diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index 763ee90a..4d7321ff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 name: Tests
 
 on:
-  - pull_request
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main  # Only runs if the PR is aiming to merge INTO main
 
 jobs:
   test:
diff --git a/src/matplot2tikz/_axes.py b/src/matplot2tikz/_axes.py
index d9b28ced..c6cbb717 100644
--- a/src/matplot2tikz/_axes.py
+++ b/src/matplot2tikz/_axes.py
@@ -669,6 +669,10 @@ def _is_colorbar_heuristic(obj: Axes) -> bool:
     )
 
 
+# Public alias for use by _save when computing default axis dimensions.
+is_colorbar_heuristic = _is_colorbar_heuristic
+
+
 def _mpl_cmap2pgf_cmap(cmap: Colormap, data: TikzData) -> tuple[str, bool]:
     """Converts a color map as given in matplotlib to a color map as represented in PGFPlots."""
     if isinstance(cmap, LinearSegmentedColormap):
diff --git a/src/matplot2tikz/_cleanfigure.py b/src/matplot2tikz/_cleanfigure.py
index 4f578ebd..c87df24d 100644
--- a/src/matplot2tikz/_cleanfigure.py
+++ b/src/matplot2tikz/_cleanfigure.py
@@ -370,28 +370,45 @@ def _remove_nans(data: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
 
     I.e., those at the end/beginning of the data and consecutive ones.
     """
+
+    # do nothing if data is empty, as it would be after a call to clean_figure()
+    if data.size == 0:
+        return data
+
     id_nan = np.any(np.isnan(data), axis=1)
+
+    # Likewise guard against all rows being NaN
+    valid = np.argwhere(~id_nan).reshape((-1,))
+
+    if valid.size == 0:
+        return data[:0]
+
     id_remove = np.argwhere(id_nan).reshape((-1,))
-    if not _isempty(id_remove):
-        id_remove = id_remove[
-            np.concatenate([np.diff(id_remove, axis=0) == 1, np.array([False]).reshape((-1,))])
-        ]
+    if id_remove.size != 0:
+        consecutive = np.diff(id_remove) == 1
+        id_remove = id_remove[np.concatenate([consecutive, np.array([False])])]
 
-    id_first = np.argwhere(np.logical_not(id_nan))[0]
-    id_last = np.argwhere(np.logical_not(id_nan))[-1]
+    id_first = valid[0]
+    id_last = valid[-1]
+
+    id_remove = np.concatenate(
+            [np.arange(0, id_first),
+            id_remove,
+            np.arange(id_last + 1, len(data))]
+            )
 
-    if _isempty(id_first):
-        # remove entire data
-        id_remove = np.arange(len(data))
-    else:
-        id_remove = np.concatenate(
-            [np.arange(0, id_first[0]), id_remove, np.arange(id_last[0] + 1, len(data))]
-        )
     return np.delete(data, id_remove, axis=0)
 
 
+def _sorted_limits(lim: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Return axis limits as [min, max] regardless of axis direction."""
+    return np.array([np.min(lim), np.max(lim)])
+
+
 def _is_in_box(data: np.ndarray, x_lim: np.ndarray, y_lim: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
     """Returns a mask that indicates, whether a data point is within the limits."""
+    x_lim = _sorted_limits(x_lim)
+    y_lim = _sorted_limits(y_lim)
     mask_x = np.logical_and(data[:, 0] > x_lim[0], data[:, 0] < x_lim[1])
     mask_y = np.logical_and(data[:, 1] > y_lim[0], data[:, 1] < y_lim[1])
     return np.logical_and(mask_x, mask_y)
@@ -545,14 +562,15 @@ def _move_points_closer(y_lim: np.ndarray, data: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
     # Calculate the extension of the extended box
     # (x_width not important for clipping, as it is already dealt with elsewhere (maybe by
     # matplotlib when lim() occurs))
-    y_width = y_lim[1] - y_lim[0]
+    y_min, y_max = _sorted_limits(y_lim)
+    y_width = y_max - y_min
 
     # Don't choose the larger box too large to make sure that the values inside
     # it can still be treated by TeX.
 
     extended_factor = 0.1
-    y_min_ext = y_lim[0] - extended_factor * y_width
-    y_max_ext = y_lim[1] + extended_factor * y_width
+    y_min_ext = y_min - extended_factor * y_width
+    y_max_ext = y_max + extended_factor * y_width
 
