visual
emphasis.
> A color table like the "Dark2" color brewer table (
> http://learnr.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/colours-dark2.png,
> colorbrewer2.org) is more uniform, and carefully designed for visibility
> and contrast. 'rgbcmyk' is clearly an arbitrary choice – why not use a
> smarter default?
>
> 2) The default 'jet' colormap for images has a lot of poor properties
> (which is even mentioned on the MPL docs at
> http://matplotlib.org/api/pyplot_summary.html#id1). The brain is bad at
> ordering changes in hue (which is bigger – purple or yellow?), and
better
> at ordering changes in intensity or saturation. A colleague of mine
> designed a visualization tool for doctors, and found that the rainbow
color
> table had a dramatic negative effect on the effectiveness of the tool
(you
> can watch her TED talk about this at
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU7veyGGps4&t=440s). The jet default is
> especially frustrating, since it *cannot* be modified via rcParams
>
> 3) Some of the defaults violate Tufte principles like minimizing "chart
> junk." For example, the 'stepfilled' mode for hist is probably better
than
> the default, which draws vertical lines between every bin. Those lines
make
> the histogram noisier – do they convey any extra information? Again,
this
> can't be tweaked via rcParams.
>
> Sorry for being long-winded – I just want to make the case that this is
> an important (and not *entirely* subjective) issue. If nothing else, it
> would be great to see some clear statement about where the MPL devs stand
> on this issue – what criteria must be met to consider a change to the
> defaults? My apologies if such a document already exists somewhere!
>
> Cheers,
> Chris Beaumont
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 3:03 PM, < > > matplotlib-devel-request@lists.sourceforge.net> wrote:
>
>> Send Matplotlib-devel mailing list submissions to
>> matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>>
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of Matplotlib-devel digest…"
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> 1. Re: Plot or Not: voting to create better matplotlibrc
>> (Eric Firing)
>> 2. Re: How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib plots? (Eric Firing)
>> 3. Re: Plot or Not: voting to create better matplotlibrc
>> (Benjamin Root)
>> 4. Re: How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib plots? (Benjamin Root)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 08:20:11 -1000
>> From: Eric Firing <efiring@…229…>
>> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] Plot or Not: voting to create better
>> matplotlibrc
>> To: matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> Message-ID: <51EAD4DB.5040906@…229…>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> On 2013/07/20 4:18 AM, David P. Sanders wrote:
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > Probably many of you know about "Plot or Not", a site where we vote on
>> > the same plot presented in different ways, to get feedback about
better
>> > matplotlibrc params:
>> >
>> > http://warm-escarpment-9042.herokuapp.com/
>> >
>> > It seems to me an absolutely fantastic idea! I think many people do
not
>> > realise how fantastic the plots can look with some of this modern
>> > styling. (Styling was mentioned several times at SciPy.)
>> >
>> > Would it be possible to put a link to this site on the matplotlib web
>> > page and encourage people to use it?
>>
>> David,
>>
>> Interesting, but I'm not sure this is a good approach. I really don't
>> see the point of the voting. What I think would be more useful would be
>> a set of matplotlibrc files with examples of their effect on at least a
>> few plot types.
>>
>> >
>> > Definitely time to update the defaults!!
>>
>> Or maybe include a representative set of rcParams combinations to make
>> it easier for people to choose a design that suits their purpose. This
>> could be part of a toolkit.
>>
>> Eric
>>
>> >
>> > Best wishes,
>> > David.
>> >
>> > –
>> > Dr. David P. Sanders
>> >
>> > Profesor Titular "A" / Associate Professor
>> > Departamento de F?sica, Facultad de Ciencias
>> > Universidad Nacional Aut?noma de M?xico (UNAM)
>> >
>> > dpsanders@…1147… <mailto:dpsanders@…1147…>
>> > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders
>> > <http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders>
>> >
>> > Cub?culo / office: #414, 4o. piso del Depto. de F?sica
>> > Tel.: +52 55 5622 4965
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
>> > Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from AppDynamics
>> > Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
>> > Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
>> >
>>
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> > Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 08:55:37 -1000
>> From: Eric Firing <efiring@…229…>
>> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib
>> plots?
>> To: matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> Message-ID: <51EADD29.6080601@…229…>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> On 2013/07/20 4:41 AM, David P. Sanders wrote:
>> > I find the default font used in matplotlib horrible. We should be able
>> > to do much better these days.
>>
>> Which font is being used as default on your installation? And what are
>> the characteristics that earn the rating of "horrible"?
>>
>> Eric
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 14:58:12 -0400
>> From: Benjamin Root <ben.root@…553…>
>> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] Plot or Not: voting to create better
>> matplotlibrc
>> To: Eric Firing <efiring@…229…>
>> Cc: matplotlib development list
>> <matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net>
>> Message-ID:
>> <CANNq6F=pdWohTRYLqEkG3oy6VoWYJ=
>> c4Qob7vJ5q-SrE7tcrqA@…150…>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> >From discussions with others at SciPy, we found ourselves disagreeing
on
>> what default we would want. We also weren't sure exactly which params
were
>> the ones that people tended to change. We have zero data on this. This
>> site
>> is intended to help start that data collection process.
>>
>> We can certainly improve this site to collect other kinds of info, but
>> this
>> is just a start. One could also view this as a launching point for
>> teaching
>> how to use rcParams (sorry David, i kinda like that name) in mpl. You
all
>> know I never let a good teaching moment go to waste!
