How can I plot a style like gnuplot's 'with impulses' with matplotlib?

Question

I'd like to create a plot like the one below with python/pandas/matplotlib. The upper clip is no problem, but I haven't been able to get a plot like the lower clip to work. I can do it in gnuplot where the equivalent plot style is 'with impulses'. Is this possible with matplotlib? If it is not possible with matplotlib is there another python graphics package that would work?

Answer 1

The easiest way to create such a plot is to use pyplot.stem. An example can be found here.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

x = np.linspace(0.1, 6*np.pi, 50)
plt.stem(x, np.cos(x)+1, linefmt='g-', markerfmt=' ')
plt.stem(x, -np.sin(x)-1, linefmt='r-', markerfmt=' ', basefmt="gray")

plt.show()

Another option is to use pyplot.vlines.