     # Copy data to avoid modifying original array
     clipped_data = np.array(data, copy=True)
@@ -607,8 +625,8 @@ def _simplify_line(cfd: CleanFigureData) -> np.ndarray:
 
     # Automatically guess a tol based on the area of the figure and
     # the area and resolution of the output
-    x_range = cfd.x_lim[1] - cfd.x_lim[0]
-    y_range = cfd.y_lim[1] - cfd.y_lim[0]
+    x_range = np.max(cfd.x_lim) - np.min(cfd.x_lim)
+    y_range = np.max(cfd.y_lim) - np.min(cfd.y_lim)
 
     # Conversion factors of data units into pixels
     x_to_pix = width / x_range
@@ -893,6 +911,8 @@ def _corners2d(
     x_lim: np.ndarray, y_lim: np.ndarray
 ) -> tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray, np.ndarray, np.ndarray]:
     """Determine the corners of the axes as defined by xLim and yLim."""
+    x_lim = _sorted_limits(x_lim)
+    y_lim = _sorted_limits(y_lim)
     bottom_left = np.array([x_lim[0], y_lim[0]])
     top_left = np.array([x_lim[0], y_lim[1]])
     bottom_right = np.array([x_lim[1], y_lim[0]])
@@ -904,6 +924,9 @@ def _corners3d(
     x_lim: list | np.ndarray, y_lim: list | np.ndarray, z_lim: list | np.ndarray
 ) -> np.ndarray:
     """Determine the corners of the 3D axes as defined by xLim, yLim and zLim."""
+    x_lim = _sorted_limits(np.array(x_lim))
+    y_lim = _sorted_limits(np.array(y_lim))
+    z_lim = _sorted_limits(np.array(z_lim))
     # Lower square of the cube
     lower_bottom_left = np.array([x_lim[0], y_lim[0], z_lim[0]])
     lower_top_left = np.array([x_lim[0], y_lim[1], z_lim[0]])
diff --git a/src/matplot2tikz/_line2d.py b/src/matplot2tikz/_line2d.py
index 7f675451..6a34ee98 100644
--- a/src/matplot2tikz/_line2d.py
+++ b/src/matplot2tikz/_line2d.py
@@ -166,6 +166,8 @@ def draw_linecollection(data: TikzData, obj: LineCollection) -> list[str]:
     """Returns Pgfplots code for a number of patch objects."""
     content = []
 
+    obj.update_scalarmappable()
+
     edgecolors = obj.get_edgecolors()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
     linestyles = obj.get_linestyles()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
     linewidths = obj.get_linewidths()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
diff --git a/src/matplot2tikz/_path.py b/src/matplot2tikz/_path.py
index e1da1cd0..d7532a11 100644
--- a/src/matplot2tikz/_path.py
+++ b/src/matplot2tikz/_path.py
@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ def draw_pathcollection(data: TikzData, obj: PathCollection) -> list[str]:
 def _draw_pathcollection_scatter_colormap(data: TikzData, pcd: PathCollectionData) -> None:
     obj_array = pcd.obj.get_array()
     if obj_array is not None:
+        # clean_figure() can cause a mismatch in color array len, so check and truncate as needed
+        if len(obj_array) != len(pcd.dd_strings):
+            obj_array = obj_array[: len(pcd.dd_strings)]
+        
         pcd.dd_strings = np.column_stack([pcd.dd_strings, obj_array])
     pcd.labels.append("colordata")
     pcd.draw_options.append("scatter src=explicit")
diff --git a/src/matplot2tikz/_save.py b/src/matplot2tikz/_save.py
index 39e86e73..2824f5a4 100644
--- a/src/matplot2tikz/_save.py
+++ b/src/matplot2tikz/_save.py
@@ -98,14 +98,19 @@ def get_tikz_code(  # noqa: PLR0913
                        TikZ/PGFPlots output. If ``axis_height`` is not given,
                        ``matplot2tikz`` will try to preserve the original width/height
                        ratio.  Note that ``axis_width`` can be a string literal, such as
-                       ``'\\axis_width'``.
+                       ``'\\axis_width'``. If both ``axis_width`` and ``axis_height``
+                       are omitted and the figure has a single (non-colorbar) axis,
+                       they default to the figure size in inches (e.g. from
+                       ``figsize`` in ``plt.subplots()``), with the ``"in"`` suffix.
     :type axis_width: str
 
