matplotlib · NelleV · Nov 21, 2016 · Feb 25, 2016 · Feb 25, 2016 · Feb 25, 2016
diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new/streamplot_set_maximum_length.rst b/doc/users/whats_new/streamplot_set_maximum_length.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Maximum streamline length and integration direction can now be specified
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+This allows to follow the vector field for a longer time and can enhance the
+visibility of the flow pattern in some use cases.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py b/lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py
@@ -4606,21 +4606,25 @@ def stackplot(self, x, *args, **kwargs):
     def streamplot(self, x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None,
                    cmap=None, norm=None, arrowsize=1, arrowstyle='-|>',
                    minlength=0.1, transform=None, zorder=None,
-                   start_points=None):
+                   start_points=None, maxlength=4.0,
+                   integration_direction='both'):
         if not self._hold:
             self.cla()
-        stream_container = mstream.streamplot(self, x, y, u, v,
-                                              density=density,
-                                              linewidth=linewidth,
-                                              color=color,
-                                              cmap=cmap,
-                                              norm=norm,
-                                              arrowsize=arrowsize,
-                                              arrowstyle=arrowstyle,
-                                              minlength=minlength,
-                                              start_points=start_points,
-                                              transform=transform,
-                                              zorder=zorder)
+        stream_container = mstream.streamplot(
+            self, x, y, u, v,
+            density=density,
+            linewidth=linewidth,
+            color=color,
+            cmap=cmap,
+            norm=norm,
+            arrowsize=arrowsize,
+            arrowstyle=arrowstyle,
+            minlength=minlength,
+            start_points=start_points,
+            transform=transform,
+            zorder=zorder,
+            maxlength=maxlength,
+            integration_direction=integration_direction)
         return stream_container
     streamplot.__doc__ = mstream.streamplot.__doc__
 

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -3288,8 +3288,8 @@ def step(x, y, *args, **kwargs):
 @_autogen_docstring(Axes.streamplot)
 def streamplot(x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None, cmap=None,
                norm=None, arrowsize=1, arrowstyle='-|>', minlength=0.1,
-               transform=None, zorder=None, start_points=None, hold=None,
-               data=None):
+               transform=None, zorder=None, start_points=None, maxlength=4.0,
+               integration_direction='both', hold=None, data=None):
     ax = gca()
     # allow callers to override the hold state by passing hold=True|False
     washold = ax.ishold()
@@ -3301,7 +3301,10 @@ def streamplot(x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None, cmap=None,
                             color=color, cmap=cmap, norm=norm,
                             arrowsize=arrowsize, arrowstyle=arrowstyle,
                             minlength=minlength, transform=transform,
-                            zorder=zorder, start_points=start_points, data=data)
+                            zorder=zorder, start_points=start_points,
+                            maxlength=maxlength,
+                            integration_direction=integration_direction,
+                            data=data)
     finally:
         ax.hold(washold)
     sci(ret.lines)

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/streamplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/streamplot.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
 
 def streamplot(axes, x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None,
                cmap=None, norm=None, arrowsize=1, arrowstyle='-|>',
-               minlength=0.1, transform=None, zorder=None, start_points=None):
+               minlength=0.1, transform=None, zorder=None, start_points=None,
+               maxlength=4.0, integration_direction='both'):
     """Draws streamlines of a vector flow.
 
     *x*, *y* : 1d arrays
@@ -58,6 +59,10 @@ def streamplot(axes, x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None,
         In data coordinates, the same as the ``x`` and ``y`` arrays.
     *zorder* : int
         any number
+    *maxlength* : float
+        Maximum length of streamline in axes coordinates.
+    *integration_direction* : ['forward', 'backward', 'both']
+        Integrate the streamline in forward, backward or both directions.
 
     Returns:
 
@@ -95,6 +100,15 @@ def streamplot(axes, x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None,
     line_kw = {}
     arrow_kw = dict(arrowstyle=arrowstyle, mutation_scale=10 * arrowsize)
 
+    if integration_direction not in ['both', 'forward', 'backward']:
+        errstr = ("Integration direction '%s' not recognised. "
+                  "Expected 'both', 'forward' or 'backward'." %
+                  integration_direction)
+        raise ValueError(errstr)
+
+    if integration_direction == 'both':
+        maxlength /= 2.
+
     use_multicolor_lines = isinstance(color, np.ndarray)
     if use_multicolor_lines:
         if color.shape != grid.shape:
@@ -126,7 +140,8 @@ def streamplot(axes, x, y, u, v, density=1, linewidth=None, color=None,
     u = np.ma.masked_invalid(u)
     v = np.ma.masked_invalid(v)
 
