Matplotlib cannot find basic fonts

Question

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 1

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 2

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 3

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 4

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 5

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 6

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 7

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 8

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 9

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 10

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 11

I fixed it by setting pyplot parameter:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.rcParams['font.family'] = 'serif'

so you can use fonts (Helvetica, Times New Roman) like the following:

ax.set_title('your_title_text',fontname="Times New Roman", fontsize=20)

Answer 12

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 13

I am using matplotlib version 2.0.0 on Python 3 in a miniconda virtual environment. I am working on a unix scientific computing cluster where I don't have root privileges. I am generally executing python code through an ipython notebook. If I do a basic command such as:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([1,5], [1,5])

I get an error message:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-
packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1297: UserWarning: findfont: Font family
['sans-serif'] not found. Falling back to DejaVu Sans
(prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))

I would like to be able to use a Times New Roman font but even after deleting the Font cache file (fontList.py3k.cache) which I find from here:

import matplotlib as mpl
fm = mpl.font_manager
fm.get_cachedir()

The commands:

mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = ['serif']
mpl.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Times New Roman']

have no effect, I get the same error as above. The true type fonts directory:

path_to_miniconda/miniconda3/envs/conda34/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf/

only has 40 fonts in it of the type: DejaVuSerif,DejaVuSans,STIX,cmb, cmt, cmy

Any idea what could be going on and how I can add additional fonts? Thanks!

Answer 14

None of the above worked for me. I had to combine the provided solutions.

I run Jupyter from PyCharm in Windows 10 . Here is my workaround. Before doing these steps, import the font manager via import matplotlib.font_manager :

1. Find font directory => matplotlib.font_manager.findSystemFonts(fontpaths=None, fontext='ttf')
2. Put your font file (ttf. file) to that directory.
3. Find font config file: matplotlib.matplotlib_fname()
4. Edit to set font type: pdf.fonttype: 42 # Output Type 3 (Type3) or Type 42 (TrueType)
5. Run PyCharm .
6. After you start kernel, cache files will be generated. Clean \matplotlib\__pycache__ folder.
7. Set the font you want to use via:

plt.rcParams['font.family'] = 'serif'
plt.rcParams['font.serif'] = ['Lin Libertine']

8. Run the code to generate plots.

If you restart your kernel, if will generate cache files, hence you need to remove them again.

Answer 15

My situation is that I have JupyterHub running in Docker and I need to use matplotlib to plot and display some Chinese characters as titles.

Here's how I install new fonts and get new fonts worked( No need to restart the Jupyter container ):

Docker Image version:

• Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS
• Python 3.7.6
• matplotlib.__version__ : 3.1.2

All operations are executed inside the container.

1. download the fonts to /.../python3.7/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/fonts/ttf

2. rebuild the font cache in a notebook. ~/.cache/matplotlib/ ( AttributeError: module 'matplotlib' has no attribute 'font_manager' ).

import matplotlib.font_manager
matplotlib.font_manager._rebuild()

the font cache is per-user base( /home/{username}/.cache/matplotlib/ ), so other people might need to rebuild the cache too.

3. use the new font. eg

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

plt.rcParams['font.sans-serif'] = ['SimSun']

You might need to restart the notebook/kernel in step 2 and 3.

Notes:

• I tried sudo apt install msttcorefonts -qq but I don't think that works. Neither do I know what has been installed by that package. apt-file list msttcorefonts returns nothing.
  Why apt-file list msttcorefonts returns nothing?

• There is a configuration file /.../python3.7/site-packages/matplotlib/mpl-data/matplotlibrc on which one can add font.sans-serif fonts. But without modifying it, the new fonts also work.