error importing python matplotlib

Question

I am attempting to import a matplotlib function (Mac OS 10.11.4) using Anaconda and python 3.4

I successfuly installed the latest matplotlib using conda install -c conda-forge matplotlib=1.5.2

And in the program, when I used: import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

I got this error message:

File "/Users/myname/anaconda/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/mathtext.py", line 60, in <module>
    import matplotlib._png as _png

ImportError: dlopen(/Users/myname/anaconda/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/_png.so, 2): Library not loaded: @rpath/libpng16.16.dylib
  Referenced from: /Users/myname/anaconda/lib/python3.4/site-packages/matplotlib/_png.so
  Reason: Incompatible library version: _png.so requires version 40.0.0 or later, but libpng16.16.dylib provides version 38.0.0

try to open a terminal and then a python console. Then, import matplotlib in that python console. If you get no error, it means your IDE is not able to recognise it. Sometimes a simple restart of your IDE solves the problem. Sometimes, you need to modify python path in your IDE. — Saeid BK
– Saeid BK, Commented Jul 7, 2016 at 19:21
It looks like you have an older version of libpng. Try an older version of matplotlib (or update libpng) and see if it solves the problem. Anaconda comes preinstalled with matplotlib, so this should work out of the box. — user666
– user666, Commented Jul 7, 2016 at 19:26
thanks for your help. I took the crude approach and simply re-installed the latest version of anaconda, and the problem seems solved. — user3161399
– user3161399, Commented Jul 8, 2016 at 0:19

Sean · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-01 14:16:32Z

4

For future reference:

brew uninstall libpng
conda uninstall matplotlib
conda install matplotlib

Basically let conda decide which libpng version to use.

edited Oct 1, 2016 at 14:16

answered Sep 7, 2016 at 20:45

Sean

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lacfo · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-22 05:04:30Z

1

I just use conda uninstall matplotlib and then conda install matplotlib to solve this problem.

answered May 22, 2018 at 5:04

lacfo

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Jaxian · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-07 19:31:46Z

0

Solution: For the least intrusive solution I would simply update libpng.

Additional: You should also make sure you only installed Anaconda from https://www.continuum.io and not Anaconda PLUS Python from python.org. I just want to make sure that isn't causing conflicts because a lot of people make that mistake.

good luck, and happy programming!

answered Jul 7, 2016 at 19:31

Jaxian

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2 Comments

user3161399 Over a year ago

thanks! I simply re-installed anaconda from the continuum site -- seems ok now.

Jaxian Over a year ago

That is awesome! Happy to help, and welcome to Stack Overflow! If this answer or any other one solved your issue, please mark it as accepted.

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