diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index 3d228fd7a5af..c9212939b1a7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 from six.moves import xrange
 
 import os
+import sys
 import warnings
 import time
 import io
@@ -56,17 +57,76 @@
 from matplotlib.path import Path
 from matplotlib.cbook import mplDeprecation
 
+try:
+    from importlib import import_module
+except:
+    # simple python 2.6 implementation (no relative imports)
+    def import_module(name):
+        __import__(name)
+        return sys.modules[name]
+
 try:
     from PIL import Image
     _has_pil = True
 except ImportError:
     _has_pil = False
 
-_backend_d = {}
+
+_default_filetypes = {
+    'ps': 'Postscript',
+    'eps': 'Encapsulated Postscript',
+    'pdf': 'Portable Document Format',
+    'pgf': 'PGF code for LaTeX',
+    'png': 'Portable Network Graphics',
+    'raw': 'Raw RGBA bitmap',
+    'rgba': 'Raw RGBA bitmap',
+    'svg': 'Scalable Vector Graphics',
+    'svgz': 'Scalable Vector Graphics'
+}
+
+
+_default_backends = {
+    'ps': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_ps',
+    'eps': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_ps',
+    'pdf': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_pdf',
+    'pgf': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_pgf',
+    'png': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+    'raw': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+    'rgba': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+    'svg': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_svg',
+    'svgz': 'matplotlib.backends.backend_svg',
+}
+
+
+def register_backend(format, backend, description):
+    """
+    Register a backend for saving to a given file format.
+
+    *format*
+        File extention
+
+    *backend*
+        Backend for handling file output (module string or canvas class)
+
+    *description*
+        Description of the file type
+    """
+    _default_backends[format] = backend
+    _default_filetypes[format] = description
 
 
-def register_backend(format, backend_class):
-    _backend_d[format] = backend_class
+def get_registered_canvas_class(format):
+    """
+    Return the registered default canvas for given file format.
+    Handles deferred import of required backend.
+    """
+    if format not in _default_backends:
+        return None
+    backend_class = _default_backends[format]
+    if cbook.is_string_like(backend_class):
+        backend_class = import_module(backend_class).FigureCanvas
+        _default_backends[format] = backend_class
+    return backend_class
 
 
 class ShowBase(object):
@@ -1566,6 +1626,20 @@ class FigureCanvasBase(object):
 
     supports_blit = True
 
+    filetypes = _default_filetypes
+    if _has_pil:
+        # JPEG support
+        register_backend('jpg', 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+                         'Joint Photographic Experts Group')
+        register_backend('jpeg', 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+                         'Joint Photographic Experts Group')
+
+        # TIFF support
+        register_backend('tif', 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+                         'Tagged Image File Format')
+        register_backend('tiff', 'matplotlib.backends.backend_agg',
+                         'Tagged Image File Format')
+
     def __init__(self, figure):
         figure.set_canvas(self)
         self.figure = figure
@@ -1927,119 +2001,6 @@ def get_width_height(self):
         """
         return int(self.figure.bbox.width), int(self.figure.bbox.height)
 
