matplotlib · efiring · Apr 16, 2012 · Feb 17, 2012 · Feb 17, 2012 · Feb 17, 2012
diff --git a/examples/pylab_examples/contourf_hatching.py b/examples/pylab_examples/contourf_hatching.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import numpy
+
+
+# invent some numbers, turning the x and y arrays into simple
+# 2d arrays, which make combining them together easier. 
+x = numpy.linspace(-3, 5, 150).reshape(1, -1)
+y = numpy.linspace(-3, 5, 120).reshape(-1, 1)
+z = numpy.cos(x) + numpy.sin(y)
+
+# we no longer need x and y to be 2 dimensional, so flatten them.
+x, y = x.flatten(), y.flatten()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------
+# |                 Plot #1                   |
+# ---------------------------------------------
+# the simplest hatched plot with a colorbar
+fig = plt.figure()
+cs = plt.contourf(x, y, z, hatches=['-', '/', '\\', '//'], 
+                  cmap=plt.get_cmap('gray'),
+                  extend='both', alpha=0.5
+                  )
+plt.colorbar()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------
+# |                 Plot #2                   |
+# ---------------------------------------------
+# a plot of hatches without color with a legend
+plt.figure()
+n_levels = 6
+plt.contour(x, y, z, n_levels, colors='black', linestyles='-')
+cs = plt.contourf(x, y, z, n_levels, colors='none', 
+                  hatches=['.', '/', '\\', None, '\\\\', '*'], 
+                  extend='lower'
+                  )
+
+# create a legend for the contour set 
+artists, labels = cs.legend_elements()
+plt.legend(artists, labels, handleheight=2)
+
+
+
+plt.show()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/collections.py b/lib/matplotlib/collections.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class Collection(artist.Artist, cm.ScalarMappable):
           :class:`matplotlib.cm.ScalarMappable`)
         * *cmap*: None (optional for
           :class:`matplotlib.cm.ScalarMappable`)
+        * *hatch*: None
 
     *offsets* and *transOffset* are used to translate the patch after
     rendering (default no offsets).
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ def __init__(self,
                  norm = None,  # optional for ScalarMappable
                  cmap = None,  # ditto
                  pickradius = 5.0,
+                 hatch=None,
                  urls = None,
                  **kwargs
                  ):
@@ -95,6 +97,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.set_antialiased(antialiaseds)
         self.set_pickradius(pickradius)
         self.set_urls(urls)
+        self.set_hatch(hatch)
 
 
         self._uniform_offsets = None
@@ -232,7 +235,10 @@ def draw(self, renderer):
         gc = renderer.new_gc()
         self._set_gc_clip(gc)
         gc.set_snap(self.get_snap())
-
+
+        if self._hatch:
+            gc.set_hatch(self._hatch)
+
         renderer.draw_path_collection(
             gc, transform.frozen(), paths, self.get_transforms(),
             offsets, transOffset, self.get_facecolor(), self.get_edgecolor(),
@@ -292,6 +298,38 @@ def set_urls(self, urls):
 
     def get_urls(self): return self._urls
 
+    def set_hatch(self, hatch):
+        """
+        Set the hatching pattern
+
+        *hatch* can be one of::
+
+          /   - diagonal hatching
+          \   - back diagonal
+          |   - vertical
+          -   - horizontal
+          +   - crossed
+          x   - crossed diagonal
+          o   - small circle
+          O   - large circle
+          .   - dots
+          *   - stars
+
+        Letters can be combined, in which case all the specified
+        hatchings are done.  If same letter repeats, it increases the
+        density of hatching of that pattern.
+
+        Hatching is supported in the PostScript, PDF, SVG and Agg
+        backends only.
+
+        ACCEPTS: [ '/' | '\\\\' | '|' | '-' | '+' | 'x' | 'o' | 'O' | '.' | '*' ]
+        """
+        self._hatch = hatch
+
+    def get_hatch(self):
+        'Return the current hatching pattern'
+        return self._hatch
+
     def set_offsets(self, offsets):
         """
         Set the offsets for the collection.  *offsets* can be a scalar
@@ -547,6 +585,7 @@ def update_from(self, other):
         self._linewidths = other._linewidths
         self._linestyles = other._linestyles
         self._pickradius = other._pickradius
+        self._hatch = other._hatch
 
         # update_from for scalarmappable
         self._A = other._A