How to set default font size and style?

In R2015a, how do I set the default text for plot titles, ticklabels, and axes labels to 12 point normal font?

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

I didn’t test this because I don’ want to change my installation or current property values, but see the documentation for Default Property Values.

Specifically, see if:

set(groot,'defaultFontName','Parchment')

or to some font more to your liking does what you want.

[K E]

Here it is! Had to list default properties to a file, then edit, as follows:

     diary('c:\temp\junk.txt'); % Save long output of next command
     get(groot,'factory'); % List all factory settings
     edit('c:\temp\junk.txt'); % Look for font settings
     % Set default to desired settings
     set(0, 'DefaultAxesFontWeight', 'normal', ...
      'DefaultAxesFontSize', 12, ...
      'DefaultAxesFontAngle', 'normal', ... % Not sure the difference here
      'DefaultAxesFontWeight', 'normal', ... % Not sure the difference here
      'DefaultAxesTitleFontWeight', 'normal', ...
      'DefaultAxesTitleFontSizeMultiplier', 1) ;

Have to say I don't like the R2015a factory choices for plotting. To my eye, they add some chartjunk. To each their own, I suppose.

[Star Strider]

The get function can have an output argument, so that could have made things easier.

[Peter Harrington]

does not work in MATLAB 2018

set(groot,'defaultFontName','Verdana')

Error using matlab.ui.Root/set

fontname is an invalid class name

Answer 2

[Timothy Dalrymple]

I can't promise that his works in all cases, but I include this line at the top of my code and it sets all plots in my code.

So, I just skip the use of graphics root object (groot) set(groot,'defaultFontName','Verdana')

set(0, 'DefaultAxesFontSize', 18);

Answer 3

[Mayra]

You should use:

set(groot,'defaultAxesFontName','Verdana')
set(groot,'defaultAxesFontSize',12)

And it is possible to set as default several things, for that you need the right class name, to check them:

d = get(groot,'factory');

Substitute factory to default.

To have this setup everytime you open matlab add a startup.m file to your userpath. There is a better explanation about it here: https://blogs.mathworks.com/steve/2019/02/22/making-your-plot-lines-thicker/