# How to improve Plots.jl default appearance

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jl-default-appearance/7441>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Tags:** plots\
**Created:** [November 30, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jl-default-appearance/7441 "2017-11-30T12:23:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jl-default-appearance/7441/1 "2017-11-30T12:23:54Z")

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from [How to improve Plots.jl's look](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jls-look/7409)

* * *

> I used Plots for some time, and am quiet unsatisfied with the figure quality. The tutorial38 gives us some example, which shows its simplicity. However, none of those figures are publication-quality. I reproduced these plots using PyPlot.jl and GR.jl, they look much better. Therefore, the poor quality of figure made by Plots is not caused by the backend. What makes Plot.jl so ugly? I know some recipes are allowed in Plots.jl, which might make the figure more beautiful. I tested some of these recipes, and was still unsatisfied. Could the developer offer a gallery of beautiful figures produced by Plots.jl (maybe in some notebooks)? It is very inspiring to see beautiful figures, especially for those who don’t know what plotting package to use.

I find the `pgfplots()` backend very nice. YMMV.

However, “ugly” is a subjective term, and the discussion would be very much helped by

1. providing a self-contained minimal working example that demonstrates the issue,

2. various plots (via `Plots.jl`, also directly),

3. pointing out the differences you consider “ugly”.

Also, opening an issue for `Plots.jl` may be a better place for the discussion, so that it does not get lost.

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**Author:** ![swissr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/swissr/32/208_2.png) [@swissr](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/swissr)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 10:28am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jl-default-appearance/7441/2 "2017-12-01T10:28:37Z")

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> [@How to improve Plots.jl's look](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jls-look/7409/8):
>
> My suggestion is that the developers could offer more beautiful figures somewhere.

Good suggestion, go for it! _You_, yes you, are part of the mythical _the developers_. And beautiful figures `somewhere` could be done by you. No better way to communicate `exactly` what you mean.

In your first post you said: “I reproduced these plots using PyPlot.jl and GR.jl, they look much better”. I suggest to produce a document with code & graphic for the “ugly” plot on the left and PyPlot and GR on the right. If done well, it would be helpful also for people deciding between different approaches.

[So far I used PyPlot or, ähem, R for plotting and only know Plots.jl from the interesting JuliaCon16 presentation. But now curious having a look at the mentioned tutorial, I must say, I’m _very very impressed_ by this beautifully thought out document. And I like that it stays clear and doesn’t over-distract with decorations. Don’t want to know how many nights must have gone into it… 💐]

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**Author:** ![ihnorton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/ihnorton/32/26_2.png) [@ihnorton](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/ihnorton)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/how-to-improve-plots-jl-default-appearance/7441/3 "2017-12-01T16:53:23Z")

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I moved two of the many substantive suggestions directly related to Plots.jl defaults to this new topic, and closed the old one (linked above). If there are any specific examples _with code and images_ please discuss them here, or preferably open [an issue](https://github.com/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl) and link it here.

**Any of the other discussions are off-topic in this thread. If there are specific issues or suggestions to resurface from the old thread, please start a new topic or open an issue at the appropriate project github page.**