import matplotlib as mpl
import numpy as np

def cmap_discretize(cmap, N):
    """Return a discrete colormap from the continuous colormap cmap.
    
        cmap: colormap instance, eg. cm.jet. 
        N: number of colors.
    
    Example
        x = resize(arange(100), (5,100))
        djet = cmap_discretize(cm.jet, 5)
        imshow(x, cmap=djet)
    """

    if type(cmap) == str:
        cmap = mpl.cm.get_cmap(cmap)
    colors_i = np.concatenate((np.linspace(0, 1., N), (0.,0.,0.,0.)))
    colors_rgba = cmap(colors_i)
    indices = np.linspace(0, 1., N+1)
    cdict = {}
    for ki,key in enumerate(('red','green','blue')):
        cdict[key] = [ (indices[i], colors_rgba[i-1,ki], colors_rgba[i,ki]) for i in xrange(N+1) ]
    # Return colormap object.
    return mpl.colors.LinearSegmentedColormap(cmap.name + "_%d"%N, cdict, 1024)

