def METHOD_NAME(fig_width=None, fig_height=None, columns=1, fontsize=8):
    """Set up matplotlib's RC params for LaTeX plotting.
    Call this before plotting a figure.
    Parameters
    ----------
    fig_width : float, optional, inches
    fig_height : float,  optional, inches
    columns : {1, 2}
    """
    # code adapted from http://www.scipy.org/Cookbook/Matplotlib/LaTeX_Examples
    # Width and max height in inches for IEEE journals taken from
    # computer.org/cms/Computer.org/Journal%20templates/transactions_art_guide.pdf
    assert columns in [1, 2]
    if fig_width is None:
        fig_width = 3.39 if columns == 1 else 6.9  # width in inches
    if fig_height is None:
        golden_mean = (sqrt(5)-1.0)/2.0    # Aesthetic ratio
        fig_height = fig_width * golden_mean  # height in inches
    MAX_HEIGHT_INCHES = 8.0
    if fig_height > MAX_HEIGHT_INCHES:
        print("WARNING: fig_height too large:", fig_height,
              "so will reduce to", MAX_HEIGHT_INCHES, "inches.")
        fig_height = MAX_HEIGHT_INCHES
    params = {
        'backend': 'ps',
        'text.latex.preamble': ['\\usepackage{gensymb}'],
        'axes.labelsize': fontsize,  # fontsize for x and y labels (was 10)
        'axes.titlesize': fontsize,
        'font.size': fontsize,
        'legend.fontsize': fontsize,
        'xtick.labelsize': fontsize,
        'ytick.labelsize': fontsize,
        'text.usetex': True,
        'figure.figsize': [fig_width, fig_height],
        'font.family': 'serif'
    }
    matplotlib.rcParams.update(params)