     :param axis_height: If not ``None``, this will be used as figure height within the
                         TikZ/PGFPlots output. If ``axis_width`` is not given,
                         ``matplot2tikz`` will try to preserve the original width/height
-                        ratio.  Note that ``axis_width`` can be a string literal, such
-                        as ``'\\axis_height'``.
+                        ratio.  Note that ``axis_height`` can be a string literal, such
+                        as ``'\\axis_height'``. If both ``axis_width`` and
+                        ``axis_height`` are omitted and the figure has a single
+                        (non-colorbar) axis, they default to the figure size in inches.
     :type axis_height: str
 
     :param textsize: The text size (in pt) that the target latex document is using.
@@ -279,6 +284,9 @@ def save(
 ) -> None:
     """Same as `get_tikz_code()`, but actually saves the code to a file.
 
+    All other arguments (e.g. ``axis_width``, ``axis_height``, ``figure``) are
+    passed through to `get_tikz_code()`; see that function for documentation.
+
     :param filepath: The file to which the TikZ output will be written.
     :type filepath: str
 
@@ -379,6 +387,32 @@ def _draw_collection(data: TikzData, child: Collection) -> list[str]:
     return _patch.draw_patchcollection(data, child)
 
 
+def _set_default_axis_dimensions_from_figure(data: TikzData, fig: Figure) -> None:
+    """Set axis width/height from figure size (in) when both unset and one non-colorbar axis."""
+    if data.axis_width is not None or data.axis_height is not None:
+        return
+    non_cb_axes = [a for a in fig.axes if not _axes.is_colorbar_heuristic(a)]
+    if len(non_cb_axes) != 1:
+        return
+    data.axis_width = f"{fig.get_figwidth():{data.float_format}}in"
+    data.axis_height = f"{fig.get_figheight():{data.float_format}}in"
+
+
+def _should_skip_child(obj: Artist, child: Artist) -> bool:
+    """Return True if this child should be skipped (background patch, spine, invisible, etc.)."""
+    if (
+        isinstance(obj, (Figure, Axes))
+        and isinstance(child, Patch)
+        and child is obj.patch
+        and child.get_facecolor() == (1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+        and child.get_linewidth() == 0.0
+    ) or not child.get_visible():
+        return True
+    if isinstance(child, (Spine, XAxis, YAxis)):
+        return True
+    return type(child).__name__ == "_WCSAxesArtist"
+
+
 def _recurse(data: TikzData, obj: Artist) -> list:
     """Iterates over all children of the current object and gathers the contents.
 
@@ -386,25 +420,11 @@ def _recurse(data: TikzData, obj: Artist) -> list:
     """
     content = _ContentManager()
 
-    for child in obj.get_children():
-        # Some patches are Spines, too; skip those entirely.
-        # See <https://github.com/nschloe/tikzplotlib/issues/277>.
-
-        # Filter out the Figure's/Axes' background patch
-        if (
-            isinstance(obj, (Figure, Axes))
-            and isinstance(child, Patch)
-            and child is obj.patch
-            and child.get_facecolor() == (1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0)  # White face color
-            and child.get_linewidth() == 0.0
-        ) or not child.get_visible():
-            continue
-
-        if isinstance(child, (Spine, XAxis, YAxis)):
-            continue
+    if isinstance(obj, Figure):
+        _set_default_axis_dimensions_from_figure(data, obj)
 
-        # Skip WCS axes artist - it's a placeholder with no visible content
-        if type(child).__name__ == "_WCSAxesArtist":
+    for child in obj.get_children():
+        if _should_skip_child(obj, child):
             continue
 
