Defining a function to make automated plots using matplotlib

Question

I am new to python and I need to do a class made of different functions. Each function should be plotting different type of plot with predefined color, size, etc. The user should only call the function and enter two values (x=df or lst, y=df or lst and z the title of the plot) and then get the plot with the format that I have already predefined in the code.

Here is my code:

    class Plotter:
    def plot_signal(x,y):
        plt.figure(figsize=(20, 5) )
        plt.plot(x,
                 y,
                 color=(142/255.0,186/255.0,229/255.0), alpha=0.1 , linewidth=0.5 );
        plt.xlim(left=0)
        plt.xlabel('Time [s]', fontsize=11,  fontname='Arial')
        plt.ylabel('Force [kN]', fontsize=11, fontname='Arial')
        plt.xticks(fontsize=8)
        plt.yticks(fontsize=8)
        plt.savefig(r"filepath\\filename.jpg")
        plt.show()
        plt.title(z)
        return plt.show()

z = "trial"
x = np.random.rand(100)*10
y = np.random.rand(100)

plot_signal(x,y)

and the result (as seen in the photo), is a plot with a different color other than the color I chose, no title, and not even the figure size, it does also save my file, and I do not know how to fix it or what is the problem.

enter image description here

I know I have indent problem in the posted code but that is actually a mistake happened when I was trying to post my question — Asma Elbiltagy
– Asma Elbiltagy, Commented Apr 17, 2020 at 2:32
Please fix the indentation then, you can edit your question. — dspencer
– dspencer, Commented Apr 17, 2020 at 3:18
You can find the "edit" button just underneath your question and above the comments section. — dspencer
– dspencer, Commented Apr 18, 2020 at 15:06

Surya Mahadi · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-17 03:29:40Z

1

def plot_signal(x, y, z):
    plt.figure(figsize=(20, 5))
    plt.plot(x, y, color=(142/255.0,186/255.0,229/255.0))
    plt.xlabel('Time [s]', fontsize=11,  fontname='Arial')
    plt.ylabel('Force [kN]', fontsize=11, fontname='Arial')
    plt.xticks(fontsize=8)
    plt.title(z)
    plt.yticks(fontsize=8)
    plt.show()

you can change the color by just using color string, the list of the color string can be seen here

example

plt.plot(x, y, color='red')

based on your code, you use alpha=0.1 which means the color will be transparent if it close to 0.

plt.savefig(r"filepath\\filename.jpg")

this line will save your file, you can remove it

answered Apr 17, 2020 at 3:29

Surya Mahadi

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1 Comment

Asma Elbiltagy Over a year ago

Thank you for your answer. In this case it is not automated. What I need to do, is save this as function and people can call the function and enter (x=,y=, z=) and get the plot plotted and saved I also do not want them to change the color

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