How do I save the text in python plots editable in svg files?

Question

I am trying to save a python plot as an svg file:

import matplotlib as mpl
mpl.use('svg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

plt.figure()
x = np.linspace(0,2*np.pi)
y = np.sin(x)
plt.plot(x, y)
plt.xlabel('Phase $\phi$')
plt.ylabel('Signal')
plt.savefig('SineSignal.svg', format = 'svg')

Works so far. But once I open the file in Inkscape, I cannot edit the text anymore. Seems like python saved the text as a graphic instead as text. Because of this I am neither able to change font, fontsize etc. in Inkscape nor to search for text elements in the plots in the PDF file I create with latex.

Another option is to save the plot as PGF (mpl.use('svg') has to be replaced with mpl.use('pgf') in this case):

plt.savefig('SineSignal.pgf')

This way I am still not able to edit font/fontsize, but at least I can search for textelements in the pdf.

Any suggestions? Using TikZ in python is not an option because the features are quite limited and the plots would look different.

Answer 1

Found an answer. You can use

new_rc_params = {'text.usetex': False,
"svg.fonttype": 'none'
}
mpl.rcParams.update(new_rc_params)

to prevent the svg backend from rendering the text as paths. For more detailed instructions take a look at Is there an efficient way to store 2D plots as a vector graphic in python?.

Answer 2

Doing from scratch option

Minimal code for SVG file with red circle; save to circle.svg:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="200" height="200" viewBox="0 0 200 200">
  <circle id="circle--red" cx="30" cy="30" r="30" fill="#f00"/>
</svg>

You need probably <path> to create sine wave curve within the SVG. https://www.w3schools.com/graphics/svg_path.asp Replace <circle> element in above. For text, use <text>: https://www.w3schools.com/graphics/svg_text.asp

If you want axises, you can generate those yourself, but using Inkscape or other SVG-able graphics editor may help to create prototype for axes.