From: David P. S. <dps...@ci...> - 2013-07-21 00:40:46
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On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 7:38 PM, David P. Sanders < dps...@ci...> wrote: > > > > On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 5:36 PM, < > mat...@li...> wrote: > >> Send Matplotlib-devel mailing list submissions to >> mat...@li... >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> mat...@li... >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> mat...@li... >> >> 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 >> (Adrian Price-Whelan) >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 18:36:42 -0400 >> From: Adrian Price-Whelan <adr...@gm...> >> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] Plot or Not: voting to create better >> matplotlibrc >> To: mat...@li... >> Message-ID: >> <CAEUL7mENjKC4ZYeSsm+7Yq7h4oYiA1nMPKi= >> E9p...@ma...> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >> >> Hi, >> >> Definitely don't link from matplotlib. This was a fun hack put together to >> get people talking about re-styling -- success! >> >> > OK, sorry for the noise. The site is beautiful and functional, and I'm > very glad that you got the discussion flowing! > > > I have to echo Chris' disappointment about the discussion of defaults in >> MPL. While there are certainly many subjective elements of style and >> design, there are also a number of rules that the default settings violate >> (as Chris mentions below). The way I interpret the push-back to replacing >> the defaults is: "there are too many better alternatives that we will >> never >> agree upon, so let's just keep what's there." To 0th order, just pick one! >> Fixing the few things that Chris mentions below will go a long way to >> modernizing the MPL feel and experience. There many other things I would >> like to change about the defaults, but maybe the right thing to do is just >> issue a pull request so we can discuss on there? >> > > I agree about the defaults, we desperately need to modernize the look of > the plots to be competitive with ggplot2 etc. > > >> >> As a longer term idea, I propose: >> - normalize what can and can't be modified with an rc file -- right now, >> it's kind of all over the place >> > > I really do object to the 'rc' terminology. > According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_commands: > > > The term *rc* stands for the phrase "*run commands*". It is used for > any file that contains startup information for a > > command. It is believed to have originated somewhere in 1965 > > And this is my problem with 'rc': it brings to mind an arcane config file > hidden away somewhere that has a terrible syntax and must not be touched. > > As Chris and Adrian have emphasized, the point is that we *should* be > tweaking away at the parameters all the time. > I propose to rename as mpl_params=rcParams > > At https://gist.github.com/dpsanders/6047005 I have uploaded a short > script which should be added to the matplotlib documentation, where I show > how it looks to use mpl_params. > I think it is much clearer and more inviting to tweak! > Sorry, I meant to send the nbviewer version, and call it a notebook, not a script! http://nbviewer.ipython.org/6047005 David > > David. > > > >> >> 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 <bea...@ha...> >> > Date: Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 5:47 PM >> > Subject: Re: Plot or Not: voting to create better matplotlibrc >> > To: mat...@li... >> > >> > >> > 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, < >> > mat...@li...> wrote: >> > >> >> Send Matplotlib-devel mailing list submissions to >> >> mat...@li... >> >> >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> >> mat...@li... >> >> >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> >> mat...@li... >> >> >> >> 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 <ef...@ha...> >> >> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] Plot or Not: voting to create better >> >> matplotlibrc >> >> To: mat...@li... >> >> Message-ID: <51E...@ha...> >> >> 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) >> >> > >> >> > dps...@ci... <mailto:dps...@ci...> >> >> > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders >> >> > <http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/%7Edsanders> >> >> > >> >> > 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 >> >> > Mat...@li... >> >> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> >> >> Message: 2 >> >> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 08:55:37 -1000 >> >> From: Eric Firing <ef...@ha...> >> >> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib >> >> plots? >> >> To: mat...@li... >> >> Message-ID: <51E...@ha...> >> >> 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...@ou...> >> >> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] Plot or Not: voting to create better >> >> matplotlibrc >> >> To: Eric Firing <ef...@ha...> >> >> Cc: matplotlib development list >> >> <mat...@li...> >> >> Message-ID: >> >> <CANNq6F=pdWohTRYLqEkG3oy6VoWYJ= >> >> c4Q...@ma...> >> >> 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" <ef...@ha...> 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) >> >> > > >> >> > > dps...@ci... <mailto:dps...@ci...> >> >> > > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders >> >> > > <http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/%7Edsanders> >> >> > > >> >> > > 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 >> >> > > Mat...@li... >> >> > > 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 >> >> > Mat...@li... >> >> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> >> > >> >> -------------- next part -------------- >> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> >> >> Message: 4 >> >> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 15:03:20 -0400 >> >> From: Benjamin Root <ben...@ou...> >> >> Subject: Re: [matplotlib-devel] How to use STIX fonts in matplotlib >> >> plots? >> >> To: "David P. Sanders" <dps...@ci...> >> >> Cc: matplotlib development list >> >> <mat...@li...> >> >> Message-ID: >> >> <CANNq6Fm0Oz= >> >> 3uk...@ma...> >> >> 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" < >> dps...@ci...> >> >> 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) >> >> > >> >> > dps...@ci... >> >> > 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 >> >> > Mat...@li... >> >> > 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 >> >> Mat...@li... >> >> 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 -------------- >> 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 >> Mat...@li... >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> >> >> End of Matplotlib-devel Digest, Vol 86, Issue 19 >> ************************************************ >> > > > > -- > Dr. David P. Sanders > > Profesor Titular "A" / Associate Professor > Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias > Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) > > dps...@ci... > http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders > > Cubículo / office: #414, 4o. piso del Depto. de Física > > Tel.: +52 55 5622 4965 > -- Dr. David P. Sanders Profesor Titular "A" / Associate Professor Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) dps...@ci... http://sistemas.fciencias.unam.mx/~dsanders Cubículo / office: #414, 4o. piso del Depto. de Física Tel.: +52 55 5622 4965 |