diff --git a/fluents/plots.py b/fluents/plots.py
index 809d53a..7fdb4a8 100644
--- a/fluents/plots.py
+++ b/fluents/plots.py
@@ -1,29 +1,30 @@
-import os,sys,copy
+import os,sys
 from itertools import izip
+
 import pygtk
 import gobject
 import gtk
-import fluents
-import logger
+
 import matplotlib
-from matplotlib.backends.backend_gtkagg import FigureCanvasGTKAgg as FigureCanvas
-from matplotlib.backend_bases import NavigationToolbar2,cursors
-from matplotlib.backends.backend_gtk import FileChooserDialog
-from matplotlib.nxutils import points_inside_poly
-from matplotlib.axes import Subplot, AxesImage
-from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib import cm,cbook
-from pylab import Polygon, axis, Circle
+from matplotlib.backends.backend_gtkagg import FigureCanvasGTKAgg
+from matplotlib.nxutils import points_inside_poly
+from matplotlib.axes import Subplot
+from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.collections import LineCollection
-from matplotlib.patches import Polygon,Rectangle
+from matplotlib.patches import Polygon,Rectangle, Circle
 from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
 from matplotlib.mlab import prctile
 import networkx
 import scipy
 
+import fluents
+import logger
+
 # global active mode. Used by toolbars to communicate correct mode
 active_mode = 'default'
 
+
 class ObjectTable:
     """A 2D table of elements.
     An ObjectTable is a resizable two-dimensional array of objects.
@@ -419,7 +420,7 @@ class Plot (View):
         logger.log('debug', 'plot %s init' %title)
         self.selection_listener = None
         self.fig = Figure()
-        self.canvas = FigureCanvas(self.fig)
+        self.canvas = FigureCanvasGTKAgg(self.fig)
         self._toolbar = PlotToolbar(self)
         self.canvas.add_events(gtk.gdk.ENTER_NOTIFY_MASK)
         self.current_dim = None
@@ -830,13 +831,13 @@ class ScatterPlot(Plot):
         index = self.get_index_from_selection(self.dataset_1, selection)
         if len(index) > 0:
             linewidth.put(2, index)
-        self.sc.set_linewidth(linewidth)
+        self.selection_collection.set_linewidth(linewidth)
             
         if self.use_blit and len(index)>0 :
             if self._background is None:
                     self._background = self.canvas.copy_from_bbox(self.axes.bbox)
             self.canvas.restore_region(self._background)
-            self.axes.draw_artist(self.sc)
+            self.axes.draw_artist(self.selection_collection)
             self.canvas.blit()
         else:
             self.canvas.draw()
@@ -1088,7 +1089,6 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
             xys.append((x,y))
             c+=1
         
-        self.canvas.draw_idle()
         index = scipy.nonzero(points_inside_poly(xys, verts))[0]
         ids = [node_ids[i] for i in index]
         ids = self.update_selection(ids, key)
@@ -1137,21 +1137,22 @@ class NetworkPlot(Plot):
 class VennPlot(Plot):
     def __init__(self, name="Venn diagram"):
         Plot.__init__(self, name)
-        self._ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
-        self._ax.grid(0)
+        self.axes = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
+        self.axes.grid(0)
         self._init_bck()
         for c in self._venn_patches:
-            self._ax.add_patch(c) 
+            self.axes.add_patch(c) 
         for mrk in self._markers:
-            self._ax.add_patch(mrk)
-        self._ax.set_xlim([-3, 3])
-        self._ax.set_ylim([-2.5, 3.5])
+            self.axes.add_patch(mrk)
+        self.axes.set_xlim([-3, 3])
+        self.axes.set_ylim([-2.5, 3.5])
         self._last_active = set()
-        self._ax.set_xticks([])
-        self._ax.set_yticks([])
-        self._ax.grid(0)
-        self._ax.axis('equal')
-        self._ax.set_frame_on(False)
+        self.axes.set_xticks([])
+        self.axes.set_yticks([])
+        self.axes.grid(0)
+        self.axes.axis('equal')
+        self.axes.set_frame_on(False)
+
         # add canvas to widget
         self.add(self.canvas)
         self.canvas.show()
@@ -1195,7 +1196,7 @@ class VennPlot(Plot):
 
         self._tot_label = 'Tot: ' + str(len(self.all_elements))
         self._sel_label = 'Sel: ' + str(len(self.active_elements))
-        self._legend = self._ax.legend((self._tot_label, self._sel_label),
+        self._legend = self.axes.legend((self._tot_label, self._sel_label),
                                        loc='upper right')
         
     def set_selection(self, selection, patch=None):
@@ -1246,7 +1247,7 @@ class VennPlot(Plot):
         self._last_active = self.active_elements.copy()
         self._sel_label = 'Sel: ' + str(len(self.active_elements))
         self._legend.texts[1].set_text(self._sel_label)
-        self._ax.figure.canvas.draw()
+        self.axes.figure.canvas.draw()
 
     def rectangle_select_callback(self, x1, y1, x2, y2, key):
         """event1 and event2 are the press and release events"""
@@ -1288,7 +1289,7 @@ class VennPlot(Plot):
         self._last_active = self.active_elements.copy()
         self._sel_label = 'Sel: ' + str(len(self.active_elements))
         self._legend.texts[1].set_text(self._sel_label)
-        self._ax.figure.canvas.draw()
+        self.axes.figure.canvas.draw()
         
     def _patches_within_verts(self, verts, key):
         xy = scipy.array(verts).mean(0)