Black and white plots in Python.

black_and_white.py

def setAxLinesBW(ax):
    """
    Take each Line2D in the axes, ax, and convert the line style to be 
    suitable for black and white viewing.
    """
    MARKERSIZE = 3

    COLORMAP = {
        'b': {'marker': None, 'dash': (None,None)},
        'g': {'marker': None, 'dash': [5,5]},
        'r': {'marker': None, 'dash': [5,3,1,3]},
        'c': {'marker': None, 'dash': [1,3]},
        'm': {'marker': None, 'dash': [5,2,5,2,5,10]},
        'y': {'marker': None, 'dash': [5,3,1,2,1,10]},
        'k': {'marker': 'o', 'dash': (None,None)} #[1,2,1,10]}
        }
    lines = []
    if ax.get_legend() == None:
        lines = ax.get_lines()
    else:
        lines = ax.get_lines() + ax.get_legend().get_lines()

    for line in lines:
        origColor = line.get_color()
        line.set_color('black')
        line.set_dashes(COLORMAP[origColor]['dash'])
        line.set_marker(COLORMAP[origColor]['marker'])
        line.set_markersize(MARKERSIZE)

def setFigLinesBW(fig):
    """
    Take each axes in the figure, and for each line in the axes, make the
    line viewable in black and white.
    """
    for ax in fig.get_axes():
        setAxLinesBW(ax)

test_bw_plot.py

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import black_and_white

# Some data...
fig = plt.figure()
plt.plot(x,y)
plt.legend(['First', 'Second', Third'], loc="upper left")
plt.title...

bw.setFigLinesBW(fig)
plt.show()