Merge pull request matplotlib#3096 from pstjohn/axes-labelpad-rc

ENH : add rcparam for axes.labelpad

commits from PR matplotlib#3096 merged manually to drop 1.4.x merge

labelpad value was hardcoded

Author: tacaswell

lib/matplotlib/axis.py

@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ def __init__(self, axes, pickradius=15):
         self._smart_bounds = False
 
         self.label = self._get_label()
-        self.labelpad = 5
+        self.labelpad = rcParams['axes.labelpad']
         self.offsetText = self._get_offset_text()
         self.majorTicks = []
         self.minorTicks = []

lib/matplotlib/rcsetup.py

@@ -589,6 +589,7 @@ def __call__(self, s):
                                                                 # axis locator
     'axes.labelsize':        ['medium', validate_fontsize],  # fontsize of the
                                                              # x any y labels
+    'axes.labelpad':         [5.0, validate_float], # space between label and axis
     'axes.labelweight':      ['normal', six.text_type],  # fontsize of the x any y labels
     'axes.labelcolor':       ['k', validate_color],    # color of axis label
     'axes.formatter.limits': [[-7, 7], validate_nseq_int(2)],

matplotlibrc.template

@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ backend      : %(backend)s
 #axes.grid           : False   # display grid or not
 #axes.titlesize      : large   # fontsize of the axes title
 #axes.labelsize      : medium  # fontsize of the x any y labels
+#axes.labelpad       : 5.0     # space between label and axis
 #axes.labelweight    : normal  # weight of the x and y labels
 #axes.labelcolor     : black
 #axes.axisbelow      : False   # whether axis gridlines and ticks are below