         if isinstance(child, Axes):
diff --git a/tests/test_annotate_reference.tex b/tests/test_annotate_reference.tex
index 428e72b7..6a604f91 100644
--- a/tests/test_annotate_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_annotate_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=5in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=8in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-1, xmax=5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_arrows_reference.tex b/tests/test_arrows_reference.tex
index b1c607e0..476a02b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_arrows_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_arrows_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=5.6666667in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=5.3333333in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=8,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_axvline_reference.tex b/tests/test_axvline_reference.tex
index 23b2d8e0..affaa690 100644
--- a/tests/test_axvline_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_axvline_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-1.1365774, xmax=2.1074561,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_barchart_errorbars_reference.tex b/tests/test_barchart_errorbars_reference.tex
index b1166e6a..7fb012ce 100644
--- a/tests/test_barchart_errorbars_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_barchart_errorbars_reference.tex
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5125, xmax=2.5125,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_barchart_legend_reference.tex b/tests/test_barchart_legend_reference.tex
index 8e327105..5c035815 100644
--- a/tests/test_barchart_legend_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_barchart_legend_reference.tex
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@
 \definecolor{lightgray204}{RGB}{204,204,204}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={fill opacity=0.8, draw opacity=1, text opacity=1, draw=lightgray204},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5125, xmax=2.5125,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_barchart_logy_reference.tex b/tests/test_barchart_logy_reference.tex
index d1e4574d..1dc01537 100644
--- a/tests/test_barchart_logy_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_barchart_logy_reference.tex
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 log basis y={10},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.36, xmax=5.64,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_barchart_reference.tex b/tests/test_barchart_reference.tex
index 3f8b3928..d7ec7018 100644
--- a/tests/test_barchart_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_barchart_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{green01270}{RGB}{0,127,0}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5125, xmax=2.5125,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_basic_sin_reference.tex b/tests/test_basic_sin_reference.tex
index 500c98da..b0ae2800 100644
--- a/tests/test_basic_sin_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_basic_sin_reference.tex
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 \begin{axis}[
 axis background/.style={fill=gainsboro229},
 axis line style={white},
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Simple plot \(\displaystyle \frac{\alpha}{2}\)},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={white},
 xlabel=\textcolor{dimgray85}{time (s)},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_boxplot_reference.tex b/tests/test_boxplot_reference.tex
index 6c14e594..95e53772 100644
--- a/tests/test_boxplot_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_boxplot_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkorange25512714}{RGB}{255,127,14}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.5, xmax=3.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_context_reference.tex b/tests/test_context_reference.tex
index 3417eb91..4daebe93 100644
--- a/tests/test_context_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_context_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \startaxis[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=1,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_contourf_reference.tex b/tests/test_contourf_reference.tex
index cb07b440..bdfcce77 100644
--- a/tests/test_contourf_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_contourf_reference.tex
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 \definecolor{mediumseagreen68190112}{RGB}{68,190,112}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=2,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_custom_collection_reference.tex b/tests/test_custom_collection_reference.tex
index a1399576..97517a46 100644
--- a/tests/test_custom_collection_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_custom_collection_reference.tex
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-1.5, xmax=1.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_datetime_paths_reference.tex b/tests/test_datetime_paths_reference.tex
index 9c8e16d3..9ae28bb3 100644
--- a/tests/test_datetime_paths_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_datetime_paths_reference.tex
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
 
 \begin{axis}[
 date coordinates in=x,
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=2020-01-01 10:48, xmax=2020-01-02 13:12,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_datetime_reference.tex b/tests/test_datetime_reference.tex
index c5dcee65..2d4f7962 100644
--- a/tests/test_datetime_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_datetime_reference.tex
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
 