-    integrate = get_integrator(u, v, dmap, minlength)
+    integrate = get_integrator(u, v, dmap, minlength, maxlength,
+                               integration_direction)
 
     trajectories = []
     if start_points is None:
@@ -401,7 +416,7 @@ class TerminateTrajectory(Exception):
 # Integrator definitions
 #========================
 
-def get_integrator(u, v, dmap, minlength):
+def get_integrator(u, v, dmap, minlength, maxlength, integration_direction):
 
     # rescale velocity onto grid-coordinates for integrations.
     u, v = dmap.data2grid(u, v)
@@ -435,17 +450,27 @@ def integrate(x0, y0):
         resulting trajectory is None if it is shorter than `minlength`.
         """
 
+        stotal, x_traj, y_traj = 0., [], []
+
         try:
             dmap.start_trajectory(x0, y0)
         except InvalidIndexError:
             return None
-        sf, xf_traj, yf_traj = _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, forward_time)
-        dmap.reset_start_point(x0, y0)
-        sb, xb_traj, yb_traj = _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, backward_time)
-        # combine forward and backward trajectories
-        stotal = sf + sb
-        x_traj = xb_traj[::-1] + xf_traj[1:]
-        y_traj = yb_traj[::-1] + yf_traj[1:]
+        if integration_direction in ['both', 'backward']:
+            s, xt, yt = _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, backward_time, maxlength)
+            stotal += s
+            x_traj += xt[::-1]
+            y_traj += yt[::-1]
+
+        if integration_direction in ['both', 'forward']:
+            dmap.reset_start_point(x0, y0)
+            s, xt, yt = _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, forward_time, maxlength)
+            if len(x_traj) > 0:
+                xt = xt[1:]
+                yt = yt[1:]
+            stotal += s
+            x_traj += xt
+            y_traj += yt
 
         if stotal > minlength:
             return x_traj, y_traj
@@ -456,7 +481,7 @@ def integrate(x0, y0):
     return integrate
 
 
-def _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, f):
+def _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, f, maxlength):
     """2nd-order Runge-Kutta algorithm with adaptive step size.
 
     This method is also referred to as the improved Euler's method, or Heun's
@@ -532,7 +557,7 @@ def _integrate_rk12(x0, y0, dmap, f):
                 dmap.update_trajectory(xi, yi)
             except InvalidIndexError:
                 break
-            if (stotal + ds) > 2:
+            if (stotal + ds) > maxlength:
                 break
             stotal += ds
 

diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_streamplot/streamplot_direction.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_streamplot/streamplot_direction.png
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_streamplot/streamplot_maxlength.png b/lib/matplotlib/tests/baseline_images/test_streamplot/streamplot_maxlength.png
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_streamplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/tests/test_streamplot.py
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ def velocity_field():
     V = 1 + X - Y**2
     return X, Y, U, V
 
+def swirl_velocity_field():
+    x = np.linspace(-3., 3., 100)
+    y = np.linspace(-3., 3., 100)
+    X, Y = np.meshgrid(x, y)
+    a = 0.1
+    U = np.cos(a) * (-Y) - np.sin(a) * X
+    V = np.sin(a) * (-Y) + np.cos(a) * X
+    return x, y, U, V
 
 @image_comparison(baseline_images=['streamplot_startpoints'])
 def test_startpoints():
@@ -57,6 +65,23 @@ def test_masks_and_nans():
         plt.streamplot(X, Y, U, V, color=U, cmap=plt.cm.Blues)
 
 
+@image_comparison(baseline_images=['streamplot_maxlength'],
+                  extensions=['png'])
+def test_maxlength():
+    x, y, U, V = swirl_velocity_field()
+    plt.streamplot(x, y, U, V, maxlength=10., start_points=[[0., 1.5]],
+                   linewidth=2, density=2)
+
+
+@image_comparison(baseline_images=['streamplot_direction'],
+                  extensions=['png'])
+def test_direction():
+    x, y, U, V = swirl_velocity_field()
+    plt.streamplot(x, y, U, V, integration_direction='backward',
+                   maxlength=1.5, start_points=[[1.5, 0.]],
+                   linewidth=2, density=2)
+
+
 @cleanup
 def test_streamplot_limits():
     ax = plt.axes()