diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new.rst b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
index 886e60c16f0e..00d0400e12aa 100644
--- a/doc/users/whats_new.rst
+++ b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
@@ -118,6 +118,17 @@ You can add your own custom ``<style name>.mplstyle`` files to
 *Note that this is an experimental feature*, and the interface may change as
 users test out this new feature.
 
+Backends
+--------
+
+Qt4 backend
+``````````````
+Rudolf Höfler changed the appearance of the subplottool. All sliders are
+vertically arranged now, buttons for tight layout and reset were
+added. Furthermore, the the subplottool is now implemented as a modal
+dialog. It was previously a QMainWindow, leaving the SPT open if one closed the
+plotwindow.
+
 .. _whats-new-1-3:
 
 new in matplotlib-1.3
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 65a06e0da12c..692c3342ae3c 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     figureoptions = None
 
 from .qt4_compat import QtCore, QtGui, _getSaveFileName, __version__
+from matplotlib.backends.qt4_editor.formsubplottool import UiSubplotTool
 
 backend_version = __version__
 
@@ -558,6 +559,7 @@ class NavigationToolbar2QT(NavigationToolbar2, QtGui.QToolBar):
     def __init__(self, canvas, parent, coordinates=True):
         """ coordinates: should we show the coordinates on the right? """
         self.canvas = canvas
+        self.parent = parent
         self.coordinates = coordinates
         self._actions = {}
         """A mapping of toolitem method names to their QActions"""
@@ -628,9 +630,8 @@ def edit_parameters(self):
                     titles.append(fmt % dict(title=title,
                                          ylabel=ylabel,
                                          axes_repr=repr(axes)))
-                item, ok = QtGui.QInputDialog.getItem(self, 'Customize',
-                                                      'Select axes:', titles,
-                                                      0, False)
+                item, ok = QtGui.QInputDialog.getItem(
+                    self.parent, 'Customize', 'Select axes:', titles, 0, False)
                 if ok:
                     axes = allaxes[titles.index(six.text_type(item))]
                 else:
@@ -676,20 +677,11 @@ def draw_rubberband(self, event, x0, y0, x1, y1):
         self.canvas.drawRectangle(rect)
 
     def configure_subplots(self):
-        self.adj_window = QtGui.QMainWindow()
-        win = self.adj_window
-
-        win.setWindowTitle("Subplot Configuration Tool")
         image = os.path.join(matplotlib.rcParams['datapath'],
                              'images', 'matplotlib.png')
-        win.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(image))
-
-        tool = SubplotToolQt(self.canvas.figure, win)
-        win.setCentralWidget(tool)
-        win.setSizePolicy(QtGui.QSizePolicy.Preferred,
-                          QtGui.QSizePolicy.Preferred)
-
-        win.show()
+        dia = SubplotToolQt(self.canvas.figure, self.parent)
+        dia.setWindowIcon(QtGui.QIcon(image))
+        dia.exec_()
 
     def _get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasQT(fig)
@@ -712,8 +704,9 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
                 selectedFilter = filter
             filters.append(filter)
         filters = ';;'.join(filters)
-        fname = _getSaveFileName(self, "Choose a filename to save to",
-                                        start, filters, selectedFilter)
+
+        fname = _getSaveFileName(self.parent, "Choose a filename to save to",
+                                 start, filters, selectedFilter)
         if fname:
             if startpath == '':
                 # explicitly missing key or empty str signals to use cwd
@@ -730,19 +723,15 @@ def save_figure(self, *args):
                     QtGui.QMessageBox.Ok, QtGui.QMessageBox.NoButton)
 
 
-class SubplotToolQt(SubplotTool, QtGui.QWidget):
+class SubplotToolQt(SubplotTool, UiSubplotTool):
     def __init__(self, targetfig, parent):
-        QtGui.QWidget.__init__(self, None)
+        UiSubplotTool.__init__(self, None)
 
         self.targetfig = targetfig
         self.parent = parent
-
-        self.sliderleft = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
-        self.sliderbottom = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Vertical)
-        self.sliderright = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
-        self.slidertop = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Vertical)
-        self.sliderwspace = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
-        self.sliderhspace = QtGui.QSlider(QtCore.Qt.Vertical)
+        self.donebutton.clicked.connect(self.close)
+        self.resetbutton.clicked.connect(self.reset)
+        self.tightlayout.clicked.connect(self.functight)
 
