Best way to use Python to make 2d XY scatter graphs? Will TKinter do it?

[Pat Bills]

rh4170056 at juno.com (rhmd) wrote in news:616fccba.0310200250.22d55351
@posting.google.com:

> I need to create image files (eg bmp or jpeg) of xy scatter graphs
> (i.e., graphs in which markers denote individual points; the markers
> need to be small polygons of various sizes, shapes, colors, shadings,
> etc. and there are thousands on them on each graph).  Have been using
> MS Excel, but its limitations are unbelievable (only whole number
> sizes, no way around a 56 color palette, only low quality jpeg files
> so that when I publish the graphs I have to print and scan them all to
> get a decent image, no more than 32K markers in a single series). 
> From a programming point of view, Python is perfect to set up
> something like this, but MY QUESTION IS: Will TKinter do this?  Or
> will it be necessary to learn OpenGL?  Or is another Python compatible
> package best?  Thanks for your help.

I would like to add a possible solution to those suggested.  This may be 
off-topic and I don't know the context of the question.  I, too, 
abandoned Excel as my graphing platform. 

If you are automating research processes and not writing software for 
distribution then I think the R environment (http://r-project.org) is 
worth a look.  I've used it for several research projects and created 
graphs for publication.  There are Python packages to call R from python, 
although complete programs can be written in R, which to my newbie eyes 
is very Python-like.  The graphs can written to several formats (see 
below) and can paste into your favorite word/presentation processor. 

The added bonus is you get a wealth of statistical processes along with 
plotting (although you didn't mention this requirement in your post).  

There are several downsides: your program would require R to be installed 
on the system;  batching R on windows does not work (for me); there is a 
learning curve; and parameters are a bit quirky (work like globals).

http://r-project.org
http://www.omegahat.org/RSPython/index.html
http://rpy.sourceforge.net/


description from the R site:
 R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. 
It is a GNU project which is similar to the S language and environment... 
One of R's strengths is the ease with which well-designed publication-
quality plots can be produced, including mathematical symbols and 
formulae where needed. 

from the R help:
     The following graphics devices are currently available:

        *  `postscript' Writes PostScript graphics commands to a file

        *  `pdf' Write PDF graphics commands to a file

        *  `pictex' Writes LaTeX/PicTeX graphics commands to a file

        *  `windows' The graphics driver for Windows (on screen, to
           printer and to Windows metafile).

        *  `png' PNG bitmap device

        *  `jpeg' JPEG bitmap device

        *  `bmp' BMP bitmap device

        *  `xfig' Device for XFIG graphics file format

        *  `bitmap' bitmap pseudo-device via `GhostScript' (if