import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
def adjust_spines(ax,spines):
for loc, spine in ax.spines.items():
if loc in spines:
spine.set_position(('outward',10)) # outward by 10 points
else:
spine.set_color('none') # don't draw spine
# turn off ticks where there is no spine
if 'left' in spines:
ax.yaxis.set_ticks_position('left')
else:
# no yaxis ticks
ax.yaxis.set_ticks([])
if 'bottom' in spines:
ax.xaxis.set_ticks_position('bottom')
else:
# no xaxis ticks
ax.xaxis.set_ticks([])
fig = plt.figure()
x = np.linspace(0,2*np.pi,100)
y = 2*np.sin(x)
ax = fig.add_subplot(2,2,1)
ax.plot(x,y)
adjust_spines(ax,['left'])
ax = fig.add_subplot(2,2,2)
ax.plot(x,y)
adjust_spines(ax,[])
ax = fig.add_subplot(2,2,3)
ax.plot(x,y)
adjust_spines(ax,['left','bottom'])
ax = fig.add_subplot(2,2,4)
ax.plot(x,y)
adjust_spines(ax,['bottom'])
plt.show()