matplotlib2tikz

This is matplotlib2tikz, a Python tool for converting matplotlib figures into PGFPlots (PGF/TikZ) figures like

for native inclusion into LaTeX documents.

The output of matplotlib2tikz is in PGFPlots, a LaTeX library that sits on top of PGF/TikZ and describes graphs in terms of axes, data etc. Consequently, the output of matplotlib2tikz

• retains more information,
• can be more easily understood, and
• is more easily editable

than raw TikZ output. For example, the matplotlib figure

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

plt.style.use("ggplot")

t = np.arange(0.0, 2.0, 0.1)
s = np.sin(2 * np.pi * t)
s2 = np.cos(2 * np.pi * t)
plt.plot(t, s, "o-", lw=4.1)
plt.plot(t, s2, "o-", lw=4.1)
plt.xlabel("time (s)")
plt.ylabel("Voltage (mV)")
plt.title("Simple plot $\\frac{\\alpha}{2}$")
plt.grid(True)

import matplotlib2tikz

matplotlib2tikz.save("test.tex")

(see above) gives

\begin{tikzpicture}

\definecolor{color0}{rgb}{0.886274509803922,0.290196078431373,0.2}
\definecolor{color1}{rgb}{0.203921568627451,0.541176470588235,0.741176470588235}

\begin{axis}[
axis background/.style={fill=white!89.80392156862746!black},
axis line style={white},
tick align=outside,
tick pos=left,
title={Simple plot $\frac{\alpha}{2}$},
x grid style={white},
xlabel={time (s)},
xmajorgrids,
xmin=-0.095, xmax=1.995,
y grid style={white},
ylabel={Voltage (mV)},
ymajorgrids,
ymin=-1.1, ymax=1.1
]
\addplot [line width=1.64pt, color0, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}]
table {%
0 0
0.1 0.587785252292473
% [...]
1.9 -0.587785252292473
};
\addplot [line width=1.64pt, color1, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}]
table {%
0 1
0.1 0.809016994374947
% [...]
1.9 0.809016994374947
};
\end{axis}

\end{tikzpicture}

(Use get_tikz_code() instead of save() if you want the code as a string.)

Tweaking the plot is straightforward and can be done as part of your LaTeX work flow. The fantastic PGFPlots manual contains great examples of how to make your plot look even better.

Of course, not all figures produced by matplotlib can be converted without error. Notably, 3D plots don't work.

Installation

matplotlib2tikz is available from the Python Package Index, so simply type

pip3 install matplotlib2tikz --user

to install/update.

Usage

1. Generate your matplotlib plot as usual.

2. Instead of pyplot.show(), invoke matplotlib2tikz by

   import matplotlib2tikz
   matplotlib2tikz.save("mytikz.tex")

   to store the TikZ file as mytikz.tex.

3. Add the contents of mytikz.tex into your LaTeX source code. A convenient way of doing so is via

   \input{/path/to/mytikz.tex}

   Also make sure that the packages for PGFPlots and proper Unicode support and are included in the header of your document:

   \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
   \usepackage{fontspec}  % optional
   \usepackage{pgfplots}
   \pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
   \usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
   \usepgfplotslibrary{dateplot}

Contributing

If you experience bugs, would like to contribute, have nice examples of what matplotlib2tikz can do, or if you are just looking for more information, then please visit matplotlib2tikz's GitHub page.

Testing

matplotlib2tikz has automatic unit testing to make sure that the software doesn't accidentally get worse over time. In test/, a number of test cases are specified. Those run through matplotlib2tikz and compare the output with a previously stored reference TeX file.

To run the tests, just check out this repository and type

pytest

Distribution

To create a new release

1. bump the __version__ number,

2. publish to PyPi and GitHub:

   $ make publish
   

License

matplotlib2tikz is published under the MIT license.