def image_format_figure(figure=None, draw=True):
    """
    This formats the figure in a compact way with (hopefully) enough useful
    information for printing large data sets. Used mostly for line and scatter
    plots with long, information-filled titles.

    Chances are somewhat slim this will be ideal for you but it very well might
    and is at least a good starting point.

    figure=None     specify a figure object. None will use gcf()

    """
    _pylab.ioff()

    if figure == None: figure = _pylab.gcf()

    set_figure_window_geometry(figure, (0,0), (550,470))

    axes = figure.axes[0]

    # set up the title label
    axes.title.set_horizontalalignment('right')
    axes.title.set_size(8)
    axes.title.set_position([1.27,1.02])
    axes.title.set_visible(1)

    if draw:
        _pylab.ion()
        _pylab.draw()