Here is an example where I would like to change the background.
# Plots a radar chart.
from math import pi
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
# Set data
cat = ['Speed', 'Reliability', 'Comfort', 'Safety', 'Effieciency']
values = [90, 60, 65, 70, 40]
N = len(cat)
x_as = [n / float(N) * 2 * pi for n in range(N)]
# Because our chart will be circular we need to append a copy of the first
# value of each list at the end of each list with data
values += values[:1]
x_as += x_as[:1]
# Set color of axes
plt.rc('axes', linewidth=0.5, edgecolor="#888888")
# Create polar plot
ax = plt.subplot(111, polar=True)
# Set clockwise rotation. That is:
ax.set_theta_offset(pi / 2)
ax.set_theta_direction(-1)
# Set position of y-labels
ax.set_rlabel_position(0)
# Set color and linestyle of grid
ax.xaxis.grid(True, color="#888888", linestyle='solid', linewidth=0.5)
ax.yaxis.grid(True, color="#888888", linestyle='solid', linewidth=0.5)
# Set number of radial axes and remove labels
plt.xticks(x_as[:-1], [])
# Set yticks
plt.yticks([20, 40, 60, 80, 100], ["20", "40", "60", "80", "100"])
# Plot data
ax.plot(x_as, values, linewidth=2, linestyle='solid', zorder=3)
# Fill area
ax.fill(x_as, values, 'b', alpha=0.0)
# Set axes limits
plt.ylim(0, 100)
# Draw ytick labels to make sure they fit properly
for i in range(N):
angle_rad = i / float(N) * 2 * pi
if angle_rad == 0:
ha, distance_ax = "center", 10
elif 0 < angle_rad < pi:
ha, distance_ax = "left", 1
elif angle_rad == pi:
ha, distance_ax = "center", 1
else:
ha, distance_ax = "right", 1
ax.text(angle_rad, 100 + distance_ax, cat[i], size=10, horizontalalignment=ha, verticalalignment="center")
# Show polar plot
plt.show()