wedme-plots 2.0

We Don't Make Embarrassing Plots. Matplotlib styles for papers, posters and presentations.

👗 wedme-plots: We Don't Make Embarrassing Plots

Matplotlib styles for papers, posters and presentations. Tailored for academic use.

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import wedme

# Open a figure in `paper` style, with size (PAPER_CW, PAPER_DH)
# which equals (journal column width, default height)
wedme.figure.paper_cw_dh()

# Open a figure with the style `slide` and size (SLIDE_TW, SLIDE_HH) 
# which equals (1/3 slide width, 1/2 slide height)
wedme.figure.slide_tw_hh()

Styling

We applied a clean style. The style and sizes of paper style are compatible with most journals (Nature, Science, Elsevier). The slide style is compatible with a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation. poster is compatible with A0 posters.

Usage

Import the wedme module and apply the desired style. Then proceed with matplotlib plotting as you're used to.

Example:

import wedme

# These commands apply a style to subsequent Matplotlib figures.

# For Elsevier-compatible paper styles
wedme.paper()

# For a 16:9 Powerpoint slide
wedme.slide()

# For A0 posters (not implemented yet)
wedme.poster()

# Proceed with plotting as usual
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

x = np.linspace(0, np.pi, 1000)

plt.figure()
plt.plot(x, np.sin(x), label="Sine")
plt.plot(x, np.cos(x), label="Cosine")
plt.show()

Sizing

For custom figure sizes, we include reference points for every style:

• Paper. Default size: (wedme.PAPER_CW, wedme.paper_GH)
  • wedme.PAPER_FW is the full textwidth of an Elsevier journal, 190mm.
  • wedme.PAPER_CW is the full columnwidth of an Elsevier journal in two-column layout, 90mm.
  • wedme.PAPER_GH is the height that has a golden ratio (1:1.618) to wedme.PAPER_CW.
• Slide. Default size: (wedme.SLIDE_TW, wedme.slide_HH)
  • wedme.SLIDE_FW, wedme.SLIDE_HW and wedme.SLIDE_TW represent 100%, 50% and 33% of the width of a Powerpoint 16:9 Widescreen slide.
  • wedme.SLIDE_FH, wedme.SLIDE_HH and wedme.SLIDE_TH represent 100%, 50% and 33% of the height of a Powerpoint 16:9 Widescreen slide.

These can be used as follows:

import wedme
wedme.slide()
# Create a new figure that occupies 33% of the width of a ppt slide and 50% its height.
plt.figure(figsize=(wedme.SLIDE_TW, wedme.SLIDE_HH))

Alternatively, we provide functions to compress the above code:

wedme.figure.slide_tw_hh()

Such a function exists for every combination of heights and widths for a given style.

To open a figure with one of wedme's styles without applying any sizing, use e.g.

wedme.figure.slide()

Powerpoint

Powerpoint automatically resizes artwork to a size that is different from the export size. To undo this:

• Insert the figure in Powerpoint.
• Picture Format > Reset Picture > Reset Picture & Size.

Fonts

Sans-serif fonts are the standards for figures because they remain readable even when small or pixelated. Helvetica or Arial fonts are preferred by Nature, Science and Elsevier.

We try to find Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Inter, Nimbus Sans on your system, in that order. The first font found will be applied to the figures.

Exporting

wedme sets the pdf.fonttype parameter to 42 as recommended by Nature. This ensures that the text is editable even after exporting a pdf. wedme also changes the parameters figure.autolayout and savefig.bbox such that the specified sizes are respected.

For saving figures, consider using pypdfplot to maintain the ability to later change how data is displayed. Of course, we don't make embarassing plots to begin with.

Examples