Is there a way to generate Retina graphs using 'matplotlib'?

Question

Python's matplotlib does not generate Retina display quality LaTeX text by default. Are there settings or add-on package that generate Retina quality output?

Answer 1

Are you using 'Agg' mode (standard) to create PNG Graphs?

You can create SVG Graphs with Matplot lib which have way better quality using

matplotlib.use('svg')

Answer 2

If you look into texmanager.py you see that it makes the png by a call to dvipng and the function that makes the system call to dvipng has an argument for dpi

To get higher resolution TeX on a per-figure basis for existing figures

plt.gcf().canvas.renderer.dpi = what_ever_retina_dpi_is

to set it everywhere, you should be able to set the rcparam figure.dpi which will be respected when creating new renderers.

I can't test this as I do not have access to a Mac with a Retina display.