how to make hollow square marks with matplotlib in python

Question

Black line in the following graph is plotting using the below command for matplotlib python

pylab.semilogy(xaxis, pq_averages, 'ks-',color='black', label='DCTCP-PQ47.5')

So 'ks-' part indicates solid line with square black marks. So it had solid squares for the plotted points. Can these squares be made hollow instead?

enter image description here

microseconds is typically one word :-) – jedwards Jun 08 '12 at 23:20 — jedwards, Jun 08 '12 at 23:20

score 50 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 16 '19 at 06:32

50

Try adding markerfacecolor like so:

pylab.semilogy(xaxis, pq_averages, 'ks-', markerfacecolor='none', label='DCTCP-PQ47.5')

edited Jan 16 '19 at 06:32

Ethan Coon

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answered Jun 08 '12 at 23:20

Hugh Bothwell

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Nice answer. Slightly improved would be to use `markerfacecolor='none'`, but in general, your solution will be perfect 90% of the time. – pelson Jun 15 '12 at 06:40
@pelson: yes, that is better - I was not aware that 'none' was accepted as a color. – Hugh Bothwell Jun 15 '12 at 12:42
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@HughBothwell, can you edit the answer to use markerfacecolor='none'? – David Roundy Apr 30 '15 at 00:18
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In matplotlib 3.0.2, there is apparently no markerfacecolor. facecolor='none' does work. – Alex I Feb 21 '19 at 07:13
For those who run out of space writing parameters for pyplot: `markerfacecolor` can be abbreviated `mfc`, there are also `mec` and even `mew`. See [documentation](https://matplotlib.org/stable/api/_as_gen/matplotlib.pyplot.plot.html#matplotlib-pyplot-plot). – mins Apr 07 '23 at 21:07
For those that get `markerfacecolor` is an unexpected argument while trying a scatter plot, you should instead use `facecolors='none'`. [Reference](https://stackoverflow.com/a/59474817/5809639) – IndefiniteBen May 12 '23 at 14:58

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 31 '17 at 09:58

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Setting markerfacecolor='white' does not actually make them hollow, it makes them white. In order to make them hollow, you need to set markerfacecolor='none'. Additionally, you need to set markeredgecolor to the color you want. So:

pylab.semilogy(xaxis, pq_averages, 'ks-',color='black',
       label='DCTCP-PQ47.5', markerfacecolor='none', markeredgecolor='black')

Will do the job for you.

edited Oct 31 '17 at 09:58

divenex

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answered Nov 17 '16 at 19:39

Saber

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"Additionally, you need to set `markerfacecolor` to the color you want." You mean `markeredgecolor` here, right? – lanery Nov 17 '16 at 20:48

how to make hollow square marks with matplotlib in python

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