Re: [Matplotlib-users] Feature request: nice grouping in postscript output

[John H. <jdh...@ac...>]

>>>>> "Andrew" == Andrew Straw <as...@in...> writes:

    Andrew> While we're pointing to potential backends, may I suggest
    Andrew> (for the distant future) that VTK be used as a backend
    Andrew> once matplotlib goes 3D?  I've been using (the Python
    Andrew> bindings for) it for a while now and think it blows
    Andrew> everything else out of the water.  A matplotlib bridge to
    Andrew> it would be awesome as a simple interface, and data could
    Andrew> be automatically saved in a .vtk format, making
    Andrew> arbitrarily sophisticated things possible. (Mayavi being a
    Andrew> good intermediate.)

I have worked a lot with VTK and as part of a subdural 3D electrode
localization application (python/pygtk/vtk) I wrote but haven't
released yet (screenshots below).

I was planning on going to VTK for the 3D support in the mythical
matplotlib 1.0.  VTK is truly an amazing library -- I was just reading
the textbook again last night (which I recommend if you haven't read
it -- the textbook is better than the user's guide).  I think I could
spend a year just trying to get my head fully wrapped around VTK.

The one area of VTK that I haven't been impressed by is the fonts,
which is one reason I didn't go with it when I made my initial choice
of backends.  The other reason is that is a big library so I was
hesitant to make it a prerequisite.  But now that enthought
distributes python with vtk built-in, and it could be one backend
among the others, it is a great idea.  The VTK people would probably
like it too, since it would ease chart/graph production for them.  So
much to do!

Electrode localization program

  http://nitace.bsd.uchicago.edu:8080/summer/jdh/loc3djr_shot3.png

High coherences between cortical electrodes

  http://nitace.bsd.uchicago.edu:8080/summer/jdh/coherence.png

Thought you might be interested to see them.

JDH