symoon9 · symoon9 · Apr 27, 2026 · Apr 26, 2026 · Apr 26, 2026 · Apr 26, 2026
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 MIT License
 
-Copyright (c) 2024 Seo-Yoon Moon
+Copyright (c) 2026 Seo-Yoon Moon
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,25 +1,23 @@
 # mplstudio
-
 [![PyPI version](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/mplstudio)](https://pypi.org/project/mplstudio/)
 [![Python](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/mplstudio)](https://pypi.org/project/mplstudio/)
 [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE)
 [![CI](https://github.com/symoon9/mplstudio/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/symoon9/mplstudio/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
 
-An interactive GUI for styling matplotlib figures — directly in Jupyter.
+An **interactive GUI** for **styling matplotlib figures** directly in Jupyter.
 
-Adjust colors, fonts, axes, legends, and more in real time without touching your plot code.
+Adjust colors, fonts, axes, legends, and more in real time **without touching your plot code.**
 
----
+![mplstudio control panel](docs/screenshot_readme.png)
 
 ## Installation
 
 ```bash
 pip install mplstudio
 ```
 
-Requires Python 3.9+, Jupyter Notebook or JupyterLab, and matplotlib ≥ 3.5.
+Requires `Python 3.9+`, Jupyter Notebook or JupyterLab, and `matplotlib ≥ 3.5`.
 
