diff --git a/.github/workflows/link-check.yml b/.github/workflows/link-check.yml
index ea566b07..7bb6dd9a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/link-check.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/link-check.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Check out repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Run markdown link check
         uses: gaurav-nelson/github-action-markdown-link-check@v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/svgo.yml b/.github/workflows/svgo.yml
index bde9b886..9873706c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/svgo.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/svgo.yml
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Check out repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
 
       - name: Set up node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
 
       - name: Install SVGO
         run: npm install --global svgo
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index c8b24229..59039f34 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ repos:
     hooks:
       - id: ruff
         args: [--fix]
+        types_or: [python, jupyter]
       - id: ruff-format
+        types_or: [python, jupyter]
 
   - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/mirrors-mypy
     rev: v1.7.1
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/boltztrap_mp/explore_boltztrap_mp.py b/dataset_exploration/boltztrap_mp/explore_boltztrap_mp.py
index 0fda3cde..b20bbd08 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/boltztrap_mp/explore_boltztrap_mp.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/boltztrap_mp/explore_boltztrap_mp.py
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@
 
 
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 # %%
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/camd_2022/explore_camd_2022.py b/dataset_exploration/camd_2022/explore_camd_2022.py
index 0973ad7a..f7074a3f 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/camd_2022/explore_camd_2022.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/camd_2022/explore_camd_2022.py
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@
 # %%
 import os
 
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import pandas as pd
 import requests
 from pymatgen.symmetry.groups import SpaceGroup
 
 from pymatviz import annotate_bars, count_elements, ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_sunburst
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 # %% Download data (if needed)
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/dielectric/explore_dielectric.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/dielectric/explore_dielectric.py
index e0a75c35..39080ad3 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/dielectric/explore_dielectric.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/dielectric/explore_dielectric.py
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import plotly.express as px
 from aviary.wren.utils import count_wyckoff_positions, get_aflow_label_from_spglib
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from pymatviz import (
+    crystal_sys_order,
     ptable_heatmap,
     ptable_heatmap_plotly,
     spacegroup_hist,
     spacegroup_sunburst,
 )
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import crystal_sys_order, plt, px
 from pymatviz.utils import crystal_sys_from_spg_num
 
 
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/expt_gap/explore_expt_gap.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/expt_gap/explore_expt_gap.py
index b5decb31..389e7ded 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/expt_gap/explore_expt_gap.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/expt_gap/explore_expt_gap.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 # %%
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import plotly.express as px
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from pymatgen.core import Composition
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt, px
 
 
 """Stats for the matbench_expt_gap dataset.
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/jdft2d/explore_jdft2d.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/jdft2d/explore_jdft2d.py
index 1df417e4..38b9ffa3 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/jdft2d/explore_jdft2d.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/jdft2d/explore_jdft2d.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_hist, spacegroup_sunburst
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 """Stats for the matbench_jdft2d dataset.
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/log_g+kvrh/explore_log_g+krvh.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/log_g+kvrh/explore_log_g+krvh.py
index 39523017..3cde8f07 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/log_g+kvrh/explore_log_g+krvh.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/log_g+kvrh/explore_log_g+krvh.py
@@ -13,14 +13,20 @@
 # %%
 from time import perf_counter
 
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
+import plotly.express as px
 from aviary.wren.utils import count_wyckoff_positions, get_aflow_label_from_spglib
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from pymatgen.core import Structure
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
-from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_hist, spacegroup_sunburst
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import crystal_sys_order, plt, px
+from pymatviz import (
+    crystal_sys_order,
+    ptable_heatmap,
+    spacegroup_hist,
+    spacegroup_sunburst,
+)
 from pymatviz.utils import crystal_sys_from_spg_num
 
 
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_e_form/explore_mp_e_form.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_e_form/explore_mp_e_form.py
index 4183685b..fe84597a 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_e_form/explore_mp_e_form.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_e_form/explore_mp_e_form.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 """Stats for the matbench_mp_e_form dataset.
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_gap/explore_mp_gap.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_gap/explore_mp_gap.py
index 673f2333..c273ef87 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_gap/explore_mp_gap.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/mp_gap/explore_mp_gap.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 """Stats for the matbench_mp_gap dataset.
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/perovskites/explore_perovskites.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/perovskites/explore_perovskites.py
index 05713e01..146c0101 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/perovskites/explore_perovskites.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/perovskites/explore_perovskites.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
@@ -8,7 +9,6 @@
     ptable_heatmap,
     spacegroup_sunburst,
 )
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 from pymatviz.utils import crystal_sys_from_spg_num
 
 
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/phonons/explore_phonons.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/phonons/explore_phonons.py
index 48bac29d..5ccbd700 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/phonons/explore_phonons.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/phonons/explore_phonons.py
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@
 
 
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_hist
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 # %%
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/matbench/steels/explore_steels.py b/dataset_exploration/matbench/steels/explore_steels.py
index 12a9bed3..a7aa6e4a 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/matbench/steels/explore_steels.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/matbench/steels/explore_steels.py
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 
 
