frameon=False shifts plot axes to to the right and increases figure width

[pmacaodh]

The frameon argument shifts the plot axes to the right leaving a strip of blank canvas to the left of the plot axes, while increasing the figure's width. Altogether, a highly undesirable side-effect.

pylab.plot(range(10));
ax=pylab.gca();
ax.legend('test', frameon=False)

I'm using 1.2.0rc3

A search for frameon in issues produced nothing describing this problem. A wider google search uncovered a couple of references to this problem but the solution still eludes me.

[dmcdougall]

I can't recreate this with the OS X or Qt4Agg backends. I also can't recreate it saving a png from Agg. All this is using master, which is currently at dc1d0ee.

I can't recreate this with OS X or Qt4Agg backends on the current v1.2.x tip, which is currently at da2d0c4.

I also can't recreate this with OS X or Qt4Agg on v1.2.0rc3.

Could you provide a little more information about your backend? And perhaps add a screen shot of the behaviour you are seeing? GitHub now allows you to drag an image into the comment box to attach it.

Thanks for reporting the problem, @pmacaodh.

[pmacaodh]

I'm using the pylab backend in ipython:

Python 2.7.3 (default, Apr 10 2012, 23:31:26) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]
IPython 0.14.dev -- An enhanced Interactive Python.

Welcome to pylab, a matplotlib-based Python environment [backend: module://IPython.zmq.pylab.backend_inline].

Hope that can help you track it down. Thanks for you efforts!

[jenshnielsen]

The issue is with bbox_inches='tight which ipython uses in the inline backend.
The bounding box of the legend is only calculated when the frame is on. I have
a pull request fixing this shortly.

[jenshnielsen]

@pmacaodh Do you have the possibility to test the attached pull request?

[jenshnielsen]

By the way. This code illustrates the issue: (toggling between True and False

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(1,1,1)
ax.plot(range(10));
ax=pylab.gca();
l = ax.legend('test', frameon=True)
plt.savefig('test.png',bbox_inches='tight')
print l.get_window_extent(fig._cachedRenderer)
print l._legend_box.get_window_extent(fig._cachedRenderer)

[pmacaodh]

@jenshnielsen I'm afraid I don't have the possibility to test the pull request - I'm not so proficient in these development tools.

Thanks for your efforts. I trust the fix will appear in the main code base soon so I'll hold tight until then.

[tacaswell]

@jenshnielsen If I am reading this thread correctly you think this if fixed. If I am incorrect please re-open.

[jenshnielsen]

yes this should be fixed