diff --git a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
index c5569b52de98..5a97efef671b 100644
--- a/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
+++ b/examples/axes_grid1/demo_axes_rgb.py
@@ -42,13 +42,20 @@ def make_cube(r, g, b):
 def demo_rgb():
     fig, ax = plt.subplots()
     ax_r, ax_g, ax_b = make_rgb_axes(ax, pad=0.02)
-    #fig.add_axes(ax_r)
-    #fig.add_axes(ax_g)
-    #fig.add_axes(ax_b)
+    # fig.add_axes(ax_r)
+    # fig.add_axes(ax_g)
+    # fig.add_axes(ax_b)
 
     r, g, b = get_rgb()
     im_r, im_g, im_b, im_rgb = make_cube(r, g, b)
     kwargs = dict(origin="lower", interpolation="nearest")
+
+    # make tickmarks invisible
+    ax.tick_params(length=0)
+    ax_r.tick_params(length=0)
+    ax_g.tick_params(length=0)
+    ax_b.tick_params(length=0)
+
     ax.imshow(im_rgb, **kwargs)
     ax_r.imshow(im_r, **kwargs)
     ax_g.imshow(im_g, **kwargs)
@@ -58,22 +65,20 @@ def demo_rgb():
 def demo_rgb2():
     fig = plt.figure(2)
     ax = RGBAxes(fig, [0.1, 0.1, 0.8, 0.8], pad=0.0)
-    #fig.add_axes(ax)
-    #ax.add_RGB_to_figure()
+    # fig.add_axes(ax)
+    # ax.add_RGB_to_figure()
 
     r, g, b = get_rgb()
     kwargs = dict(origin="lower", interpolation="nearest")
     ax.imshow_rgb(r, g, b, **kwargs)
 
-    ax.RGB.set_xlim(0., 9.5)
+    ax.RGB.set_xlim(0., 10.6)
     ax.RGB.set_ylim(0.9, 10.6)
 
     for ax1 in [ax.RGB, ax.R, ax.G, ax.B]:
-        for sp1 in ax1.spines.values():
-            sp1.set_color("w")
-        for tick in ax1.xaxis.get_major_ticks() + ax1.yaxis.get_major_ticks():
-            tick.tick1line.set_mec("w")
-            tick.tick2line.set_mec("w")
+        ax1.tick_params(axis='both', direction='in')
+        ax1.xaxis.set_ticks(np.arange(0, 12, 2))
+        ax1.yaxis.set_ticks(np.arange(0, 12, 2))
 
     return ax