How can I stop Matplotlib from repeating colors?

Question

I have this code:

plist = ['p5', 'p14', 'p23', 'p32', 'p41', 'p50', 'p59', 'p68', 'p77', 'p85', 'p95']


for pltcount in range(len(plist)):
    plt.plot(data1[pltcount], np.exp(data2)[pltcount], marker='o', label=str(plist[pltcount]))
plt.legend()
plt.show()

This is using the plt.style.use('fivethirtyeight') to make the plots nicer. I have found examples where I manually assign the colors. What if I want it to be automatic and from some well-known palettes?

cs95 · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-08T00:20:43.087

10

How about the colors of the rainbow? The key here is to use ax.set_prop_cycle to assign colors to each line.

NUM_COLORS = len(plist)

cm = plt.get_cmap('gist_rainbow')
fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax.set_prop_cycle('color', [cm(1.*i/NUM_COLORS) for i in range(NUM_COLORS)])
# Or,
# ax.set_prop_cycle(color=[cm(1.*i/NUM_COLORS) for i in range(NUM_COLORS)])
for i, p in enumerate(plist):
    ax.plot(data1[i], np.exp(data2)[i], marker='o', label=str(p))

plt.legend()
plt.show()

Borrowed from here. Other options possible.

edited Nov 08 '18 at 00:20

answered Nov 08 '18 at 00:10

cs95

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Thanks a lot! I think NUM_COLORS should be `len(plist)`. Works perfectly! – maximusdooku Nov 08 '18 at 00:17
I do get this warning: ` The set_color_cycle function was deprecated in version 1.5. Use `.set_prop_cycle`` instead. – maximusdooku Nov 08 '18 at 00:17
1

For now, I get this error if I replace it with set_prop_cycle: `TypeError: If only one positional argument given, it must be a Cycler instance.1` checking syntax.. – maximusdooku Nov 08 '18 at 00:19
@maximusdooku I've done a little research and edited my answer. How does that work? – cs95 Nov 08 '18 at 00:20
Awesome! Perfect now. – maximusdooku Nov 08 '18 at 00:21

How can I stop Matplotlib from repeating colors?

1 Answers1