Adding LaTeX to Plot Tick Labels in Matlab

Overview

Matlab plots generally support LaTeX markup for the various components, including axes labels, legends, annotations, etc. However, one of the few exceptions are the axis tick labels, that is the data values alongside each axis, regardless of whether they are set automatically or manually by the user. Since in many situations it becomes necessary to use LaTeX in the tick labels, either to include mathematical expressions such as fractions, or simply to maintain a uniform look-and-feel, the Matlab code on this page enables this functionality without any change to normal plotting functions.

Download

Beta 4 version as of December 13, 2011.

Usage

After you finished plotting, and for every axis, call the following function:

plotTickLatex2D;

or:

plotTickLatex2D('argument_name', argument_value, ...);

Currently, the following optional arguments are supported:

Argument name Argument description 
'Axis'
 A handle of the axis. The default is the current axis. 
'FontSize'
 The font size of the tick labels. The default is the font size of the current or specified axis. 
'XLabelDy'
 An argument of value double, representing a shift of the X-axis label on the vertical direction. The value is in the coordinate system of the figure where the bottom-left is (0,0) and top-right is (1,1). 
'YLabelDx'
 An argument of value double, representing a shift of the Y-axis label on the horizontal direction. The value is in the coordinate system of the figure where the bottom-left is (0,0) and top-right is (1,1).

Example

This example demonstrates the use of LaTeX in horizontal and vertical axes tick labels. Check out the following differences:

  • The font changes from Helvetica to Computer Modern, the standard LaTeX font in Matlab. Hence, the look-and-feel is consistent with the other LaTeX annotations.
  • The labels on the vertical axis contain mathematical expressions, including fractions and symbols.

Move the mouse to zoom in.

Before

After

Limitations

The current version is limited to two-dimensional plots; three-dimensional plots are not yet supported.

Version History

Version Date Description
Beta 1 August 31, 2011 Initial beta release.
Beta 2 October 23, 2011 Fixed an issue where scaled negative axis labels would not display properly.
Beta 3 November 19, 2011 Better support for multiple axes in the same figure with the possibility of selecting the plot axis.
Support for axis tick labels in non-default location (top or left).
Beta 4 December 13, 2011 Included font size support.

Code

%
% Copyright (C) 2011 Alex Bikfalvi
%
% This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
% the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at
% your option) any later version.

% This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
% WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
% General Public License for more details.

% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
% along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
% Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
%

function plotTickLatex2D(varargin)

% Optional arguments
optargin = size(varargin,2);

if mod(optargin,2) ~= 0
    error('The number of optional arguments must be even');
end

xLabelDy = 0;
yLabelDx = 0;
hAxis = gca;

i = 1;
while i <= optargin
    switch lower(varargin{i})
        case 'xlabeldy'
            xLabelDy = varargin{i+1};
        case 'ylabeldx'
            yLabelDx = varargin{i+1};
        case 'axis'
            hAxis = varargin{i+1};
        case 'fontsize'
            fontSize = varargin{i+1};
    end
    i = i + 2;
end

% Get properties for the specified axis
xLimit = get(hAxis,'XLim');
xTick = get(hAxis,'XTick');
xTickLabel = get(hAxis,'XTickLabel');
xTickLabelMode = get(hAxis,'XTickLabelMode');
xScale = get(hAxis,'XScale');
xAxisLocation = get(hAxis,'XAxisLocation');

yLimit = get(hAxis,'YLim');
yTick = get(hAxis,'YTick');
yTickLabel = get(hAxis,'YTickLabel');
yTickLabelMode = get(hAxis,'YTickLabelMode');
yScale = get(hAxis,'YScale');
yAxisLocation = get(hAxis,'YAxisLocation');

if ~exist('fontSize','var')
    fontSize = get(hAxis, 'FontSize');
end

% Get properties for the current axis
xLimitCurr = get(gca,'XLim');
xScaleCurr = get(gca,'XScale');

yLimitCurr = get(gca,'YLim');
yScaleCurr = get(gca,'YScale');