----
 
 ## Quick Start
 
@@ -35,9 +33,8 @@ ax.legend()
 mplstudio.studio(fig)
 ```
 
-This displays an interactive control panel below your figure with live preview.
+For detailed usage examples, see [`examples/demo.ipynb`](examples/demo.ipynb).
 
----
 
 ## API Reference
 
@@ -66,57 +63,35 @@ Return a sorted list of all valid section names.
 ```python
 mplstudio.available_sections()
 # ['alpha', 'axes', 'colors', 'figure_size', 'grid_spines',
-#  'legend', 'palette_suggestions', 'typography']
+#  'legend', 'palette_suggestions', 'save', 'typography']
 ```
 
----
 
-## Sections
+## Available Sections
 
 | Section | Controls |
 |---------|----------|
 | `figure_size` | Width and height sliders |
 | `typography` | Font size for all elements or individually (title, labels, ticks, legend) |
-| `colors` | Palette picker, manual per-series color pickers, smart CIELAB palette, colormap selector, background color |
+| `colors` | Palette picker (with color count), manual per-series color pickers, smart CIELAB palette, colormap selector, background color |
 | `alpha` | Global opacity slider + per-series opacity |
 | `axes` | Title, x/y axis labels, x/y limits — supports multi-axis figures |
-| `legend` | Location dropdown, legend entry names, bbox position |
-| `grid_spines` | Grid on/off, spine style (box / left-bottom / none) |
+| `legend` | Legend title, collapsible series label editor, location dropdown, bbox position |
+| `grid_spines` | Grid toggle, spine style (Box / 2-Side / None) |
 | `palette_suggestions` | Colorblind-safe palette recommendations filtered by use case and background |
+| `save` | Save figure with custom filename, path, DPI, and format (png, jpg, pdf, svg, eps) |
 
----
 
 ## Palette Utilities
 
-mplstudio ships a curated palette library and color science tools you can use independently of the GUI.
-
-```python
-from mplstudio import get_palette, smart_palette, recommend, palette_names
-
-# List all available palettes
-palette_names()
-
-# Get colors from a named palette
-colors = get_palette("Okabe-Ito")          # colorblind-safe, 8 colors
-colors = get_palette("Tableau 10")         # familiar defaults
-
-# Generate N maximally distinct colors using CIELAB ΔE greedy selection
-colors = smart_palette(6)                  # always a superset of smart_palette(5)
-
-# Find palettes matching criteria
-suggestions = recommend(
-    n_colors=5,
-    colorblind_safe=True,
-    use_case="categorical",   # "categorical" | "sequential" | "diverging"
-    background="light",       # "light" | "dark"
-    top_k=3,
-)
-for p in suggestions:
-    print(p["name"], p["colors"])
-```
+mplstudio ships a curated palette library and color science tools you can use independently of the GUI: `get_palette`, `smart_palette`, `recommend`, `palette_names`, and `delta_e`. See [`examples/demo.ipynb`](examples/demo.ipynb) for usage examples.
 
 ### Available Palettes
 
+Palettes for categorical, and continuous variables (sequential and diverging color maps).
+
+Following table shows palettes for **categorical** values. For **continuous** variables, mplstudio uses matplotlib's built-in colormaps. See the [matplotlib colormap reference](https://matplotlib.org/stable/gallery/color/colormap_reference.html) for the full list.
+
 | Palette | Colors | Tags |
 |---------|--------|------|
 | Okabe-Ito | 8 | colorblind-safe |
@@ -137,7 +112,6 @@ for p in suggestions:
 | Pastel | 6 | light background |
 | High Contrast | 5 | light background |
 
----
 
 ## Requirements
 
@@ -147,8 +121,7 @@ for p in suggestions:
 - ipykernel ≥ 6.0
 - Jupyter Notebook or JupyterLab
 
----
 
 ## License
 
-[MIT](LICENSE) © 2024 Seo-Yoon Moon
+[MIT](LICENSE) © 2026 Seo-Yoon Moon
diff --git a/docs/mplstudio_logo_square.png b/docs/mplstudio_logo_square.png
diff --git a/docs/screenshot_readme.png b/docs/screenshot_readme.png
diff --git a/examples/demo.ipynb b/examples/demo.ipynb
diff --git a/mplstudio/style/__init__.py b/mplstudio/style/__init__.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     set_legend_position,
     set_legend_labels,
     set_legend_bbox,
+    set_legend_title,
     LEGEND_LOCATIONS,
 )
 from ._grid_spines import set_grid, set_spine_style, SPINE_STYLES
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@
     "set_title", "set_xlabel", "set_ylabel", "set_xlim", "set_ylim",
     # legend
     "set_legend_position", "set_legend_labels", "set_legend_bbox",
-    "LEGEND_LOCATIONS",
+    "set_legend_title", "LEGEND_LOCATIONS",
     # grid & spines
     "set_grid", "set_spine_style", "SPINE_STYLES",
 ]
diff --git a/mplstudio/style/_grid_spines.py b/mplstudio/style/_grid_spines.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 
 
-SPINE_STYLES = ["box", "left-bottom", "none"]
+SPINE_STYLES = ["Box", "2-Side", "None"]
 
 
 def set_grid(fig: Figure, visible: bool, alpha: float = 0.3) -> None:
@@ -16,16 +16,16 @@ def set_grid(fig: Figure, visible: bool, alpha: float = 0.3) -> None:
 
 
 def set_spine_style(fig: Figure, style: str) -> None:
-    """style: 'box' | 'left-bottom' | 'none'"""
+    """style: 'Box' | '2-Side' | 'None '"""
     for ax in fig.axes:
-        if style == "box":
+        if style == "Box":
             for spine in ax.spines.values():
                 spine.set_visible(True)
-        elif style == "left-bottom":
+        elif style == "2-Side":
             ax.spines["top"].set_visible(False)
             ax.spines["right"].set_visible(False)
             ax.spines["left"].set_visible(True)
             ax.spines["bottom"].set_visible(True)
-        elif style == "none":
+        elif style == "None":
             for spine in ax.spines.values():
                 spine.set_visible(False)
diff --git a/mplstudio/style/_legend.py b/mplstudio/style/_legend.py
@@ -40,3 +40,11 @@ def set_legend_bbox(fig: Figure, x: float, y: float, ax_idx: int = 0) -> None:
     legend = fig.axes[ax_idx].get_legend()
     if legend:
         legend.set_bbox_to_anchor((x, y))
+
+
+def set_legend_title(fig: Figure, title: str, ax_idx: int = 0) -> None:
+    if ax_idx >= len(fig.axes):
+        return
+    legend = fig.axes[ax_idx].get_legend()
+    if legend:
+        legend.set_title(title)
diff --git a/mplstudio/widget/_constants.py b/mplstudio/widget/_constants.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 _KNOWN_SECTIONS = frozenset({
     "figure_size", "typography", "colors", "alpha",
