matplotlib version 1.5.1 installed from pip osx 10.9.5 python version: 2.7.11 installed from source code source code: ``` python from pylab import * from matplotlib.text import TextPath from matplotlib.patches import PathPatch t = TextPath((0, 20), u'ABCDEFGHIJK') tp = PathPatch(t, color='k', fill = False) plt.gca().set_xlim(-100, 100) plt.gca().set_ylim(0, 50) plt.gca().add_artist(tp) plt.show() ``` result screenshot:  However, the saved image is correct(saved from save button): 