Re: [matplotlib-devel] default font size rc setting

[Darren D. <dd...@co...>]

On Thursday 09 February 2006 11:22, you wrote:
> >>>>> "Darren" == Darren Dale <dd...@co...> writes:
>
>     Darren> I just want to double check before I commit this. We offer
>     Darren> a font.size rc setting, and users can modify that size by
>     Darren> setting fontsize='medium' or 'large', etc. However,
>     Darren> font.size does not globally set the default font size, to
>     Darren> axis labels, ticklabels, etc, they remain 12pt as
>     Darren> default. Should this be changed? If so, the change is
>     Darren> simple: from this: def __init__(self, size=12.0,
>     Darren> weight='normal'): to this: def __init__(self,
>     Darren> size=rcParams['font.size'], weight='normal'):
>
> If you want to use rc defaults for kwargs, you do not want to use them
> in the function definition, because then they will be set a module
> load time and the defaults cannot be changed dynamically.  Rather, you
> want to use this idiom (eg lines.py)
>
>
>     def __init__(self, xdata, ydata,
>                  linewidth       = None, # all Nones default to rc
>                  ...):
>         if linewidth is None   : linewidth=rcParams['lines.linewidth']
>
> Then if the user changes the rc param value, the constructor default
> changes too.

Ok. So currently a user can put font.size:23.0, or font.size:medium or even 
"large". The latter makes things very confusing, because who knows what the 
reference point is? (Its 12, but its not clear.)

I propose the following change: font.defaultsize demands a point size, and 
then allow the relative font sizes to scale that size. Also, add a 
text.fontsize rc parameter to allow such scaling for text (this is what 
font.size does now, I think). 

Are these changes ok, or should I just leave everything alone? 

Darren