         # constraints
         self.sliderleft.valueChanged.connect(self.sliderright.setMinimum)
@@ -750,112 +739,82 @@ def __init__(self, targetfig, parent):
         self.sliderbottom.valueChanged.connect(self.slidertop.setMinimum)
         self.slidertop.valueChanged.connect(self.sliderbottom.setMaximum)
 
-        sliders = (self.sliderleft, self.sliderbottom, self.sliderright,
-                   self.slidertop, self.sliderwspace, self.sliderhspace,)
-        adjustments = ('left:', 'bottom:', 'right:',
-                       'top:', 'wspace:', 'hspace:')
-
-        for slider, adjustment in zip(sliders, adjustments):
+        self.defaults = {}
+        for attr in ('left', 'bottom', 'right', 'top', 'wspace', 'hspace',):
+            self.defaults[attr] = getattr(self.targetfig.subplotpars, attr)
+            slider = getattr(self, 'slider' + attr)
             slider.setMinimum(0)
             slider.setMaximum(1000)
             slider.setSingleStep(5)
+            slider.valueChanged.connect(getattr(self, 'func' + attr))
+
+        self._setSliderPositions()
 
-        layout = QtGui.QGridLayout()
-
-        leftlabel = QtGui.QLabel('left')
-        layout.addWidget(leftlabel, 2, 0)
-        layout.addWidget(self.sliderleft, 2, 1)
-
-        toplabel = QtGui.QLabel('top')
-        layout.addWidget(toplabel, 0, 2)
-        layout.addWidget(self.slidertop, 1, 2)
-        layout.setAlignment(self.slidertop, QtCore.Qt.AlignHCenter)
-
-        bottomlabel = QtGui.QLabel('bottom')  # this might not ever be used
-        layout.addWidget(bottomlabel, 4, 2)
-        layout.addWidget(self.sliderbottom, 3, 2)
-        layout.setAlignment(self.sliderbottom, QtCore.Qt.AlignHCenter)
-
-        rightlabel = QtGui.QLabel('right')
-        layout.addWidget(rightlabel, 2, 4)
-        layout.addWidget(self.sliderright, 2, 3)
-
-        hspacelabel = QtGui.QLabel('hspace')
-        layout.addWidget(hspacelabel, 0, 6)
-        layout.setAlignment(hspacelabel, QtCore.Qt.AlignHCenter)
-        layout.addWidget(self.sliderhspace, 1, 6)
-        layout.setAlignment(self.sliderhspace, QtCore.Qt.AlignHCenter)
-
-        wspacelabel = QtGui.QLabel('wspace')
-        layout.addWidget(wspacelabel, 4, 6)
-        layout.setAlignment(wspacelabel, QtCore.Qt.AlignHCenter)
-        layout.addWidget(self.sliderwspace, 3, 6)
-        layout.setAlignment(self.sliderwspace, QtCore.Qt.AlignBottom)
-
-        layout.setRowStretch(1, 1)
-        layout.setRowStretch(3, 1)
-        layout.setColumnStretch(1, 1)
-        layout.setColumnStretch(3, 1)
-        layout.setColumnStretch(6, 1)
-
-        self.setLayout(layout)
-
-        self.sliderleft.setSliderPosition(int(targetfig.subplotpars.left*1000))
-        self.sliderbottom.setSliderPosition(
-                                    int(targetfig.subplotpars.bottom*1000))
-        self.sliderright.setSliderPosition(
-                                    int(targetfig.subplotpars.right*1000))
-        self.slidertop.setSliderPosition(int(targetfig.subplotpars.top*1000))
-        self.sliderwspace.setSliderPosition(
-                                    int(targetfig.subplotpars.wspace*1000))
-        self.sliderhspace.setSliderPosition(
-                                    int(targetfig.subplotpars.hspace*1000))
-
-        self.sliderleft.valueChanged.connect(self.funcleft)
-        self.sliderbottom.valueChanged.connect(self.funcbottom)
-        self.sliderright.valueChanged.connect(self.funcright)
-        self.slidertop.valueChanged.connect(self.functop)
-        self.sliderwspace.valueChanged.connect(self.funcwspace)
-        self.sliderhspace.valueChanged.connect(self.funchspace)
+    def _setSliderPositions(self):
+        for attr in ('left', 'bottom', 'right', 'top', 'wspace', 'hspace',):
+            slider = getattr(self, 'slider' + attr)
+            slider.setSliderPosition(int(self.defaults[attr] * 1000))
 
