Optimize pdf file output

[jgieseler]

While it is in principle already possible to save the figure as a (vectorized) pdf file, the resulting plot needs more fine-tuning. Especially, the fonts are too small and partly misaligned (in the legend).

from solarmach import SolarMACH

body_list = ['STEREO-A', 'Earth', 'BepiColombo', 'PSP', 'Solar Orbiter', 'Mars']
vsw_list = [400, 400, 400, 400, 400, 400, 400]   # position-sensitive solar wind speed per body in body_list
date = '2021-10-28 15:15:00'
filename = 'Solar-MACH_'+date.replace(' ', '_')+'.pdf'

sm = SolarMACH(date, body_list, vsw_list)
fig, ax = sm.plot(numbered_markers=True, return_plot_object=True, outfile=filename)

PDF file:
Solar-MACH_2021-10-28_15:15:00.pdf

Corresponding PNG file:

(In the code plt.savefig is used with bbox_inches="tight" - does that work for pdf files?)

[johan12345]

Yeah, it may well be that tight_layout() or bbox_inches="tight" interfere with that. Or it could also be related to the dpi=200 setting used while creating the figure...

Would be great if we can get the plots to look the same between PDF and PNG. Maybe it is also worth considering not to use tight_layout() and bbox_inches="tight" at all here to achieve reproducible figure size and margins.

[jgieseler]

Yes, I think the way to go is to set everything manually and forget the automatic things. As I mentioned, I think they don't do anything with pdfs, and then it's hard to have comparable results... At least the DPI settings are completely ignored for the vector graphics.