-    filetypes = {
-        'eps': 'Encapsulated Postscript',
-        'pdf': 'Portable Document Format',
-        'pgf': 'LaTeX PGF Figure',
-        'png': 'Portable Network Graphics',
-        'ps': 'Postscript',
-        'raw': 'Raw RGBA bitmap',
-        'rgba': 'Raw RGBA bitmap',
-        'svg': 'Scalable Vector Graphics',
-        'svgz': 'Scalable Vector Graphics'}
-
-    # All of these print_* functions do a lazy import because
-    #  a) otherwise we'd have cyclical imports, since all of these
-    #     classes inherit from FigureCanvasBase
-    #  b) so we don't import a bunch of stuff the user may never use
-
-    # TODO: these print_* throw ImportErrror when called from
-    # compare_images_decorator (decorators.py line 112)
-    # if the backend has not already been loaded earlier on.  Simple trigger:
-    # >>> import matplotlib.tests.test_spines
-    # >>> list(matplotlib.tests.test_spines.test_spines_axes_positions())[0][0]()
-
-    def print_eps(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_ps import FigureCanvasPS  # lazy import
-        ps = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasPS)
-        return ps.print_eps(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_pdf(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_pdf import FigureCanvasPdf  # lazy import
-        pdf = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasPdf)
-        return pdf.print_pdf(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_pgf(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_pgf import FigureCanvasPgf  # lazy import
-        pgf = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasPgf)
-        return pgf.print_pgf(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_png(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg  # lazy import
-        agg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasAgg)
-        return agg.print_png(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_ps(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_ps import FigureCanvasPS  # lazy import
-        ps = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasPS)
-        return ps.print_ps(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_raw(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg  # lazy import
-        agg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasAgg)
-        return agg.print_raw(*args, **kwargs)
-    print_bmp = print_rgba = print_raw
-
-    def print_svg(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_svg import FigureCanvasSVG  # lazy import
-        svg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasSVG)
-        return svg.print_svg(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    def print_svgz(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        from .backends.backend_svg import FigureCanvasSVG  # lazy import
-        svg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasSVG)
-        return svg.print_svgz(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    if _has_pil:
-        filetypes['jpg'] = 'Joint Photographic Experts Group'
-        filetypes['jpeg'] = filetypes['jpg']
-
-        def print_jpg(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
-            """
-            Supported kwargs:
-
-            *quality*: The image quality, on a scale from 1 (worst) to
-                95 (best). The default is 95, if not given in the
-                matplotlibrc file in the savefig.jpeg_quality parameter.
-                Values above 95 should be avoided; 100 completely
-                disables the JPEG quantization stage.
-
-            *optimize*: If present, indicates that the encoder should
-                make an extra pass over the image in order to select
-                optimal encoder settings.
-
-            *progressive*: If present, indicates that this image
-                should be stored as a progressive JPEG file.
-            """
-            from .backends.backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg  # lazy import
-            agg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasAgg)
-            buf, size = agg.print_to_buffer()
-            if kwargs.pop("dryrun", False):
-                return
-            image = Image.frombuffer('RGBA', size, buf, 'raw', 'RGBA', 0, 1)
-            options = cbook.restrict_dict(kwargs, ['quality', 'optimize',
-                                                   'progressive'])
-
-            if 'quality' not in options:
-                options['quality'] = rcParams['savefig.jpeg_quality']
-
-            return image.save(filename_or_obj, format='jpeg', **options)
-        print_jpeg = print_jpg
-
-        filetypes['tif'] = filetypes['tiff'] = 'Tagged Image File Format'
-
-        def print_tif(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
-            from .backends.backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg  # lazy import
-            agg = self.switch_backends(FigureCanvasAgg)
-            buf, size = agg.print_to_buffer()
-            if kwargs.pop("dryrun", False):
-                return
-            image = Image.frombuffer('RGBA', size, buf, 'raw', 'RGBA', 0, 1)
-            dpi = (self.figure.dpi, self.figure.dpi)
-            return image.save(filename_or_obj, format='tiff',
-                              dpi=dpi)
-        print_tiff = print_tif
-
     @classmethod
     def get_supported_filetypes(cls):
         """Return dict of savefig file formats supported by this backend"""
@@ -2057,29 +2018,27 @@ def get_supported_filetypes_grouped(cls):
             groupings[name].sort()
         return groupings
 
-    def _get_print_method(self, format):
+    def _get_output_canvas(self, format):
+        """Return a canvas that is suitable for saving figures to a specified
+        file format. If necessary, this function will switch to a registered
+        backend that supports the format.
+        """
         method_name = 'print_%s' % format
 
