plt12_contours.py

# View more python tutorials on my Youtube and Youku channel!!!

# Youtube video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdyjiB5H8Pu7aDTNVXTTpcg
# Youku video tutorial: http://i.youku.com/pythontutorial

# 12 - contours
"""
Please note, this script is for python3+.
If you are using python2+, please modify it accordingly.
Tutorial reference:
http://www.scipy-lectures.org/intro/matplotlib/matplotlib.html
"""

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

def f(x,y):
    # the height function
    return (1 - x / 2 + x**5 + y**3) * np.exp(-x**2 -y**2)

n = 256
x = np.linspace(-3, 3, n)
y = np.linspace(-3, 3, n)
X,Y = np.meshgrid(x, y)

# use plt.contourf to filling contours
# X, Y and value for (X,Y) point
plt.contourf(X, Y, f(X, Y), 8, alpha=.75, cmap=plt.cm.hot)

# use plt.contour to add contour lines
C = plt.contour(X, Y, f(X, Y), 8, colors='black', linewidth=.5)
# adding label
plt.clabel(C, inline=True, fontsize=10)

plt.xticks(())
plt.yticks(())
plt.show()