% Clear the current labels
set(hAxis,'XTickLabel',[]);
set(hAxis,'YTickLabel',[]);

% Get position of the specified axis
posAxis = get(hAxis,'Position');

% Get position of the current axis
posCurr = get(gca, 'Position');

% Convert x point between figure and axis data coordinates on linear scale
xFig2DatLinAxis = @(x)(xLimit(1) + diff(xLimit)*(x-posAxis(1))/posAxis(3));
xDat2FigLinAxis = @(x)(posAxis(1) + (x - xLimit(1))*posAxis(3)/diff(xLimit));

xFig2DatLinCurr = @(x)(xLimitCurr(1) + diff(xLimitCurr)*(x-posCurr(1))/posCurr(3));
xDat2FigLinCurr = @(x)(posCurr(1) + (x - xLimitCurr(1))*posCurr(3)/diff(xLimitCurr));

% Convert y point between figure and axis data coordinates on linear scale
yFig2DatLinAxis = @(y)(yLimit(1) + diff(yLimit)*(y-posAxis(2))/posAxis(4));
yDat2FigLinAxis = @(y)(posAxis(2) + (y - yLimit(1))*posAxis(4)/diff(yLimit));

yFig2DatLinCurr = @(y)(yLimitCurr(1) + diff(yLimitCurr)*(y-posCurr(2))/posCurr(4));
yDat2FigLinCurr = @(y)(posCurr(2) + (y - yLimitCurr(1))*posCurr(4)/diff(yLimitCurr));

% Convert x point between figure and axis data coordinates on logarithmic scale
xFig2DatLogAxis = @(x)(exp(log(xLimit(1)) + log(xLimit(2)/xLimit(1))*(x-posAxis(1))/posAxis(3)));
xDat2FigLogAxis = @(x)(posAxis(1) + posAxis(3)*log(x/xLimit(1))/log(xLimit(2)/xLimit(1)));

xFig2DatLogCurr = @(x)(exp(log(xLimitCurr(1)) + log(xLimitCurr(2)/xLimitCurr(1))*(x-posCurr(1))/posCurr(3)));
xDat2FigLogCurr = @(x)(posCurr(1) + posCurr(3)*log(x/xLimitCurr(1))/log(xLimitCurr(2)/xLimitCurr(1)));

% Convert y point between figure and axis data coordinates on logarithmic scale
yFig2DatLogAxis = @(y)(exp(log(yLimit(1)) + log(yLimit(2)/yLimit(1))*(y-posAxis(2))/posAxis(4)));
yDat2FigLogAxis = @(y)(posAxis(2) + posAxis(4)*log(y/yLimit(1))/log(yLimit(2)/yLimit(1)));

yFig2DatLogCurr = @(y)(exp(log(yLimitCurr(1)) + log(yLimitCurr(2)/yLimitCurr(1))*(y-posCurr(2))/posCurr(4)));
yDat2FigLogCurr = @(y)(posCurr(2) + posCurr(4)*log(y/yLimitCurr(1))/log(yLimitCurr(2)/yLimitCurr(1)));

% Convert x point between figure and axis [0,1] coordinates
xFig2Ax = @(x)((x - posAxis(1))/posAxis(3));
xAx2Fig = @(x)(posAxis(1) + x*posAxis(3));

% Convert y point between figure and axis [0,1] coordinates
yFig2Ax = @(y)((y - posAxis(2))/posAxis(4));
yAx2Fig = @(y)(posAxis(2) + x*posAxis(4));

switch xScale
    case 'linear'
        xFig2DatAxis = xFig2DatLinAxis;
        xDat2FigAxis = xDat2FigLinAxis;
    case 'log'
        xFig2DatAxis = xFig2DatLogAxis;
        xDat2FigAxis = xDat2FigLogAxis;
end

switch yScale
    case 'linear'
        yFig2DatAxis = yFig2DatLinAxis;
        yDat2FigAxis = yDat2FigLinAxis;
    case 'log'
        yFig2DatAxis = yFig2DatLogAxis;
        yDat2FigAxis = yDat2FigLogAxis;
end