 \begin{axis}[
 date coordinates in=x,
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=2016-10-10 17:59, xmax=2016-10-10 18:15,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_errorband_reference.tex b/tests/test_errorband_reference.tex
index beb86fd9..00b94a2b 100644
--- a/tests/test_errorband_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_errorband_reference.tex
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Simple plot},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xlabel={t},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_errorbar_reference.tex b/tests/test_errorbar_reference.tex
index ede805dc..2d36b971 100644
--- a/tests/test_errorbar_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_errorbar_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=7.121, xmax=7.539,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_escape_chars_reference.tex b/tests/test_escape_chars_reference.tex
index d17ae848..336bfea6 100644
--- a/tests/test_escape_chars_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_escape_chars_reference.tex
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Foo \& Bar Dogs\_N\_Cats \%},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xlabel={Foo \& Bar Dogs\_N\_Cats \%},
 xmin=-0.055, xmax=0.055,
diff --git a/tests/test_externalize_tables_reference.tex b/tests/test_externalize_tables_reference.tex
index b91a5021..3d19a24b 100644
--- a/tests/test_externalize_tables_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_externalize_tables_reference.tex
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@
 \begin{axis}[
 axis background/.style={fill=gainsboro229},
 axis line style={white},
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Simple plot \(\displaystyle \frac{\alpha}{2}\)},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={white},
 xlabel=\textcolor{dimgray85}{time(s)},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_fancy_colorbar_reference.tex b/tests/test_fancy_colorbar_reference.tex
index 4cbad7a8..5f139717 100644
--- a/tests/test_fancy_colorbar_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_fancy_colorbar_reference.tex
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=1,
 point meta min=0,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5, xmax=2.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_fillstyle_reference.tex b/tests/test_fillstyle_reference.tex
index 70c4797f..749847fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_fillstyle_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_fillstyle_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.05, xmax=1.05,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_heat_reference.tex b/tests/test_heat_reference.tex
index c9fc15de..dfb45d87 100644
--- a/tests/test_heat_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_heat_reference.tex
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={}},
 colormap/blackwhite,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=100,
 point meta min=-100,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-10, xmax=10,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_histogram_reference.tex b/tests/test_histogram_reference.tex
index fbe56f80..a4367c6d 100644
--- a/tests/test_histogram_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_histogram_reference.tex
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={fill opacity=0.8, draw opacity=1, text opacity=1, draw=lightgray204},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=2.4365136, xmax=21.996362,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_horizontal_alignment_reference.tex b/tests/test_horizontal_alignment_reference.tex
index 9191c282..fff19436 100644
--- a/tests/test_horizontal_alignment_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_horizontal_alignment_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.375, xmax=2.375,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_image_plot_lower_reference.tex b/tests/test_image_plot_lower_reference.tex
index 41d3215a..397de696 100644
--- a/tests/test_image_plot_lower_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_image_plot_lower_reference.tex
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=0.16in,
 hide x axis,
 hide y axis,
 point meta max=0.93333334,
 point meta min=0.10196079,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=0.16in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5, xmax=15.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_image_plot_upper_reference.tex b/tests/test_image_plot_upper_reference.tex
index 9d38818f..5e9c2b6e 100644
--- a/tests/test_image_plot_upper_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_image_plot_upper_reference.tex
@@ -6,12 +6,14 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=0.16in,
 hide x axis,
 hide y axis,
 point meta max=0.93333334,
 point meta min=0.10196079,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=0.16in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5, xmax=15.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_legend3_reference.tex b/tests/test_legend3_reference.tex
index d7d531a9..085cfa9a 100644
--- a/tests/test_legend3_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_legend3_reference.tex
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 \definecolor{lightgray204}{RGB}{204,204,204}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
 },
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=7in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmajorgrids,
 xmin=0.95, xmax=2.05,
diff --git a/tests/test_legend_columns_reference.tex b/tests/test_legend_columns_reference.tex
index 83abb3ce..88c4bda4 100644
--- a/tests/test_legend_columns_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_legend_columns_reference.tex
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=6in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend columns=2,
 legend style={
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@
 },
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=17in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.05, xmax=1.05,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_legend_labels_reference.tex b/tests/test_legend_labels_reference.tex
index 03ffb5e6..2e56add6 100644
--- a/tests/test_legend_labels_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_legend_labels_reference.tex
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={fill opacity=0.8, draw opacity=1, text opacity=1, draw=lightgray204},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.3, xmax=6.3,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_legend_line_scatter_reference.tex b/tests/test_legend_line_scatter_reference.tex
index 8702df3a..cb47e1a5 100644
--- a/tests/test_legend_line_scatter_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_legend_line_scatter_reference.tex
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 },
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.2, xmax=4.2,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_legends_reference.tex b/tests/test_legends_reference.tex
index 61705792..a764150b 100644
--- a/tests/test_legends_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_legends_reference.tex
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@
 \definecolor{lightgray204}{RGB}{204,204,204}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={fill opacity=0.8, draw opacity=1, text opacity=1, draw=lightgray204},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Masked line demo},
 unbounded coords=jump,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.3, xmax=6.3,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_line_collection_reference.tex b/tests/test_line_collection_reference.tex
index 13fb499f..0d405e7a 100644
--- a/tests/test_line_collection_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_line_collection_reference.tex
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 \begin{tikzpicture}
 
