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{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"DiscussionForumPosting","headline":"Enhancement Request: grid below and ticks above","articleBody":"Hi matplotlib developers,\n\nCurrently, it is not possible to have the gridlines drawn below plotlines and simultaneously have ticks drawn above plotlines.  With the `set_axisbelow` method, the gridlines and ticks are both set either above or below any plotlines.  Here is a minimal working example:\n\n``` python\nimport numpy as np\nimport matplotlib as mpl\nimport matplotlib.pyplot as plt\n\nmpl.rcParams.update({\n'font.size':16,\n'axes.linewidth':6,\n'xtick.major.width':4,\n'ytick.major.width':4,\n'xtick.major.size':13,\n'ytick.major.size':13,\n'grid.linewidth':4,\n'grid.color':'0.8',\n})\n\nx = np.log(np.linspace(1e-3,1e+3,1e+3))\n\nplt.figure()\n\nax1 = plt.subplot(211)\nax1.plot(x,lw=10)\nax1.set_xlim(-10,1000)\nax1.set_ylim(-8,6.8)\nax1.grid()\nax1.set_axisbelow(False)\n\nax2 = plt.subplot(212)\nax2.plot(x,lw=10)\nax2.set_xlim(-10,1000)\nax2.set_ylim(-8,6.8)\nax2.grid()\nax2.set_axisbelow(True)\n\nplt.show()\n```\n\n![grid_below](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/8595627/6711462/a89f590c-cd5d-11e4-8f46-b6de7dbef7b8.png)\n\nIn the example above, in the top subplot, the `set_axisbelow(False)` method makes the gridlines above the plotline; while in the bottom subplot, the `set_axisbelow(True)` method makes the plotline above the ticks.  This is unfortunate because, in my typical use case, I never want the gridlines above the data and I never want the ticks below the data, so I have to \"simulate\" a fake grid by drawing individual lines with `axvline` and `axhline`.  This missing functionality was noticed at stackoverflow \nhttp://stackoverflow.com/questions/19677963/matplotlib-keep-grid-lines-behind-the-graph-but-the-y-and-x-axis-above\na while ago, where it was called a \"feature\" by @tacaswell , so I am requesting a new functionality that would allow the gridlines to be set below all other artists without affecting the axis spines or ticks.  Perhaps a new axes method named `set_gridbelow` would do the trick, or an optional kwarg to `set_axisbelow`.\n\nIn any case, I can't believe that I am the only person who wants this functionality to be built-in, so I hope that you consider adding this enhancement.  Thanks.\n","author":{"url":"https://github.com/u55","@type":"Person","name":"u55"},"datePublished":"2015-03-18T15:21:12.000Z","interactionStatistic":{"@type":"InteractionCounter","interactionType":"https://schema.org/CommentAction","userInteractionCount":6},"url":"https://github.com/4243/matplotlib/issues/4243"}