switch xScaleCurr
    case 'linear'
        xFig2DatCurr = xFig2DatLinCurr;
        xDat2FigCurr = xDat2FigLinCurr;
    case 'log'
        xFig2DatCurr = xFig2DatLogCurr;
        xDat2FigCurr = xDat2FigLogCurr;
end

switch yScaleCurr
    case 'linear'
        yFig2DatCurr = yFig2DatLinCurr;
        yDat2FigCurr = yDat2FigLinCurr;
    case 'log'
        yFig2DatCurr = yFig2DatLogCurr;
        yDat2FigCurr = yDat2FigLogCurr;
end

if ~isempty(xTickLabel)
    % Set the X Axis

    xTickIndex = find((xTick >= xLimit(1)) & (xTick <= xLimit(2)));
    xTickVisible = xTick((xTick >= xLimit(1)) & (xTick <= xLimit(2)));
    xLabel = cell(length(xTickVisible),1);

    switch xTickLabelMode
        case 'auto'
            assert(length(xTickVisible) <= size(xTickLabel,1));
            switch xScale
                case 'linear'
                    % Determine where there should be an exponent
                    xExp = max(abs(xLimit));
                    if xExp > 0
                        xExpLog = ceil(log10(xExp));
                        if(xExpLog > 0)
                            xExpLog = xExpLog - 1;
                        end
                        if (xExpLog > -3) && (xExpLog <= 3)
                            xExpLog = 0;
                        end
                    else
                        xExpLog = 0;
                    end
                    xExp = 10^xExpLog;

                    for i=1:length(xTickVisible)
                        value = xTickVisible(i)/xExp;
                        if abs(value) <= eps
                            value = 0;
                        end
                        xLabel{i} = ['$' num2str(value) '$'];
                    end

                    if (abs(xExpLog) > eps) && (abs(xExpLog) < 1/eps)
                        switch xAxisLocation
                            case 'bottom'
                                hText = text(...
                                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(2))),...
                                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(1))-0.06),...
                                    ['$\times 10^{' num2str(xExpLog) '}$'],...
                                    'HorizontalAlignment','Right',...
                                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                            case 'top'
                                hText = text(...
                                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(2))),...
                                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(2))+0.06),...
                                    ['$\times 10^{' num2str(xExpLog) '}$'],...
                                    'HorizontalAlignment','Right',...
                                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                        end
                        set(hText,'HitTest','off');
                    end
                case 'log'
                    for i=1:length(xTickVisible)
                        sgn = sign(xTickVisible(i));
                        xExp = log10(abs(xTickVisible(i)));
                        if abs(xExp) <= eps
                            xExp = 0;
                        end
                        xLabel{i} = ['$' num2str(10*sgn) '^{' num2str(xExp) '}$'];
                    end
            end
        case 'manual'
            if iscell(xTickLabel)
                for i=1:length(xTickVisible)
                    xLabel{i} = xTickLabel{1+mod(xTickIndex(i)-1,length(xTickLabel))};
                end
            else
                for i=1:length(xTickVisible)
                    xLabel{i} = xTickLabel(1+mod(xTickIndex(i)-1,size(xTickLabel,1)),:);
                end
            end
    end

    switch xAxisLocation
        case 'bottom'
            for i = 1:length(xTickVisible)
                hText = text(...
                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xTickVisible(i))),...
                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(1))-0.025),...
                    strtrim(xLabel{i}),...
                    'HorizontalAlignment','Center',...
                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                set(hText,'HitTest','off');
            end
        case 'top'
            for i = 1:length(xTickVisible)
                hText = text(...
                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xTickVisible(i))),...
                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(2))+0.025),...
                    strtrim(xLabel{i}),...
                    'HorizontalAlignment','Center',...
                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                set(hText,'HitTest','off');
            end
    end

    xLabel = get(hAxis,'XLabel');
    xLabelPos = get(xLabel,'Position');
    set(xLabel,'Position',[xLabelPos(1) yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(1))-0.07+xLabelDy) xLabelPos(3)]);