-    "axes", "legend", "grid_spines", "palette_suggestions",
+    "axes", "legend", "grid_spines", "palette_suggestions", "save",
 })
 
 _GITHUB_ISSUES = "https://github.com/symoon9/mplstudio/issues"
diff --git a/mplstudio/widget/_helpers.py b/mplstudio/widget/_helpers.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def _per_btn(label: str, pid: str) -> tuple[widgets.Button, widgets.VBox, list]:
     btn = widgets.Button(description=f"{label}  ▾", button_style="",
                          layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
     btn.add_class(f"mpl-per-{pid}")
+    btn.add_class(f"mpl-per-btn")
 
     def _toggle(_):
         flag[0] = not flag[0]
@@ -37,6 +38,21 @@ def _toggle(_):
     return btn, box, flag
 
 
+def _mk_slider(cls, description: str, dw: str = "82px", **kw) -> widgets.Widget:
+    """Return a themed Int/FloatSlider with consistent style.
+
+    Args:
+        cls: widgets.IntSlider or widgets.FloatSlider
+        description: label text
+        dw: description_width (CSS string)
+        **kw: forwarded to the slider constructor
+    """
+    kw.setdefault("layout", widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
+    kw.setdefault("continuous_update", False)
+    kw.setdefault("readout", True)
+    return cls(description=description, style={"description_width": dw}, **kw)
+
+
 def _lim_sliders(lo_init: float, hi_init: float):
     """Return (lo_sl, hi_sl) FloatSlider pair for xlim/ylim blocks.
 

diff --git a/mplstudio/widget/_sections/colors.py b/mplstudio/widget/_sections/colors.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from .._ctx import _PanelCtx
 from .._helpers import _section, _swatches_div, _build_palette_preview, _build_colormap_gradient
 from ... import style as S
-from ...palettes import palette_names, SEQUENTIAL_CMAPS, DIVERGING_CMAPS, smart_palette
+from ...palettes import palette_names, get_palette, SEQUENTIAL_CMAPS, DIVERGING_CMAPS, smart_palette
 
 
 def build(ctx: _PanelCtx) -> widgets.VBox:
@@ -20,23 +20,25 @@ def build(ctx: _PanelCtx) -> widgets.VBox:
         "mixed":       f"mixed · {n_series} categorical + colormap",
     }[plot_type]
     type_badge = widgets.HTML(
-        f"<span style='font-size:0.78em;color:#888'>Detected: {_type_label}</span>")
+        f"<span style='font-size:0.9em;color:#888'>Detected: {_type_label}</span>")
 
     cat_box_children: list[widgets.Widget] = []
 
     if plot_type in ("categorical", "mixed"):
         color_mode = widgets.ToggleButtons(
             options=["Palette", "Manual", "Smart"], value="Palette",
             description="Mode:", style={"button_width": "62px"},
-            layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%", margin="0 0 4px 0"))
+            layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%", margin="4px 4px"))
 
+        _pal_names = palette_names()
+        _pal_options = [(f"{n}  ({len(get_palette(n))})", n) for n in _pal_names]
         palette_select = widgets.Dropdown(
-            options=palette_names(), description="Palette",
+            options=_pal_options, description="Palette",
             style={"description_width": "58px"},
-            layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
-        palette_preview_w = _build_palette_preview(palette_names()[0])
+            layout=widgets.Layout(width="95%"))
+        palette_preview_w = _build_palette_preview(_pal_names[0])
         palette_col = widgets.VBox([palette_select, palette_preview_w],
-                                   layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
+                                   layout=widgets.Layout(width="95%"))
 
         line_colors = S.get_line_colors(ctx.fig)
         line_labels = S.get_line_labels(ctx.fig)

diff --git a/mplstudio/widget/_sections/figure_size.py b/mplstudio/widget/_sections/figure_size.py
@@ -5,20 +5,16 @@
 import ipywidgets as widgets
 
 from .._ctx import _PanelCtx
-from .._helpers import _section
+from .._helpers import _section, _mk_slider
 from ... import style as S
 
 
 def build(ctx: _PanelCtx) -> widgets.VBox:
     w_init, h_init = ctx.fig.get_size_inches()
-    fig_width = widgets.FloatSlider(
-        value=w_init, min=2, max=25, step=0.5, description="Width (in)",
-        style={"description_width": "82px"},
-        layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"), continuous_update=False)
-    fig_height = widgets.FloatSlider(
-        value=h_init, min=2, max=25, step=0.5, description="Height (in)",
-        style={"description_width": "82px"},
-        layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"), continuous_update=False)
+    fig_width  = _mk_slider(widgets.FloatSlider, "Width (in)",  "82px",
+                            value=w_init, min=2, max=25, step=0.5)
+    fig_height = _mk_slider(widgets.FloatSlider, "Height (in)", "82px",
+                            value=h_init, min=2, max=25, step=0.5)
 
     def _on_size(_):
         S.set_figure_size(ctx.fig, fig_width.value, fig_height.value)

diff --git a/mplstudio/widget/_sections/grid_spines.py b/mplstudio/widget/_sections/grid_spines.py
@@ -10,14 +10,22 @@
 
 
 def build(ctx: _PanelCtx) -> widgets.VBox:
-    grid_toggle = widgets.Checkbox(value=False, description="Show grid")
+    grid_toggle = widgets.ToggleButtons(
+        options=["Off", "On"], value="Off",
+        description="Grid",
+        style={"description_width": "32px", "button_width": "52px"},
+        layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
+
+    spine_header = widgets.HTML(
+        "<span >Spines</span>")
     spine_style = widgets.ToggleButtons(
-        options=S.SPINE_STYLES, value="box",
-        description="Spines:", style={"button_width": "84px"},
+        options=S.SPINE_STYLES, value=S.SPINE_STYLES[0],
+        description="",
+        style={"button_width": "74px"},
         layout=widgets.Layout(width="100%"))
 
     def _on_grid(_):
-        S.set_grid(ctx.fig, grid_toggle.value)
+        S.set_grid(ctx.fig, grid_toggle.value == "On")
         ctx.refresh()
 
     def _on_spine(_):
@@ -26,4 +34,4 @@ def _on_spine(_):
 
     grid_toggle.observe(_on_grid, names="value")
     spine_style.observe(_on_spine, names="value")
-    return _section("Grid & Spines", ctx.pid, grid_toggle, spine_style)
+    return _section("Grid & Spines", ctx.pid, grid_toggle, spine_header, spine_style)