Python Pylab pcolor options for publication quality plots

Question

I am trying to make DFT (discrete fourier transforms) plots using pcolor in python. I have previously been using Mathematica 8.0 to do this but I find that the colo

Answer 1

The following will get you closer to what you want:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

plt.pcolor(data, cmap=plt.cm.OrRd)
plt.yticks(np.arange(0.5,10.5),range(0,10))
plt.xticks(np.arange(0.5,10.5),range(0,10))
plt.colorbar()
plt.gca().invert_yaxis()
plt.gca().set_aspect('equal')
plt.show()

The list of available colormaps by default is here. You'll need one that starts out white.

If none of those suits your needs, you can try generating your own, start by looking at LinearSegmentedColormap.

Answer 2

Just for the record, in Mathematica 9.0:

GraphicsGrid@{{MatrixPlot[l, 
    ColorFunction -> (ColorData["TemperatureMap"][Rescale[#, {Min@l, Max@l}]] &), 
    ColorFunctionScaling -> False], BarLegend[{"TemperatureMap", {0, Max@l}}]}}