    xlim(hAxis, xLimit);
end

if ~isempty(yTickLabel)
    % Set the Y axis

    yTickIndex = find((yTick >= yLimit(1)) & (yTick <= yLimit(2)));
    yTickVisible = yTick((yTick >= yLimit(1)) & (yTick <= yLimit(2)));
    yLabel = cell(length(yTickVisible),1);

    switch yTickLabelMode
        case 'auto'
            assert(length(yTickVisible) <= size(yTickLabel,1));
            switch yScale
                case 'linear'
                    % Determine where there should be an exponent
                    yExp = max(abs(yLimit));
                    if yExp > 0
                        yExpLog = ceil(log10(yExp))-1;
                        if(yExpLog > 0)
                            yExpLog = yExpLog - 1;
                        end
                        if (yExpLog > -3) && (yExpLog <= 3)
                            yExpLog = 0;
                        end
                    else
                        yExpLog = 0;
                    end
                    yExp = 10^yExpLog;

                    for i=1:length(yTickVisible)
                        value = yTickVisible(i)/yExp;
                        if abs(value) <= eps
                            value = 0;
                        end
                        yLabel{i} = ['$' num2str(value) '$'];
                    end

                    if (abs(yExpLog) > eps) && (abs(yExpLog) < 1/eps)
                        switch yAxisLocation
                            case 'left'
                                hText = text(...
                                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(1))),...
                                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(2)) + 0.03),...
                                    ['$\times 10^{' num2str(yExpLog) '}$'],...
                                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                            case 'right'
                                hText = text(...
                                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(2))),...
                                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yLimit(2)) + 0.03),...
                                    ['$\times 10^{' num2str(yExpLog) '}$'],...
                                    'HorizontalAlignment','Right',...
                                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                        end
                        set(hText,'HitTest','off');
                    end
                case 'log'
                    for i=1:length(yTickVisible)
                        sgn = sign(yTickVisible(i));
                        yExp = log10(yTickVisible(i));
                        if abs(yExp) <= eps
                            yExp = 0;
                        end
                        yLabel{i} = ['$' num2str(10*sgn) '^{' num2str(yExp) '}$'];
                    end
            end
        case 'manual'
            if iscell(yTickLabel)
                for i=1:length(yTickVisible)
                    yLabel{i} = yTickLabel{1+mod(yTickIndex(i)-1,length(yTickLabel))};
                end
            else
                for i=1:length(yTickVisible)
                    yLabel{i} = yTickLabel(1+mod(yTickIndex(i)-1,size(yTickLabel,1)),:);
                end
            end
    end

    xMin = bitmax;

    switch yAxisLocation
        case 'left'
            for i = 1:length(yTickVisible)
                hText = text(...
                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(1))-0.01),...
                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yTickVisible(i))),...
                    strtrim(yLabel{i}),...
                    'HorizontalAlignment','Right',...
                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                set(hText,'HitTest','off');
                set(hText,'Units','normalized');
                xExt = get(hText,'Extent');
                set(hText,'Units','data');
                xMin = min(xMin, xExt(1));
            end
        case 'right'
            for i = 1:length(yTickVisible)
                hText = text(...
                    xFig2DatCurr(xDat2FigAxis(xLimit(2))+0.01),...
                    yFig2DatCurr(yDat2FigAxis(yTickVisible(i))),...
                    strtrim(yLabel{i}),...
                    'HorizontalAlignment','Left',...
                    'Interpreter','latex',...
                    'FontSize', fontSize);
                set(hText,'HitTest','off');
                set(hText,'Units','normalized');
                xExt = get(hText,'Extent');
                set(hText,'Units','data');
                xMin = min(xMin, xExt(1));
            end
    end

    yLabel = get(hAxis,'YLabel');
    yLabelPos = get(yLabel,'Position');
    set(yLabel,'Position',[xFig2DatCurr(xAx2Fig(xMin) - 0.002 + yLabelDx) yLabelPos(2) yLabelPos(3)]);

    ylim(hAxis, yLimit);
end


end

Published: August 31, 2011
Last updated: December 13, 2011