See the example here: http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/examples/api/font_file.html
In general, you’d do something like this if you’re wanting to use a specific .ttf file. (Keep in mind that pointing to a specific font file is usually a bad idea!)
import matplotlib.font_manager as fm
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
fig, ax = plt.subplots()
ax.plot(range(10))
prop = fm.FontProperties(fname="/usr/share/fonts/truetype/groovygh.ttf")
ax.set_title('This is some random font', fontproperties=prop, size=32)
plt.show()
Usually, you’d just point to the name of the font, and let matplotlib worry about finding the specific file. E.g.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot(range(10))
plt.title('This is some random font', family='GroovyGhosties', size=32)
plt.show()
If you want to have matplotlib always use a particular font, then customize your .matplotlibrc file. (font.family is what you’d want to set. Note that you should specify the name of the font, not the path to a specific .ttf file.)
As an example of doing this dynamically (i.e. without setting up a specific .matplotlibrc file):
import matplotlib as mpl
mpl.rcParams['font.family'] = 'GroovyGhosties'
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot(range(10))
plt.title('Everything is crazy!!!', size=32)
plt.show()
