Mastering Matplotlib Font Customization

Introduction

This lab will guide you through the process of changing the family of fonts for each individual text element in a plot using the Python Matplotlib library.

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Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup(["`Basic Concepts`"]) matplotlib(("`Matplotlib`")) -.-> matplotlib/PlottingDataGroup(["`Plotting Data`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/ControlFlowGroup(["`Control Flow`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataStructuresGroup(["`Data Structures`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/ModulesandPackagesGroup(["`Modules and Packages`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/AdvancedTopicsGroup(["`Advanced Topics`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/PythonStandardLibraryGroup(["`Python Standard Library`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup(["`Data Science and Machine Learning`"]) python(("`Python`")) -.-> python/FunctionsGroup(["`Functions`"]) python/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> python/comments("`Comments`") matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/importing_matplotlib("`Importing Matplotlib`") matplotlib/BasicConceptsGroup -.-> matplotlib/figures_axes("`Understanding Figures and Axes`") matplotlib/PlottingDataGroup -.-> matplotlib/line_plots("`Line Plots`") python/ControlFlowGroup -.-> python/for_loops("`For Loops`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/tuples("`Tuples`") python/DataStructuresGroup -.-> python/sets("`Sets`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/importing_modules("`Importing Modules`") python/ModulesandPackagesGroup -.-> python/standard_libraries("`Common Standard Libraries`") python/AdvancedTopicsGroup -.-> python/iterators("`Iterators`") python/PythonStandardLibraryGroup -.-> python/math_random("`Math and Random`") python/DataScienceandMachineLearningGroup -.-> python/data_visualization("`Data Visualization`") python/FunctionsGroup -.-> python/build_in_functions("`Build-in Functions`") subgraph Lab Skills python/comments -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} matplotlib/importing_matplotlib -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} matplotlib/figures_axes -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} matplotlib/line_plots -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/for_loops -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/tuples -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/sets -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/importing_modules -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/standard_libraries -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/iterators -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/math_random -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/data_visualization -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} python/build_in_functions -.-> lab-48825{{"`Matplotlib Math Fontfamily`"}} end

Import Required Libraries

First, we need to import the required libraries. We will be using Matplotlib to create the plot and to manipulate the text elements.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

Create the Plot

Now, we will create a simple plot for the background using the plot() function.

fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(6, 5))
ax.plot(range(11), color="0.9")

Set Text in the Plot

Next, we will set the text in the plot using the text() function. We will use the math_fontfamily parameter to change the font family for each individual text element.

## A text mixing normal text and math text.
msg = (r"Normal Text. $Text\ in\ math\ mode:\ "
       r"\int_{0}^{\infty } x^2 dx$")

## Set the text in the plot.
ax.text(1, 7, msg, size=12, math_fontfamily='cm')

## Set another font for the next text.
ax.text(1, 3, msg, size=12, math_fontfamily='dejavuserif')

Set Font for the Title

We can also change the font family for the title using the math_fontfamily parameter.

ax.set_title(r"$Title\ in\ math\ mode:\ \int_{0}^{\infty } x^2 dx$",
             math_fontfamily='stixsans', size=14)

Display the Plot

Finally, we will display the plot using the show() function.

plt.show()

Summary

In this lab, we learned how to change the family of fonts for each individual text element in a plot using the math_fontfamily parameter in Matplotlib. This feature allows us to customize the look of our plots and make them more visually appealing.

Matplotlib Math Fontfamily