     def funcleft(self, val):
         if val == self.sliderright.value():
             val -= 1
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(left=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(left=val)
+        self.leftvalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
     def funcright(self, val):
         if val == self.sliderleft.value():
             val += 1
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(right=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(right=val)
+        self.rightvalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
     def funcbottom(self, val):
         if val == self.slidertop.value():
             val -= 1
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(bottom=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(bottom=val)
+        self.bottomvalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
     def functop(self, val):
         if val == self.sliderbottom.value():
             val += 1
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(top=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(top=val)
+        self.topvalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
     def funcwspace(self, val):
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(wspace=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(wspace=val)
+        self.wspacevalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
     def funchspace(self, val):
-        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(hspace=val/1000.)
+        val /= 1000.
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(hspace=val)
+        self.hspacevalue.setText("%.2f" % val)
         if self.drawon:
             self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
 
+    def functight(self):
+        self.targetfig.tight_layout()
+        self._setSliderPositions()
+        self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
+
+    def reset(self):
+        self.targetfig.subplots_adjust(**self.defaults)
+        self._setSliderPositions()
+        self.targetfig.canvas.draw()
+
 
 def error_msg_qt(msg, parent=None):
     if not is_string_like(msg):
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt4_editor/formsubplottool.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt4_editor/formsubplottool.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c0c61025dca1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/qt4_editor/formsubplottool.py
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""
+formsubplottool.py
+
+backend.qt4 (PyQt4|PySide) independent form of the subplot tool.
+
+"""
+
+__author__ = 'rudolf.hoefler@gmail.com'
+
+from matplotlib.backends.qt4_compat import QtCore, QtGui
+
+
+class UiSubplotTool(QtGui.QDialog):
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(UiSubplotTool, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.setObjectName('SubplotTool')
+        self.resize(450, 265)
+
+        gbox = QtGui.QGridLayout(self)
+        self.setLayout(gbox)
+
+        # groupbox borders
+        groupbox = QtGui.QGroupBox('Borders', self)
+        gbox.addWidget(groupbox, 6, 0, 1, 1)
+        self.verticalLayout = QtGui.QVBoxLayout(groupbox)
+        self.verticalLayout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        # slider top
+        self.hboxtop = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.labeltop = QtGui.QLabel('top', self)
+        self.labeltop.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        self.labeltop.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.slidertop = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.slidertop.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.slidertop.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.slidertop.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.slidertop.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.slidertop.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.slidertop.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.slidertop.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.topvalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.topvalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.topvalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(self.hboxtop)
+        self.hboxtop.addWidget(self.labeltop)
+        self.hboxtop.addWidget(self.slidertop)
+        self.hboxtop.addWidget(self.topvalue)
+
+        # slider bottom
+        hboxbottom = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        labelbottom = QtGui.QLabel('bottom', self)
+        labelbottom.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        labelbottom.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.sliderbottom = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.sliderbottom.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.sliderbottom.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.sliderbottom.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.sliderbottom.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.sliderbottom.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.sliderbottom.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.sliderbottom.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.bottomvalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.bottomvalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.bottomvalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(hboxbottom)
+        hboxbottom.addWidget(labelbottom)
+        hboxbottom.addWidget(self.sliderbottom)
+        hboxbottom.addWidget(self.bottomvalue)
+
+        # slider left
+        hboxleft = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        labelleft = QtGui.QLabel('left', self)
+        labelleft.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        labelleft.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.sliderleft = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.sliderleft.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.sliderleft.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.sliderleft.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.sliderleft.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.sliderleft.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.sliderleft.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.sliderleft.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.leftvalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.leftvalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.leftvalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(hboxleft)