+\definecolor{darkcyan30157136}{RGB}{30,157,136}
+\definecolor{darkcyan37130142}{RGB}{37,130,142}
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
-\definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
+\definecolor{darkslateblue48103141}{RGB}{48,103,141}
+\definecolor{darkslateblue6273137}{RGB}{62,73,137}
+\definecolor{darkslateblue7139119}{RGB}{71,39,119}
+\definecolor{gold25323136}{RGB}{253,231,36}
+\definecolor{indigo68184}{RGB}{68,1,84}
+\definecolor{mediumseagreen53183120}{RGB}{53,183,120}
+\definecolor{yellowgreen10920688}{RGB}{109,206,88}
+\definecolor{yellowgreen18122143}{RGB}{181,221,43}
 
 \begin{axis}[
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={Line Number}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=9,
 point meta min=0,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Line Collection with mapped colors},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=9,
 xtick style={color=black},
@@ -19,7 +30,7 @@
 ymin=0, ymax=18,
 ytick style={color=black}
 ]
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=indigo68184, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,0)
 --(axis cs:1,1)
 --(axis cs:2,2)
@@ -31,7 +42,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,8)
 --(axis cs:9,9);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, dash pattern=on 6.4pt off 1.6pt on 1pt off 1.6pt]
+\path [draw=darkslateblue7139119, dash pattern=on 6.4pt off 1.6pt on 1pt off 1.6pt]
 (axis cs:0,1)
 --(axis cs:1,2)
 --(axis cs:2,3)
@@ -43,7 +54,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,9)
 --(axis cs:9,10);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, semithick, dash pattern=on 9.6pt off 2.4pt on 1.5pt off 2.4pt]
+\path [draw=darkslateblue6273137, semithick, dash pattern=on 9.6pt off 2.4pt on 1.5pt off 2.4pt]
 (axis cs:0,2)
 --(axis cs:1,3)
 --(axis cs:2,4)
@@ -55,7 +66,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,10)
 --(axis cs:9,11);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, thick, dash pattern=on 12.8pt off 3.2pt on 2pt off 3.2pt]
+\path [draw=darkslateblue48103141, thick, dash pattern=on 12.8pt off 3.2pt on 2pt off 3.2pt]
 (axis cs:0,3)
 --(axis cs:1,4)
 --(axis cs:2,5)
@@ -67,7 +78,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,11)
 --(axis cs:9,12);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=darkcyan37130142, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,4)
 --(axis cs:1,5)
 --(axis cs:2,6)
@@ -79,7 +90,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,12)
 --(axis cs:9,13);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=darkcyan30157136, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,5)
 --(axis cs:1,6)
 --(axis cs:2,7)
@@ -91,7 +102,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,13)
 --(axis cs:9,14);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=mediumseagreen53183120, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,6)
 --(axis cs:1,7)
 --(axis cs:2,8)
@@ -103,7 +114,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,14)
 --(axis cs:9,15);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=yellowgreen10920688, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,7)
 --(axis cs:1,8)
 --(axis cs:2,9)
@@ -115,7 +126,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,15)
 --(axis cs:9,16);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=yellowgreen18122143, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,8)
 --(axis cs:1,9)
 --(axis cs:2,10)
@@ -127,7 +138,7 @@
 --(axis cs:8,16)
 --(axis cs:9,17);
 
