matplotlib
diff --git a/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
Lines changed: 10 additions & 2 deletions b/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
Lines changed: 10 additions & 2 deletions
diff --git a/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
Lines changed: 35 additions & 8 deletions b/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
Lines changed: 35 additions & 8 deletions
diff --git a/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js
Lines changed: 12 additions & 1 deletion b/‎lib/matplotlib/backends/web_backend/mpl.js
Lines changed: 12 additions & 1 deletion
@@ -35,12 +35,20 @@ def __call__(self, block=None):
         if not managers:
             return
 
+        interactive = is_interactive()
+
         for manager in managers:
             manager.show()
 
-            if not is_interactive() and manager in Gcf._activeQue:
-                Gcf._activeQue.remove(manager)
+            # plt.figure adds an event which puts the figure in focus
+            # in the activeQue. Disable this behaviour, as it results in
+            # figures being put as the active figure after they have been
+            # shown, even in non-interactive mode.
+            if hasattr(manager, '_cidgcf'):
+                manager.canvas.mpl_disconnect(manager._cidgcf)
 
+            if not interactive and manager in Gcf._activeQue:
+                Gcf._activeQue.remove(manager)
 
 show = Show()
 
 
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         # sent to the clients will be a full frame.
         self._force_full = True
 
+        # Store the current image mode so that at any point, clients can
+        # request the information. This should be changed by calling
+        # self.set_image_mode(mode) so that the notification can be given
+        # to the connected clients.
+        self._current_image_mode = 'full'
+
     def show(self):
         # show the figure window
         from matplotlib.pyplot import show
@@ -86,24 +92,41 @@ def draw(self):
     def draw_idle(self):
         self.send_event("draw")
 
+    def set_image_mode(self, mode):
+        """
+        Set the image mode for any subsequent images which will be sent
+        to the clients. The modes may currently be either 'full' or 'diff'.
+
+        Note: diff images may not contain transparency, therefore upon
+        draw this mode may be changed if the resulting image has any
+        transparent component.
+
+        """
+        if mode not in ['full', 'diff']:
+            raise ValueError('image mode must be either full or diff.')
+        if self._current_image_mode != mode:
+            self._current_image_mode = mode
+            self.handle_send_image_mode(None)
+
     def get_diff_image(self):
         if self._png_is_old:
+            renderer = self.get_renderer()
+
             # The buffer is created as type uint32 so that entire
             # pixels can be compared in one numpy call, rather than
             # needing to compare each plane separately.
-            renderer = self.get_renderer()
             buff = np.frombuffer(renderer.buffer_rgba(), dtype=np.uint32)
-
             buff.shape = (renderer.height, renderer.width)
 
-            # If any pixels have transparency, we need to force a full draw
-            # as we cannot overlay new on top of old.
+            # If any pixels have transparency, we need to force a full
+            # draw as we cannot overlay new on top of old.
             pixels = buff.view(dtype=np.uint8).reshape(buff.shape + (4,))
-            some_transparency = np.any(pixels[:, :, 3] != 255)
-
-            output = buff
 
-            if not self._force_full and not some_transparency:
+            if self._force_full or np.any(pixels[:, :, 3] != 255):
+                self.set_image_mode('full')
+                output = buff
+            else:
+                self.set_image_mode('diff')
                 last_buffer = np.frombuffer(self._last_renderer.buffer_rgba(),
                                             dtype=np.uint32)
                 last_buffer.shape = (renderer.height, renderer.width)
@@ -230,6 +253,10 @@ def handle_resize(self, event):
         self._png_is_old = True
         self.manager.resize(w, h)
 
+    def handle_send_image_mode(self, event):
+        # The client requests notification of what the current image mode is.
+        self.send_event('image_mode', mode=self._current_image_mode)
+
     def send_event(self, event_type, **kwargs):
         self.manager._send_event(event_type, **kwargs)
 
 
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ mpl.figure = function(figure_id, websocket, ondownload, parent_element) {
     this.format_dropdown = undefined;
 
     this.focus_on_mousover = false;
+    this.image_mode = 'full';
 
     this.root = $('<div/>');
     this.root.attr('style', 'display: inline-block');
@@ -56,11 +57,17 @@ mpl.figure = function(figure_id, websocket, ondownload, parent_element) {
 
     this.ws.onopen =  function () {
             fig.send_message("supports_binary", {value: fig.supports_binary});
+            fig.send_message("send_image_mode", {});
             fig.send_message("refresh", {});
         }
 
     this.imageObj.onload = function() {
-            fig.context.clearRect(0, 0, fig.canvas.width, fig.canvas.height);
+            if (fig.image_mode == 'full') {
+                // Full images could contain transparency (where diff images
+                // almost always do), so we need to clear the canvas so that
+                // there is no ghosting.
+                fig.context.clearRect(0, 0, fig.canvas.width, fig.canvas.height);
+            }
             fig.context.drawImage(fig.imageObj, 0, 0);
             fig.waiting = false;
         };
@@ -302,6 +309,10 @@ mpl.figure.prototype.handle_draw = function(fig, msg) {
     fig.send_draw_message();
 }
 
+mpl.figure.prototype.handle_image_mode = function(fig, msg) {
+    fig.image_mode = msg['mode'];
+}
+
 mpl.figure.prototype.updated_canvas_event = function() {
     // Called whenever the canvas gets updated.
     this.send_message("ack", {});