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 # %%
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/ricci_carrier_transport/explore_carrier_transport.py b/dataset_exploration/ricci_carrier_transport/explore_carrier_transport.py
index f21b2eab..1af55109 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/ricci_carrier_transport/explore_carrier_transport.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/ricci_carrier_transport/explore_carrier_transport.py
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 
 
 # %%
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matminer.datasets import load_dataset
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_hist
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt
 
 
 # %%
diff --git a/dataset_exploration/wbm/explore_wbm.py b/dataset_exploration/wbm/explore_wbm.py
index c73e8165..706acdf6 100644
--- a/dataset_exploration/wbm/explore_wbm.py
+++ b/dataset_exploration/wbm/explore_wbm.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # %%
 import pandas as pd
+import plotly.express as px
 
-from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap_plotly, spacegroup_sunburst
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import crystal_sys_order, px
+from pymatviz import crystal_sys_order, ptable_heatmap_plotly, spacegroup_sunburst
 from pymatviz.utils import crystal_sys_from_spg_num
 
 
diff --git a/examples/matbench_dielectric_eda.ipynb b/examples/matbench_dielectric_eda.ipynb
index ff0d7059..166268d9 100644
--- a/examples/matbench_dielectric_eda.ipynb
+++ b/examples/matbench_dielectric_eda.ipynb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
    "source": [
     "# Matbench Dielectric Dataset\n",
     "\n",
-    "Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA). [MPContribs link](https://ml.materialsproject.org/projects/matbench_dielectric)"
+    "Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA). [MPContribs link](https://ml.materialsproject.org/projects/matbench_dielectric)\n"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
+    "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt\n",
+    "import plotly.express as px\n",
+    "import plotly.io as pio\n",
     "from matminer.datasets import load_dataset\n",
     "from tqdm import tqdm\n",
     "\n",
     "from pymatviz import ptable_heatmap, spacegroup_hist, spacegroup_sunburst\n",
-    "from pymatviz.plot_defaults import pio, plt, px\n",
     "from pymatviz.utils import get_crystal_sys\n",
     "\n",
     "\n",
diff --git a/examples/mp_bimodal_e_form.ipynb b/examples/mp_bimodal_e_form.ipynb
index 1b1b4e6d..dd4c0106 100644
--- a/examples/mp_bimodal_e_form.ipynb
+++ b/examples/mp_bimodal_e_form.ipynb
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
     "__author__ = \"Janosh Riebesell\"\n",
     "__date__ = \"2022-08-11\"\n",
     "\n",
-    "pio.templates.default = \"plotly_white\"\n",
     "pio.renderers.default = \"png\""
    ]
   },
diff --git a/examples/mprester_ptable.ipynb b/examples/mprester_ptable.ipynb
index e354cf50..69b508ea 100644
--- a/examples/mprester_ptable.ipynb
+++ b/examples/mprester_ptable.ipynb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "# dash needed for interactive plots\n",
-    "!pip install pymatviz dash\n"
+    "!pip install pymatviz dash"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -38,12 +38,11 @@
     "__date__ = \"2022-07-21\"\n",
     "\n",
     "\n",
-    "pio.templates.default = \"plotly_white\"\n",
     "# Interactive plotly figures don't show up on GitHub.\n",
     "# https://github.com/plotly/plotly.py/issues/931\n",
     "# change renderer from \"svg\" to \"notebook\" to get hover tooltips back\n",
     "# (but blank plots on GitHub!)\n",
-    "pio.renderers.default = \"png\"\n"
+    "pio.renderers.default = \"png\""
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@
     }
    ],
    "source": [
-    "print(\", \".join(MPRester().materials.summary.available_fields))\n"
+    "print(\", \".join(MPRester().materials.summary.available_fields))"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@
     "    mp_data = mpr.materials.summary.search(\n",
     "        # nelements=[4, None], # 4 or less elements\n",
     "        fields=[\"material_id\", \"formula\", \"nelements\"]\n",
-    "    )\n"
+    "    )"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "df_mp = pd.DataFrame(map(dict, mp_data)).set_index(\"material_id\")\n",
-    "df_mp.head()\n"
+    "df_mp.head()"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@
     "# %store df_mp\n",
     "\n",
     "# uncomment line to load cached MP data from disk\n",
-    "%store -r df_mp\n"
+    "%store -r df_mp"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@
     "compound_counts_by_arity = {\n",
     "    key: (df_mp.nelements == idx).sum()\n",
     "    for idx, key in enumerate(elem_counts_by_arity, 1)\n",
-    "}\n"
+    "}"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -188,7 +187,7 @@
     "        f\"Element distribution of {n_compounds:,} {arity_label} compounds in \"\n",
     "        \"Materials Project\",\n",
     "        fontsize=16,\n",
-    "    )\n"
+    "    )"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@
     "    )\n",
     "    fig.update_layout(title=dict(text=title, x=0.45, y=0.93))\n",
     "    arity_figs[arity_label] = fig\n",
-    "    # fig.show()  # uncomment to show plotly figures\n"
+    "    # fig.show()  # uncomment to show plotly figures"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -266,7 +265,7 @@
     "    return arity_figs[dropdown_value]\n",
     "\n",
     "\n",
-    "app.run(debug=True, mode=\"inline\")\n"
+    "app.run(debug=True, mode=\"inline\")"
    ]
   }
  ],
diff --git a/pymatviz/__init__.py b/pymatviz/__init__.py
index 6d23b8c4..63636fc7 100644
--- a/pymatviz/__init__.py
+++ b/pymatviz/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 
 from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError, version
 
