# A Better Default Colormap for Matplotlib

Canonical URL: https://colorcurio.us/library/scipy-viridis-talk
Source type: Library entry
Resource URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAoljeRJ3lU
Added: 2026-09-27

## Summary

The SciPy 2015 talk: the case against jet, and how viridis was designed in CAM02-UCS.

- Resource: [A Better Default Colormap for Matplotlib](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAoljeRJ3lU)
- By: Nathaniel Smith & Stéfan van der Walt
- Published: 2015
- Kind: writing (article)
- Level: beginner
- Tags: color-scales, perception, data-viz, cam16, scientist, video

## In collections

- [Perceptual Colormaps](https://colorcurio.us/library/collections/perceptual-colormaps)

[Back to the library](https://colorcurio.us/library)