How to create a function that outputs a matplotlib figure?

Question

My aim is to create a function that outputs a figure.

If I try to call my function multiple times in a script, it only shows the figure from the first call. Only once I close the first figure, that the program creates the second and so on and so forth.

my function roughly looks like this:

def graphs(...,fig):
...
ax = plt.figure(fig)
...
...
plt.show

For the moment the function doesn't return anything, is there a way I could output the graph or at least make it so that it doesn't stop creating figures after the first one?

are you plotting something new everytime? or Is it the same graph that is updating its values? — Digvijayad, Jul 31 '15 at 13:18
Something new everytime. Ideally a new figure everytime the function is called, without closing the ones already created — chubaz, Jul 31 '15 at 13:23
http://matplotlib.org/faq/usage_faq.html#coding-styles You should write functions which take in an axes and return the new artists added. — tacaswell, Jul 31 '15 at 13:50

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

Use plt.figure().canvas.draw(). Check this thread: How to update a plot in matplotlib?

Your method then becomes

def graphs(..., fig):
    ax = plt.figure(fig)
    plt.figure().canvas.draw()

Finally, call plt.show() at the end of your loop

for ...:
  graphs(...., arg)
plt.show()

This will plot all figures in multiple windows. Beware that it will create one window per figure. Use subplots if you have huge number of images

How to create a function that outputs a matplotlib figure?

1 Answers1