Matplotlib axis with two scales shared origin

I need two overlay two datasets with different Y-axis scales in Matplotlib. The data contains both positive and negative values. I want the two axes to share one origin, but Matplotlib does not align the two scales by default.

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

fig = plt.figure()
ax1 = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax2 = ax1.twinx()

ax1.bar(range(6), (2, -2, 1, 0, 0, 0))
ax2.plot(range(6), (0, 2, 8, -2, 0, 0))
plt.show()

I suppose it is possible to perform some computation with .get_ylim() and .set_ylim() two align the two scales. Is there an easier solution?

Output from the sample above


use the align_yaxis() function:

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

def align_yaxis(ax1, v1, ax2, v2):
    """adjust ax2 ylimit so that v2 in ax2 is aligned to v1 in ax1"""
    _, y1 = ax1.transData.transform((0, v1))
    _, y2 = ax2.transData.transform((0, v2))
    inv = ax2.transData.inverted()
    _, dy = inv.transform((0, 0)) - inv.transform((0, y1-y2))
    miny, maxy = ax2.get_ylim()
    ax2.set_ylim(miny+dy, maxy+dy)


fig = plt.figure()
ax1 = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax2 = ax1.twinx()

ax1.bar(range(6), (2, -2, 1, 0, 0, 0))
ax2.plot(range(6), (0, 2, 8, -2, 0, 0))

align_yaxis(ax1, 0, ax2, 0)
plt.show()

enter image description here


In order to ensure that the y-bounds are maintained (so no data points are shifted off the plot), and to balance adjustment of both y-axes, I made some additions to @HYRY's answer:

def align_yaxis(ax1, v1, ax2, v2):
    """adjust ax2 ylimit so that v2 in ax2 is aligned to v1 in ax1"""
    _, y1 = ax1.transData.transform((0, v1))
    _, y2 = ax2.transData.transform((0, v2))
    adjust_yaxis(ax2,(y1-y2)/2,v2)
    adjust_yaxis(ax1,(y2-y1)/2,v1)

def adjust_yaxis(ax,ydif,v):
    """shift axis ax by ydiff, maintaining point v at the same location"""
    inv = ax.transData.inverted()
    _, dy = inv.transform((0, 0)) - inv.transform((0, ydif))
    miny, maxy = ax.get_ylim()
    miny, maxy = miny - v, maxy - v
    if -miny>maxy or (-miny==maxy and dy > 0):
        nminy = miny
        nmaxy = miny*(maxy+dy)/(miny+dy)
    else:
        nmaxy = maxy
        nminy = maxy*(miny+dy)/(maxy+dy)
    ax.set_ylim(nminy+v, nmaxy+v)