Merge pull request matplotlib#5290 from pizzathief/issue5277

implemeted get_ticks_direction()

Author: mdboom

CHANGELOG

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+2015-10-21 Added get_ticks_direction()
+
 2015-02-27 Added the rcParam 'image.composite_image' to permit users 
 		   to decide whether they want the vector graphics backends to combine 
 		   all images within a set of axes into a single composite image.  

lib/matplotlib/axis.py

@@ -1244,6 +1244,28 @@ def get_ticklocs(self, minor=False):
             return self.minor.locator()
         return self.major.locator()
 
+    def get_ticks_direction(self, minor=False):
+        """
+        Get the tick directions as a numpy array
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        minor : boolean
+            True to return the minor tick directions,
+            False to return the major tick directions,
+            Default is False
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        numpy array of tick directions
+        """
+        if minor:
+            return np.array(
+                [tick._tickdir for tick in self.get_minor_ticks()])
+        else:
+            return np.array(
+                [tick._tickdir for tick in self.get_major_ticks()])
+
     def _get_tick(self, major):
         'return the default tick instance'
         raise NotImplementedError('derived must override')