fixed width bbox around text

fixed_width_bbox_around_text.py

from functools import partial
import matplotlib as mpl
from matplotlib import pyplot as plt


def patched_update_bbox_position_size(text, renderer):
    # Absolutely zero guarantees that the internally returned value will not
    # change in future versions!
    orig_get_layout = text._get_layout

    def tmp_patched_get_layout(renderer):
        _1, layout, _2 = orig_get_layout(renderer)
        for i, (t, (w, h), x, y) in enumerate(layout):
            # force the patch width (w=100) and pretend that the text starts at x=-50
            layout[i] = (t, (100, h), -50, y)
        return _1, layout, _2

    text._get_layout = tmp_patched_get_layout
    mpl.text.Text.update_bbox_position_size(text, renderer)  # call base method
    text._get_layout = orig_get_layout


fig = plt.figure()
t1 = fig.text(.5, .9, "hello", ha="center", bbox={})
t2 = fig.text(.5, .8, "world!", ha="center", bbox={})
t3 = fig.text(.5, .7, "draw", ha="center", bbox={})
t4 = fig.text(.5, .6, "fixed-width", ha="center", bbox={})
t5 = fig.text(.5, .5, "rectangles", ha="center", bbox={})
t3.update_bbox_position_size = partial(patched_update_bbox_position_size, t3)
t4.update_bbox_position_size = partial(patched_update_bbox_position_size, t4)
t5.update_bbox_position_size = partial(patched_update_bbox_position_size, t5)
plt.show()