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import plotly.express as px
+import plotly.io as pio
 
 from pymatviz.correlation import marchenko_pastur, marchenko_pastur_pdf
 from pymatviz.cumulative import cumulative_error, cumulative_residual
@@ -49,6 +51,11 @@
     pass  # package not installed
 
 
+# define a sensible order for crystal systems across plots
+crystal_sys_order = (
+    "cubic hexagonal trigonal tetragonal orthorhombic monoclinic triclinic".split()
+)
+
 bandgap_col = "band_gap"
 charge_col = "total_charge"
 crystal_sys_col = "crystal_system"
@@ -91,5 +98,53 @@
     symmetry_col: "Symmetry",
     volume_col: f"Volume {cubic_angstrom}",
     volume_per_atom_col: f"Volume {angstrom_per_atom}",
+    "n_atoms": "Atom Count",
+    "n_elems": "Element Count",
+    "gap expt": "Experimental band gap (eV)",
+    "crystal_sys": "Crystal system",
+    "n": "Refractive index n",
+    "spg_num": "Space group",
+    "n_wyckoff": "Number of Wyckoff positions",
+    "n_sites": "Number of unit cell sites",
+    "energy_per_atom": "Energy (eV/atom)",
 }
-px.defaults.template = "plotly_white"
+
+# uncomment to hide math loading MathJax message in bottom left corner of plotly PDFs
+# https://github.com/plotly/Kaleido/issues/122#issuecomment-994906924
+# pio.kaleido.scope.mathjax = None
+
+
+"""
+Importing this module has side-effects that apply sensible (often, not always) global
+defaults settings for plotly and matplotlib like increasing font size, prettier
+axis labels (plotly only) and higher figure resolution (matplotlib only).
+
+To use it, simply import this module before generating any plots:
+
+import pymatviz
+"""
+
+plt.rc("font", size=16)
+plt.rc("savefig", bbox="tight", dpi=200)
+plt.rc("figure", dpi=200, titlesize=18)
+plt.rcParams["figure.constrained_layout.use"] = True
+
+
+axis_template = dict(
+    mirror=True,
+    showline=True,
+    ticks="outside",
+    zeroline=True,
+    linewidth=1,
+)
+white_axis_template = axis_template | dict(linecolor="black", gridcolor="lightgray")
+pio.templates["pymatviz_white"] = pio.templates["plotly_white"].update(
+    layout=dict(xaxis=axis_template, yaxis=axis_template)
+)
+black_axis_template = axis_template | dict(linecolor="white", gridcolor="darkgray")
+pio.templates["pymatviz_black"] = pio.templates["plotly_dark"].update(
+    layout=dict(xaxis=axis_template, yaxis=axis_template)
+)
+
+px.defaults.template = "pymatviz_white"
+pio.templates.default = "pymatviz_white"
diff --git a/pymatviz/plot_defaults.py b/pymatviz/plot_defaults.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e223757..00000000
--- a/pymatviz/plot_defaults.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-import plotly.express as px
-import plotly.io as pio
-
-
-"""
-Importing this module has side-effects that apply sensible (often, not always) global
-defaults settings for plotly and matplotlib like increasing font size, prettier
-axis labels (plotly only) and higher figure resolution (matplotlib only).
-
-To use it, simply import this module before generating any plots:
-
-import pymatviz.plot_defaults
-# or
-from pymatviz.plot_defaults import plt, px, pio
-"""
-
-# prettier
-px.defaults.labels = {
-    "n_atoms": "Atom Count",
-    "n_elems": "Element Count",
-    "gap expt": "Experimental band gap (eV)",
-    "crystal_sys": "Crystal system",
-    "n": "Refractive index n",
-    "spg_num": "Space group",
-    "n_wyckoff": "Number of Wyckoff positions",
-    "n_sites": "Number of unit cell sites",
-    "energy_per_atom": "Energy (eV/atom)",
-}
-
-pio.templates.default = "plotly_white"
-
-# https://github.com/plotly/Kaleido/issues/122#issuecomment-994906924
-# pio.kaleido.scope.mathjax = None
-
-crystal_sys_order = (
-    "cubic hexagonal trigonal tetragonal orthorhombic monoclinic triclinic".split()
-)
-
-
-plt.rc("font", size=16)
-plt.rc("savefig", bbox="tight", dpi=200)
-plt.rc("figure", dpi=200, titlesize=18)
-plt.rcParams["figure.constrained_layout.use"] = True
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index bbb76b23..93459c9d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ no_implicit_optional = false
 
 [tool.ruff]
 target-version = "py39"
-include = ["**/pyproject.toml", "*.ipynb", "*.py", "*.pyi"]
 select = [
     "B",    # flake8-bugbear
     "C4",   # flake8-comprehensions