Completely custom legend in Matplotlib, Python

Question

I am using Matplotlib to basically draw a \'picture\', not for plotting data.

In the \'picture\' I use plt.annotate to label certain parts of the pictur

Answer 1

In most cases you probably also want to illustrate elements on the graphic with color in your custom legend. In this case I would simply use matplotlib's own functions, than you also do not need to write your own complex function.

import matplotlib 

red_line = matplotlib.lines.Line2D([], [], color='red',markersize=100, label='Blue line')


blue_line = matplotlib.lines.Line2D([], [], color='blue', markersize=100, label='Green line')
purple_line = matplotlib.lines.Line2D([], [], color='purple', markersize=100, label='Green line')

handles = [blue_line,red_line, purple_line]
labels = [h.get_label() for h in handles] 

ax.legend(handles=handles, labels=labels)  
plt.show()