# Ticks and axis labels font

**URL:** <https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/ticks-and-axis-labels-font/2914>\
**Category:** Q&A\
**Tags:** gmt\
**Created:** [May 12, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/ticks-and-axis-labels-font/2914 "2022-05-12T00:17:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![feraxel](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/feraxel/32/1560_2.png) [@feraxel](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/feraxel)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/ticks-and-axis-labels-font/2914/1 "2022-05-12T00:17:52Z")

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Hello everyone, I some details with my map design in PyGMT. I would like to draw the ticks into the frame (default is outside the frame) , change the label font (x-axis and y-axis) because the default font is so big, and increase the offset between the grade labels (frame), for example , I have this in my maps: 17 N 18N 19 N; but I would like to get: 17 N 19N 21 N. Anyone could help? Thanks

I share a map as I would like to get in PyGMT

 ![Screenshot at 2022-05-11 22-57-17](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/uploads/gmt/original/2X/f/f50a93ef5ab42fecb7f18d700b2370e65d587cc4.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Joaquim](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/joaquim/32/16_2.png) [@Joaquim](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/Joaquim)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 12:42am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/ticks-and-axis-labels-font/2914/2 "2022-05-12T00:42:05Z")

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> [@Forum tips & tricks: create a good post](https://flint.soest.hawaii.edu/t/forum-tips-tricks-create-a-good-post/2585):
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**Author:** ![mkononets](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/mkononets/32/4029_2.png) [@mkononets](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/u/mkononets)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2022, 11:27am UTC](https://forum.generic-mapping-tools.org/t/ticks-and-axis-labels-font/2914/3 "2022-05-12T11:27:36Z")

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> [@feraxel](#):
>
> draw the ticks into the frame

this does not seem to be supported, at least not directly: ticks inside the frame while tick labels outside  
see [gmt.conf — GMT 6.3.0 documentation](https://docs.generic-mapping-tools.org/6.3/gmt.conf.html#term-MAP_FRAME_TYPE)  
UPD In command-line GMT it is possible to draw two frames with identical size and tick spacing: frame one with ticks inside but no tick labels and frame two with ticks outside, tick length set to 0 and tick labels enabled. I don’t know if such trick is possible in pyGMT.

> [@feraxel](#):
>
> change the label font (x-axis and y-axis) because the default font is so big

`pygmt.config(FONT_LABEL="10")`  
see [gmt.conf — GMT 6.3.0 documentation](https://docs.generic-mapping-tools.org/6.3/gmt.conf.html#term-FONT_LABEL)

> [@feraxel](#):
>
> I have this in my maps: 17 N 18N 19 N; but I would like to get: 17 N 19N 21 N

`fig.basemap(frame=["WSne", "x2+lLatitude(°)", "y2+lLongutide(°)"])`  
`x2` sets x tics every 2 degrees, `y2` sets y ticks the same way.  
modified from [Frames, ticks, titles, and labels — PyGMT](https://www.pygmt.org/latest/tutorials/basics/frames.html#axis-labels)
