Parallel Labels on 3D axes plot with Python

Question

How can I turn the label of the axes on a 3D plot from this:

(Labels "perpendicular" to the axes)

To this: (Labels "parallel" to the axes)

Perhaps, with the Y label in this case turned of 90 degree.

I simply use ax.set_xlabel('X axis'), and respective, for each of the three axis, but the labels result perpendicular, and occupy a substantial part of the plot.

I was reading this discussion, but it is actually not answered, and the get module I don't know where it comes from (I receive error if I try that solution).

Answer 1

I am guessing that you imported axes3d module. Because it seems from looking at the matplotlib gallery examples, that the default behaviour of axes3d is to have labels "perpendicular", as on your first plot. But the module Axes3D have default labels to be "parallel" to the axes, as on your second plot.

As for discussion you linked, it applies to matplab and not to matplotlib.

Here is a code that should work for you:

import numpy as np
from mpl_toolkits.mplot3d import Axes3D
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111, projection='3d')

points = np.random.rand(3, 40)

ax.scatter(points[0], points[1], points[2])

ax.set_xlabel('X Label')
ax.set_ylabel('Y Label')
ax.set_zlabel('Z Label')

plt.show()

Answer 2

I have found the following as the best workaround:

ax.zaxis.set_rotate_label(False) # To disable automatic label rotation

ax.set_ylabel('Y')
ax.set_xlabel('X', rotation=-90)
ax.set_zlabel('Z', rotation=90)

From here.