-\path [draw=steelblue31119180, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
+\path [draw=gold25323136, very thin, dash pattern=on 3.2pt off 0.8pt on 0.5pt off 0.8pt]
 (axis cs:0,9)
 --(axis cs:1,10)
 --(axis cs:2,11)
diff --git a/tests/test_line_color_marker_reference.tex b/tests/test_line_color_marker_reference.tex
index e999ebc8..1ab6ed42 100644
--- a/tests/test_line_color_marker_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_line_color_marker_reference.tex
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@
 \begin{axis}[
 axis background/.style={fill=gainsboro229},
 axis line style={white},
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Simple plot \(\displaystyle \frac{\alpha}{2}\)},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={white},
 xlabel=\textcolor{dimgray85}{time(s)},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_line_dashes_reference.tex b/tests/test_line_dashes_reference.tex
index c7593656..9eabd5d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_line_dashes_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_line_dashes_reference.tex
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.05, xmax=1.05,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_line_set_data_reference.tex b/tests/test_line_set_data_reference.tex
index 43956dae..ad95a090 100644
--- a/tests/test_line_set_data_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_line_set_data_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.055, xmax=0.055,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_loglogplot_reference.tex b/tests/test_loglogplot_reference.tex
index 8aebeafc..752d697f 100644
--- a/tests/test_loglogplot_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_loglogplot_reference.tex
@@ -4,10 +4,12 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 log basis x={10},
 log basis y={10},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.50118723, xmax=1995262.3,
 xmode=log,
diff --git a/tests/test_logplot_base_reference.tex b/tests/test_logplot_base_reference.tex
index e632add9..c24d9b31 100644
--- a/tests/test_logplot_base_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_logplot_base_reference.tex
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 \definecolor{green01270}{RGB}{0,127,0}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 log basis y={2},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={green01270},
 xmajorgrids,
 xmin=-0.45, xmax=9.45,
diff --git a/tests/test_logplot_reference.tex b/tests/test_logplot_reference.tex
index 8f5d1b8b..f2b9e589 100644
--- a/tests/test_logplot_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_logplot_reference.tex
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 \definecolor{green01270}{RGB}{0,127,0}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 log basis y={10},
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={green01270},
 xmajorgrids,
 xmin=-0.45, xmax=9.45,
diff --git a/tests/test_marker_reference.tex b/tests/test_marker_reference.tex
index c9af3d38..12966189 100644
--- a/tests/test_marker_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_marker_reference.tex
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Simple plot},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xlabel={t},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_multi_line_title_reference.tex b/tests/test_multi_line_title_reference.tex
index 86776952..bbaa90f7 100644
--- a/tests/test_multi_line_title_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_multi_line_title_reference.tex
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 \definecolor{lightgray204}{RGB}{204,204,204}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
 tick pos=left,
 title style={align=center},
 title={Simple Sine Wave Plot\\With a Multi-line Title},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xlabel={Time (s)},
 xmajorgrids,
diff --git a/tests/test_noise2_reference.tex b/tests/test_noise2_reference.tex
index ab6aa378..72c8d956 100644
--- a/tests/test_noise2_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_noise2_reference.tex
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 colorbar horizontal,
 colorbar style={xtick={-1,0,1},xticklabels={Low,Medium,{High,Higher}}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=1,
 point meta min=-1,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Gaussian noise with horizontal colorbar},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5, xmax=249.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_noise_reference.tex b/tests/test_noise_reference.tex
index 2051dba1..418826d9 100644
--- a/tests/test_noise_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_noise_reference.tex
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ytick={-1,0,1},yticklabels={< -1,0,> 1},ylabel={}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=1,
 point meta min=-1,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
 title={Gaussian noise with vertical colorbar},
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.5, xmax=249.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_pandas_dataframe_reference.tex b/tests/test_pandas_dataframe_reference.tex
index 2a9946ee..e3f5b1fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_pandas_dataframe_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_pandas_dataframe_reference.tex
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=5in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=8in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.1, xmax=2.1,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_patch_styles_reference.tex b/tests/test_patch_styles_reference.tex
index cb7354f9..cd15871d 100644
--- a/tests/test_patch_styles_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_patch_styles_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.5, xmax=2.5,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_patches_reference.tex b/tests/test_patches_reference.tex
index 13447fc2..85aad57e 100644
--- a/tests/test_patches_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_patches_reference.tex
@@ -21,10 +21,12 @@
 colorbar,
 colorbar style={ylabel={}},
 colormap/viridis,
+height=4.8in,
 point meta max=76.496365,
 point meta min=0.31811093,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=1,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_scatter_colormap_reference.tex b/tests/test_scatter_colormap_reference.tex
index 1b7bd50c..5ec4ccaa 100644
--- a/tests/test_scatter_colormap_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_scatter_colormap_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-1.1029737, xmax=1.4017776,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_scatter_different_colors_reference.tex b/tests/test_scatter_different_colors_reference.tex
index 55ed752b..147635b3 100644
--- a/tests/test_scatter_different_colors_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_scatter_different_colors_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.022394477, xmax=0.71377841,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_scatter_different_sizes_reference.tex b/tests/test_scatter_different_sizes_reference.tex
index 0ad33694..a684ab33 100644
--- a/tests/test_scatter_different_sizes_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_scatter_different_sizes_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0.9, xmax=3.1,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_scatter_reference.tex b/tests/test_scatter_reference.tex
index be48c9b2..ae1c7d0a 100644
--- a/tests/test_scatter_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_scatter_reference.tex
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@
 \begin{axis}[
 axis background/.style={fill=whitesmoke240},
 axis line style={whitesmoke240},
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={lightgray203},
 xmajorgrids,
 xmin=-5, xmax=105,
diff --git a/tests/test_steps_reference.tex b/tests/test_steps_reference.tex
index ec224792..ae58524f 100644
--- a/tests/test_steps_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_steps_reference.tex
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 \definecolor{lightgray204}{RGB}{204,204,204}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@
 },
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.2, xmax=4.2,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_text_overlay_reference.tex b/tests/test_text_overlay_reference.tex
index 47d95c7e..718a433f 100644
--- a/tests/test_text_overlay_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_text_overlay_reference.tex
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 \definecolor{steelblue31119180}{RGB}{31,119,180}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 legend cell align={left},
 legend style={
   fill opacity=0.8,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@
 },
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=-0.25, xmax=5.25,
 xtick style={color=black},
diff --git a/tests/test_tick_positions.py b/tests/test_tick_positions.py
index 92ba524d..c1626700 100644
--- a/tests/test_tick_positions.py
+++ b/tests/test_tick_positions.py
@@ -14,14 +14,20 @@
 def plot() -> Figure:
     x = [1, 2, 3, 4]
     y = [1, 4, 9, 6]
-
-    fig = plt.figure()
-    for i, (bottom, top, left, right) in enumerate(itertools.product(["off", "on"], repeat=4)):
-        plt.subplot(4, 4, i + 1)
+    
+    fig = plt.figure(figsize=(10, 10))
+    
+    # repeat=4 gives 16 combinations of (bottom, top, left, right)
+    for i, (b, t, l, r) in enumerate(itertools.product([False, True], repeat=4)):
+        ax = plt.subplot(4, 4, i + 1)
         plt.plot(x, y, "ro")
-        plt.tick_params(axis="x", which="both", bottom=bottom, top=top)
-        plt.tick_params(axis="y", which="both", left=left, right=right)
+        
+        # Set the visibility of the tick lines
+        # We also turn off the labels so the plots don't overlap
+        ax.tick_params(axis="x", which="both", bottom=b, top=t, labelbottom=False)
+        ax.tick_params(axis="y", which="both", left=l, right=r, labelleft=False)
 
