[Matplotlib-users] Color Bar enhancements?

[James B. <bo...@ll...>]

I have attached a figure (colorBarExample.png) that I hope everybody 
can see.

The figure is for data from a model whose gridbox size is a function of 
time and space. I have done a color fill using a color map (jet) and a
normalization. I use a collection of patches, each patch defines a 
polygon of the vertices of the gridbox and a color indexed to the value 
in that gridbox.
I have to modify the call to the colorbar so that it accepts this 
colormap and normalization.

For values outside the range of the max and min of the normalization, I 
have added filled triangles above and below the color bar.
This type of display is found in other visualization software. It 
allows the scale to just consider values of interest, while providing 
information as to the location and relative values of outliers.

I have also modified the colorbar code( in figure.py)  to scale the 
width of the colorbar. I generate plots with aspect ratios of x axis 
long with respect to the y axis and in this situation the colorbar gets 
to be too fat.

The purpose of this long winded message is to advocate that the color 
bar code be modified to make this facility an option( ie specified 
color map, normalization, width scaling and end caps).

I am willing to do this myself - but I would need some help. 
Previously, John suggested that I make the routine that does the fill 
calls derive from ScalarMappable. This would make the colorbar color 
map and scaling come along naturally. My skill level is such that I 
have not been
able to get this to work - I am willing but not very able. My thought 
now is to make some substantial additions to colorbar.


--Jim
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