ipython - matplotlib python inline on/off

Question

If I start an ipython notebook with matplotlib inlined, is there a way to subsequently plot a figure so that it shows in the "standard", non-inlined, way, without having to reload the notebook without the inline command? I'd like to be able to have some figures inlined int he notebook, but others in the traditional interactive mode, where I can zoom and pan.

Answer 1

You can switch the matplotlib's backend by %matplotlib <backend>. To switch back to your system's default backend use %matplotlib auto or just simply %matplotlib.

There are many backends available such as gtk, qt, notebook, etc. I personally highly recommend the notebook (a.k.a. nbagg) backend. It is similar to inline but interactive, allowing zooming/panning from inside Jupyter.

For more info try: ?%matplotlib inside an IPython/Jupyter or IPython's online documentation