matplotlib-devel

[matplotlib-devel] label= kwarg for imshow() and other scalarmappable plots

[Benjamin R. <ben...@ou...>]

So, for plot(), scatter() and other plotting functions, we can provide a
label= kwarg so that a legend() can automatically populate the legend,
making it extremely easy and convenient for making legends.  But for
image-based (scalar mappable) type plotting functions like imshow() and
contourf(), the label kwarg doesn't do anything useful, but the colorbar()
is sort of analogous to a legend(), but for scalar mappables.

Does it make sense to others for the following to be equivalent:

> plt.imshow(z)
> cbar = plt.colorbar()
> cbar.set_label('foobar')

> plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
> plt.colorbar()


I found that it is a small change to make this work, I just wanted to know
if others think this makes sense before putting in the time to add
documentation, modify examples and such.

Cheers!
Ben Root

Re: [matplotlib-devel] label= kwarg for imshow() and other scalarmappable plots

[Eric F. <ef...@ha...>]

On 2013/03/24 12:14 PM, Benjamin Root wrote:
> So, for plot(), scatter() and other plotting functions, we can provide a
> label= kwarg so that a legend() can automatically populate the legend,
> making it extremely easy and convenient for making legends.  But for
> image-based (scalar mappable) type plotting functions like imshow() and
> contourf(), the label kwarg doesn't do anything useful, but the
> colorbar() is sort of analogous to a legend(), but for scalar mappables.
>
> Does it make sense to others for the following to be equivalent:
>
>  > plt.imshow(z)
>  > cbar = plt.colorbar()
>  > cbar.set_label('foobar')
>
>  > plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
>  > plt.colorbar()
>

I understand your argument, but it feels a bit odd.  To me it would be 
more natural for colorbar() itself to accept a label kwarg.  I have no 
idea why I didn't do that long ago.

The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.

Eric

>
> I found that it is a small change to make this work, I just wanted to
> know if others think this makes sense before putting in the time to add
> documentation, modify examples and such.
>
> Cheers!
> Ben Root
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Everyone hates slow websites. So do we.
> Make your web apps faster with AppDynamics
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>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>

Re: [matplotlib-devel] label= kwarg for imshow() and other scalarmappable plots

[Phil E. <pel...@gm...>]

In general I like the idea, but I'm not sure what behaviour I would expect
in this case:

plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
plt.imshow(z, label='wibble')
plt.colorbar()

I suppose it is an analogous problem to:

plt.imshow(z, cmap='hot')
plt.imshow(z, cmap='jet')
plt.colorbar()

Which produces a colorbar for the [current scalar mappable]/gci.

On that basis, I've just convinced myself that your proposal is a good
idea, so +1 from me.





On 25 March 2013 07:03, Eric Firing <ef...@ha...> wrote:

> On 2013/03/24 12:14 PM, Benjamin Root wrote:
> > So, for plot(), scatter() and other plotting functions, we can provide a
> > label= kwarg so that a legend() can automatically populate the legend,
> > making it extremely easy and convenient for making legends.  But for
> > image-based (scalar mappable) type plotting functions like imshow() and
> > contourf(), the label kwarg doesn't do anything useful, but the
> > colorbar() is sort of analogous to a legend(), but for scalar mappables.
> >
> > Does it make sense to others for the following to be equivalent:
> >
> >  > plt.imshow(z)
> >  > cbar = plt.colorbar()
> >  > cbar.set_label('foobar')
> >
> >  > plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
> >  > plt.colorbar()
> >
>
> I understand your argument, but it feels a bit odd.  To me it would be
> more natural for colorbar() itself to accept a label kwarg.  I have no
> idea why I didn't do that long ago.
>
> The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.
>
> Eric
>
> >
> > I found that it is a small change to make this work, I just wanted to
> > know if others think this makes sense before putting in the time to add
> > documentation, modify examples and such.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > Ben Root
> >
> >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Everyone hates slow websites. So do we.
> > Make your web apps faster with AppDynamics
> > Download AppDynamics Lite for free today:
> > http://p.sf.net/sfu/appdyn_d2d_mar
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Matplotlib-devel mailing list
> > Mat...@li...
> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Everyone hates slow websites. So do we.
> Make your web apps faster with AppDynamics
> Download AppDynamics Lite for free today:
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/appdyn_d2d_mar
> _______________________________________________
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>

Re: [matplotlib-devel] label= kwarg for imshow() and other scalarmappable plots

[Benjamin R. <ben...@ou...>]

On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 3:03 AM, Eric Firing <ef...@ha...> wrote:

> On 2013/03/24 12:14 PM, Benjamin Root wrote:
> > So, for plot(), scatter() and other plotting functions, we can provide a
> > label= kwarg so that a legend() can automatically populate the legend,
> > making it extremely easy and convenient for making legends.  But for
> > image-based (scalar mappable) type plotting functions like imshow() and
> > contourf(), the label kwarg doesn't do anything useful, but the
> > colorbar() is sort of analogous to a legend(), but for scalar mappables.
> >
> > Does it make sense to others for the following to be equivalent:
> >
> >  > plt.imshow(z)
> >  > cbar = plt.colorbar()
> >  > cbar.set_label('foobar')
> >
> >  > plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
> >  > plt.colorbar()
> >
>
> I understand your argument, but it feels a bit odd.  To me it would be
> more natural for colorbar() itself to accept a label kwarg.  I have no
> idea why I didn't do that long ago.
>
> The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.
>
> Eric
>
>
Indeed, it isn't.  The way to make this work is to allow ColorbarBase to
accept a label kwarg.  That's basically all that is needed.  Most of the
work would go into documentation and updating examples.

Ben

Re: [matplotlib-devel] label= kwarg for imshow() and other scalarmappable plots

[Damon M. <dam...@gm...>]

On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 2:03 AM, Eric Firing <ef...@ha...> wrote:
> On 2013/03/24 12:14 PM, Benjamin Root wrote:
>> So, for plot(), scatter() and other plotting functions, we can provide a
>> label= kwarg so that a legend() can automatically populate the legend,
>> making it extremely easy and convenient for making legends.  But for
>> image-based (scalar mappable) type plotting functions like imshow() and
>> contourf(), the label kwarg doesn't do anything useful, but the
>> colorbar() is sort of analogous to a legend(), but for scalar mappables.
>>
>> Does it make sense to others for the following to be equivalent:
>>
>>  > plt.imshow(z)
>>  > cbar = plt.colorbar()
>>  > cbar.set_label('foobar')
>>
>>  > plt.imshow(z, label='foobar')
>>  > plt.colorbar()
>>
>
> I understand your argument, but it feels a bit odd.  To me it would be
> more natural for colorbar() itself to accept a label kwarg.  I have no
> idea why I didn't do that long ago.
>
> The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.

Yeah, I agree with Eric here; plt.colorbar(label='foo') feels more
intuitive to me.

>
> Eric
>
>>
>> I found that it is a small change to make this work, I just wanted to
>> know if others think this makes sense before putting in the time to add
>> documentation, modify examples and such.
>>
>> Cheers!
>> Ben Root
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Everyone hates slow websites. So do we.
>> Make your web apps faster with AppDynamics
>> Download AppDynamics Lite for free today:
>> http://p.sf.net/sfu/appdyn_d2d_mar
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Matplotlib-devel mailing list
>> Mat...@li...
>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Everyone hates slow websites. So do we.
> Make your web apps faster with AppDynamics
> Download AppDynamics Lite for free today:
> http://p.sf.net/sfu/appdyn_d2d_mar
> _______________________________________________
> Matplotlib-devel mailing list
> Mat...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel



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