>>
>> As for linking from matplotlib.org, I am ambivalent. It is a bit
>> gimmicky,
>> and I do worry about being counterproductive to efforts in SciPy to be
>> more
>> inclusive of women (given the rather anti-feministic undertones of the
>> site
>> we are parodying). Of course, that could just be me being overly
cautious.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Ben Root
>> On Jul 20, 2013 2:20 PM, "Eric Firing" <efiring@…229…> wrote:
>>
>> > On 2013/07/20 4:18 AM, David P. Sanders wrote:
>> > > Hi,
>> > >
>> > > Probably many of you know about "Plot or Not", a site where we vote
on
>> > > the same plot presented in different ways, to get feedback about
>> better
>> > > matplotlibrc params:
>> > >
>> > > http://warm-escarpment-9042.herokuapp.com/
>> > >
>> > > It seems to me an absolutely fantastic idea! I think many people do
>> not
>> > > realise how fantastic the plots can look with some of this modern
>> > > styling. (Styling was mentioned several times at SciPy.)
>> > >
>> > > Would it be possible to put a link to this site on the matplotlib
web
>> > > page and encourage people to use it?
>> >
>> > David,
>> >
>> > Interesting, but I'm not sure this is a good approach. I really don't
>> > see the point of the voting. What I think would be more useful would
be
>> > a set of matplotlibrc files with examples of their effect on at least
a
>> > few plot types.
>> >
>> > >
>> > > Definitely time to update the defaults!!
>> >
>> > Or maybe include a representative set of rcParams combinations to make
>> > it easier for people to choose a design that suits their purpose.
This
>> > could be part of a toolkit.
>> >
>> > Eric
>> >
>> > >
>> > > Best wishes,
>> > > David.
>> > >
>> > > –
>> > > Dr. David P. Sanders
>> > >
>> > > Profesor Titular "A" / Associate Professor
>> > > Departamento de F?sica, Facultad de Ciencias
>> > > Universidad Nacional Aut?noma de M?xico (UNAM)
>> > >
>> > > dpsanders@…1147… <mailto:dpsanders@…1147…>
>> > > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders
>> > > <http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders>
>> > >
>> > > Cub?culo / office: #414, 4o. piso del Depto. de F?sica
>> > > Tel.: +52 55 5622 4965
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > > See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
>> > > Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from
AppDynamics
>> > > Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
>> > > Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
>> > >
>> >
>>
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> > > Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
>> > Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from AppDynamics
>> > Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
>> > Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
>> >
>>
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> > Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>> >
>> -------------- next part --------------
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 15:03:20 -0400
>> From: Benjamin Root <ben.root@…553…>
>> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib
>> plots?
>> To: "David P. Sanders" <dpsanders@…1147…>
>> Cc: matplotlib development list
>> <matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net>
>> Message-ID:
>> <CANNq6Fm0Oz=
>> 3ukXYH4yFA0qbHi2j7-sjdhkCzyrkU-4ELRdyow@…150…>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> David,
>>
>> IIRC, we were just starting to investigate how to produce retina
graphics.
>> Perhaps you might be able to help Mike D and Michael de Hoon with there
>> efforts because very few of us have retina displays.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Ben Root
>> On Jul 20, 2013 10:43 AM, "David P. Sanders" < > dpsanders@…1147…> > >> wrote:
>>
>> > I find the default font used in matplotlib horrible. We should be able
>> to
>> > do much better these days.
>> >
>> > One very interesting option, at least for standard (paper) publishing,
>> is
>> > the STIX fonts, which is a Times-like font set promoted by several
>> > publishers.
>> >
>> > There are various options in matplotlib, such as
>> > matplotlib.rcParams["mathtext.fontset"], which allow the option
"stix",
>> > but I have not been able to get it to work. Can anybody please help me
>> with
>> > this – what is required?
>> >
>> > I have the STIX otf or ttf installed on my Mac, but I don't seem to
>> manage
>> > to get the LaTeX versions installed – installing LaTeX fonts is *so*
>> > disgusting (is there some helper script for that?).
>> >
>> > Thanks and best wishes,
>> > David.
>> >
>> > –
>> > Dr. David P. Sanders
>> >
>> > Profesor Titular "A" / Associate Professor
>> > Departamento de F?sica, Facultad de Ciencias
>> > Universidad Nacional Aut?noma de M?xico (UNAM)
>> >
>> > dpsanders@…1147…
>> > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders
>> >
>> > Cub?culo / office: #414, 4o. piso del Depto. de F?sica
>> >
>> > Tel.: +52 55 5622 4965
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
>> > Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from AppDynamics
>> > Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
>> > Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
>> >
>>
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> > Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>> >
>> >
>> -------------- next part --------------
>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed…
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
>> Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from AppDynamics
>> Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
>> Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
>>
>>
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net
>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>>
>>
>> End of Matplotlib-devel Digest, Vol 86, Issue 17
>> ************************************************
>>
>
>
>
> –
> ************************************
> Chris Beaumont
> Graduate Student
> Institute for Astronomy
> University of Hawaii at Manoa
> 2680 Woodlawn Drive
> Honolulu, HI 96822
> www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~beaumont
> ************************************
>
>
>
> –
> ************************************
> Chris Beaumont
> Graduate Student
> Institute for Astronomy
> University of Hawaii at Manoa
> 2680 Woodlawn Drive
> Honolulu, HI 96822
> www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~beaumont
> ************************************
>
--
Adrian M. Price-Whelan ~ Columbia University ~ http://adrian.pw
-------------- next part --------------
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See everything from the browser to the database with AppDynamics
Get end-to-end visibility with application monitoring from AppDynamics
Isolate bottlenecks and diagnose root cause in seconds.
Start your free trial of AppDynamics Pro today!
http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=48808831&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk
------------------------------
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