The default fonts for matplotlib are set in file matplotlibrc in the folder $USER_HOME/.matplotlib. You can find them here, depending on your operating system:
- Windows:
C:\Users\YourName\.matplotlib\matplotlibrc - Linux:
/home/YourName/.matplotlib/matplotlibrc
Within the file, search for the font section, and uncomment (remove the hash symbol # at beginning of line) or add the following settings as desired. In the shown example, I set Arial as the default:
[code gutter=”0″ language=”python”]
font.family : sans-serif
#font.style : normal
#font.variant : normal
#font.weight : medium
#font.stretch : normal
# …
#font.serif : Times New Roman, …
font.sans-serif : Arial, …
#font.cursive : … cursive
#font.fantasy : … fantasy
#font.monospace : … monospace
[/code]
Upon the next start of the Python interpreter, your plots should be labelled with the new font.
Further reading
- Customizing matplotlib in the official documentation
- Change default font on the matplotlib mailining list, which explains an alternative way to change the font.