[Python-modules-team] Bug#720549: python-matplotlib: xkcd mode only refers to non-free fonts

[Elena Grandi]

Package: python-matplotlib
Version: 1.3.0-1
Severity: normal

When using the xkcd mode, matplotlib tries to use a font in the list 
['Humor Sans', 'Comic Sans MS'], which does not include any 
free font available in debian, resulting in an user warning:

    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    plt.xkcd()
    plt.figure()
    plt.plot([0,1],[4,5])
    plt.savefig('my_graph.png')
    /usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1236: UserWarning: findf
    ont: Font family ['Humor Sans', 'Comic Sans MS'] not found. Falling back to Bits
    tream Vera Sans
      (prop.get_family(), self.defaultFamily[fontext]))
    /usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/font_manager.py:1246: UserWarning: findf
    ont: Could not match :family=Bitstream Vera Sans:style=normal:variant=normal:wei
    ght=normal:stretch=normal:size=medium. Returning /usr/share/matplotlib/mpl-data/
    fonts/ttf/cmb10.ttf
      UserWarning)

IMHO the best solution would be to add a third failback option that is 
available in debian; maybe ttf-staypuft would be stylistically adeguate?

-- System Information:
Debian Release: jessie/sid
  APT prefers unstable
  APT policy: (500, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 3.10-2-amd64 (SMP w/1 CPU core)
Locale: LANG=en_GB.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_GB.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash

Versions of packages python-matplotlib depends on:
ii  libatk1.0-0                       2.8.0-2
ii  libc6                             2.17-92
ii  libcairo2                         1.12.14-4
ii  libfontconfig1                    2.10.2-2
ii  libfreetype6                      2.4.9-1.1
ii  libgcc1                           1:4.8.1-2
ii  libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0                2.28.2-1
ii  libglib2.0-0                      2.36.4-1
ii  libgtk2.0-0                       2.24.20-1
ii  libpango-1.0-0                    1.32.5-5+b1
ii  libpangocairo-1.0-0               1.32.5-5+b1
ii  libpangoft2-1.0-0                 1.32.5-5+b1
ii  libpng12-0                        1.2.49-4
ii  libstdc++6                        4.8.1-2
ii  python                            2.7.5-2
ii  python-dateutil                   1.5+dfsg-0.1
ii  python-matplotlib-data            1.3.0-1
ii  python-numpy [python-numpy-abi9]  1:1.7.1-2+b1
ii  python-pyparsing                  1.5.7+dfsg1-2
ii  python-support                    1.0.15
ii  python-tz                         2012c-1
ii  tcl8.5                            8.5.14-2
ii  tk8.5                             8.5.14-2

Versions of packages python-matplotlib recommends:
ii  python-glade2  2.24.0-3+b1
ii  python-tk      2.7.5-1

Versions of packages python-matplotlib suggests:
pn  dvipng                 <none>
pn  gir1.2-gtk-3.0         <none>
ii  ipython                0.13.2-2
ii  librsvg2-common        2.36.4-2
ii  python-cairo           1.8.8-1+b2
ii  python-configobj       4.7.2+ds-5
pn  python-excelerator     <none>
ii  python-gobject         3.8.2-1
ii  python-gtk2            2.24.0-3+b1
pn  python-matplotlib-doc  <none>
ii  python-qt4             4.10.2-2
pn  python-scipy           <none>
ii  python-sip             4.14.7-3+b1
pn  python-traits          <none>
pn  python-wxgtk2.8        <none>
ii  texlive-extra-utils    2012.20120611-2
ii  texlive-latex-extra    2012.20120611-2

-- no debconf information