+        hboxleft.addWidget(labelleft)
+        hboxleft.addWidget(self.sliderleft)
+        hboxleft.addWidget(self.leftvalue)
+
+        # slider right
+        hboxright = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.labelright = QtGui.QLabel('right', self)
+        self.labelright.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        self.labelright.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.sliderright = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.sliderright.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.sliderright.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.sliderright.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.sliderright.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.sliderright.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.sliderright.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.sliderright.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.rightvalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.rightvalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.rightvalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(hboxright)
+        hboxright.addWidget(self.labelright)
+        hboxright.addWidget(self.sliderright)
+        hboxright.addWidget(self.rightvalue)
+
+        # groupbox spacings
+        groupbox = QtGui.QGroupBox('Spacings', self)
+        gbox.addWidget(groupbox, 7, 0, 1, 1)
+        self.verticalLayout = QtGui.QVBoxLayout(groupbox)
+        self.verticalLayout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        # slider hspace
+        hboxhspace = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.labelhspace = QtGui.QLabel('hspace', self)
+        self.labelhspace.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        self.labelhspace.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.sliderhspace = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.sliderhspace.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.sliderhspace.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.sliderhspace.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.sliderhspace.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.sliderhspace.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.sliderhspace.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.sliderhspace.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.hspacevalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.hspacevalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.hspacevalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(hboxhspace)
+        hboxhspace.addWidget(self.labelhspace)
+        hboxhspace.addWidget(self.sliderhspace)
+        hboxhspace.addWidget(self.hspacevalue)  # slider hspace
+
+        # slider wspace
+        hboxwspace = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.labelwspace = QtGui.QLabel('wspace', self)
+        self.labelwspace.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(50, 0))
+        self.labelwspace.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.sliderwspace = QtGui.QSlider(self)
+        self.sliderwspace.setMouseTracking(False)
+        self.sliderwspace.setProperty("value", 0)
+        self.sliderwspace.setOrientation(QtCore.Qt.Horizontal)
+        self.sliderwspace.setInvertedAppearance(False)
+        self.sliderwspace.setInvertedControls(False)
+        self.sliderwspace.setTickPosition(QtGui.QSlider.TicksAbove)
+        self.sliderwspace.setTickInterval(100)
+
+        self.wspacevalue = QtGui.QLabel('0', self)
+        self.wspacevalue.setMinimumSize(QtCore.QSize(30, 0))
+        self.wspacevalue.setAlignment(
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignRight |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignTrailing |
+            QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter)
+
+        self.verticalLayout.addLayout(hboxwspace)
+        hboxwspace.addWidget(self.labelwspace)
+        hboxwspace.addWidget(self.sliderwspace)
+        hboxwspace.addWidget(self.wspacevalue)
+
+        # button bar
+        hbox2 = QtGui.QHBoxLayout()
+        gbox.addLayout(hbox2, 8, 0, 1, 1)
+        self.tightlayout = QtGui.QPushButton('Tight Layout', self)
+        spacer = QtGui.QSpacerItem(
+            5, 20, QtGui.QSizePolicy.Expanding, QtGui.QSizePolicy.Minimum)
+        self.resetbutton = QtGui.QPushButton('Reset', self)
+        self.donebutton = QtGui.QPushButton('Close', self)
+        self.donebutton.setFocus(True)
+        hbox2.addWidget(self.tightlayout)
+        hbox2.addItem(spacer)
+        hbox2.addWidget(self.resetbutton)
+        hbox2.addWidget(self.donebutton)
+
+        self.donebutton.clicked.connect(self.accept)

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd'>
<html xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
<head>
<title>pFad - Phonifier reborn</title>
<meta http-equiv='Content-Type' content='text/html; charset=utf-8' />
</head>
<body>
<h1>Pfad - The Proxy pFad of &#169; 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.</h1>


<!-- Disclaimer -->
<p>Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.</p>
<br>
<p>Alternative Proxies:</p><p><a href="http://rainy.clevelandohioweatherforecast.com/php-proxy/index.php?q=https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/matplotlib/matplotlib/pull/2594.diff" target="_blank">Alternative Proxy</a></p><p><a href="http://rainy.clevelandohioweatherforecast.com/pFad/index.php?u=https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/matplotlib/matplotlib/pull/2594.diff" target="_blank">pFad Proxy</a></p><p><a href="http://rainy.clevelandohioweatherforecast.com/pFad/v3index.php?u=https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/matplotlib/matplotlib/pull/2594.diff" target="_blank">pFad v3 Proxy</a></p><p><a href="http://rainy.clevelandohioweatherforecast.com/pFad/v4index.php?u=https://patch-diff.githubusercontent.com/raw/matplotlib/matplotlib/pull/2594.diff" target="_blank">pFad v4 Proxy</a></p></body>
</html>