+    plt.tight_layout()
     return fig
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_tick_positions_reference.tex b/tests/test_tick_positions_reference.tex
index 48d9554d..55b50f83 100644
--- a/tests/test_tick_positions_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_tick_positions_reference.tex
@@ -4,15 +4,19 @@
 
 \begin{groupplot}[group style={group size=4 by 4}]
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
 ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -23,15 +27,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=right,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -42,15 +50,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=left,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -61,15 +73,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=both,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -80,15 +96,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=right,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
 ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -99,15 +119,18 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
+tick pos=right,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -118,15 +141,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=right,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=left,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -137,15 +164,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=right,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=both,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -156,15 +187,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=left,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
 ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -175,15 +210,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=left,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=right,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -194,15 +233,18 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
+tick pos=left,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -213,15 +255,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=left,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=both,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -232,15 +278,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=both,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
 ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -251,15 +301,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=both,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=right,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -270,15 +324,19 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
+xtick pos=both,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick pos=left,
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
@@ -289,15 +347,18 @@
 };
 
 \nextgroupplot[
+scaled x ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
+scaled y ticks=manual:{}{\pgfmathparse{#1}},
 tick align=outside,
+tick pos=both,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
-xmajorticks=false,
 xmin=0.85, xmax=4.15,
 xtick style={color=black},
+xticklabels={},
 y grid style={darkgray176},
-ymajorticks=false,
 ymin=0.6, ymax=9.4,
-ytick style={color=black}
+ytick style={color=black},
+yticklabels={}
 ]
 \addplot [semithick, red, mark=*, mark size=3, mark options={solid}, only marks]
 table {%
diff --git a/tests/test_viridis_reference.tex b/tests/test_viridis_reference.tex
index a4f7aa49..8b1de096 100644
--- a/tests/test_viridis_reference.tex
+++ b/tests/test_viridis_reference.tex
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 \definecolor{darkgray176}{RGB}{176,176,176}
 
 \begin{axis}[
+height=4.8in,
 tick align=outside,
 tick pos=left,
+width=6.4in,
 x grid style={darkgray176},
 xmin=0, xmax=1,
 xtick style={color=black},