Hi Mike, I'm not sure about the textpath functionality. Most of the 'easy' marker types have been specified already (triangles, squares etc). Are the latex symbols defined somewhere that you could easily extract a path description of them, and then pass that to the textpath code you have? This would be perfect, since you could then apply the properties changes already there (like color, size, linewidth etc), and you wouldnt necessarily need latex to render the markers.
Even if you could manage to make a path description for (all) the markers, they might not exactly correspond to the latex symbols which would be one of the main aims- for eg. using text.usetex with the pdf backend you could match the fonts in your graph to your latex document and it would all look very nice ;) I agree that the best approach would be to make a new marker style '$...$' and pass the string inside to whatever renders the math text. I hadn't consider making a patch myself- but perhaps I'll take a look and see if something can be done (any pointers on the use of the math text code would be appreciated...)- either way I will file an enhancement request to keep track of it. thanks, tcb On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Michael Droettboom <md...@stsci.edu> wrote: > That's a very interesting idea. I actually think that with the recent > textpath functionality that Jae-Joon added, we may be able to tie text and > markers together without too much pain. Then it can advantage of all the > performance optimizations in draw_markers. Each of the marker styles now > contains a function that draws a path for the marker and then passes that to > draw_marker. We could add one that draws an arbitrary text path, and then > passes that along. I propose that Line.set_marker supports a new marker > style "$...$" which would render whatever "..." is as math text. > > Were you offering to try to produce a patch yourself? Either way, it would > be great to file an enhancement request in the tracker so this idea doesn't > get lost. It's a good one. > > Mike > > tcb wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> Is there some way to add support for latex symbols as markers? >> >> I think it would be an extension of the current methods for plotting >> markers- since I dont think all the color, edge, line style etc >> properties would be relevant (or even possible). However, it would >> allow arbitrary symbols (at least whatever latex can do) to be used, >> which would be really useful. >> >> The current marker set is fine for most simple plots- but when there >> are a few different symbols it quickly becomes tricky to find a set >> which can easily be distinguished from each other. The other problem >> is that when preparing a graph for publication, it is occasionally >> necessary to be able to refer to or quote the symbols in the caption >> or the main text- and latex symbols in the graphs would make this look >> a bit better. >> >> I've had a quick look at how the marker symbols are implemented, and >> it is my impression that it would be reasonably hard to implement a >> new symbol of choice. On the other hand, since I am already using >> latex to produce all the text in the graph, it seems it should be >> fairly straightforward (with some careful attention to the >> positioning...) to use the same text-drawing code which is used for >> the legend, axes labels etc, to put the markers on the plot. >> >> Is there any interest in this? >> >> thanks, >> >> tcb >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Come build with us! The BlackBerry(R) Developer Conference in SF, CA >> is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your >> developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay >> ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9 - 12, 2009. Register now! >> http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconference >> _______________________________________________ >> Matplotlib-devel mailing list >> Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel >> > > -- > Michael Droettboom > Science Software Branch > Operations and Engineering Division > Space Telescope Science Institute > Operated by AURA for NASA > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Come build with us! The BlackBerry(R) Developer Conference in SF, CA is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9 - 12, 2009. Register now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconference _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-devel mailing list Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