-        # check for registered backends
-        if format in _backend_d:
-            backend_class = _backend_d[format]
-
-            def _print_method(*args, **kwargs):
-                backend = self.switch_backends(backend_class)
-                print_method = getattr(backend, method_name)
-                return print_method(*args, **kwargs)
-
-            return _print_method
+        # check if this canvas supports the requested format
+        if hasattr(self, method_name):
+            return self
 
-        formats = self.get_supported_filetypes()
-        if (format not in formats or not hasattr(self, method_name)):
-            formats = sorted(formats)
-            raise ValueError(
-                'Format "%s" is not supported.\n'
-                'Supported formats: '
-                '%s.' % (format, ', '.join(formats)))
+        # check if there is a default canvas for the requested format
+        canvas_class = get_registered_canvas_class(format)
+        if canvas_class:
+            return self.switch_backends(canvas_class)
 
-        return getattr(self, method_name)
+        # else report error for unsupported format
+        formats = sorted(self.get_supported_filetypes())
+        raise ValueError('Format "%s" is not supported.\n'
+                         'Supported formats: '
+                         '%s.' % (format, ', '.join(formats)))
 
     def print_figure(self, filename, dpi=None, facecolor='w', edgecolor='w',
                      orientation='portrait', format=None, **kwargs):
@@ -2136,7 +2095,9 @@ def print_figure(self, filename, dpi=None, facecolor='w', edgecolor='w',
                     filename = filename.rstrip('.') + '.' + format
         format = format.lower()
 
-        print_method = self._get_print_method(format)
+        # get canvas object and print method for format
+        canvas = self._get_output_canvas(format)
+        print_method = getattr(canvas, 'print_%s' % format)
 
         if dpi is None:
             dpi = rcParams['savefig.dpi']
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
index 180755917689..b60227128c17 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_agg.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  * linewidth
  * lines, rectangles, ellipses
  * clipping to a rectangle
- * output to RGBA and PNG
+ * output to RGBA and PNG, optionally JPEG and TIFF
  * alpha blending
  * DPI scaling properly - everything scales properly (dashes, linewidths, etc)
  * draw polygon
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 from matplotlib import verbose, rcParams
 from matplotlib.backend_bases import RendererBase,\
      FigureManagerBase, FigureCanvasBase
-from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, maxdict
+from matplotlib.cbook import is_string_like, maxdict, restrict_dict
 from matplotlib.figure import Figure
 from matplotlib.font_manager import findfont
 from matplotlib.ft2font import FT2Font, LOAD_FORCE_AUTOHINT, LOAD_NO_HINTING, \
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@
 from matplotlib.backends._backend_agg import RendererAgg as _RendererAgg
 from matplotlib import _png
 
+try:
+    from PIL import Image
+    _has_pil = True
+except ImportError:
+    _has_pil = False
+
 backend_version = 'v2.2'
 
 def get_hinting_flag():
@@ -456,8 +462,6 @@ def draw(self):
         finally:
             RendererAgg.lock.release()
 
-
-
     def get_renderer(self, cleared=False):
         l, b, w, h = self.figure.bbox.bounds
         key = w, h, self.figure.dpi
@@ -533,3 +537,50 @@ def print_to_buffer(self):
                   (int(renderer.width), int(renderer.height)))
         renderer.dpi = original_dpi
         return result
+
+    if _has_pil:
+
+        # add JPEG support
+        def print_jpg(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
+            """
+            Supported kwargs:
+
+            *quality*: The image quality, on a scale from 1 (worst) to
+                95 (best). The default is 95, if not given in the
+                matplotlibrc file in the savefig.jpeg_quality parameter.
+                Values above 95 should be avoided; 100 completely
+                disables the JPEG quantization stage.
+
+            *optimize*: If present, indicates that the encoder should
+                make an extra pass over the image in order to select
+                optimal encoder settings.
+
+            *progressive*: If present, indicates that this image
+                should be stored as a progressive JPEG file.
+            """
+            buf, size = self.print_to_buffer()
+            if kwargs.pop("dryrun", False):
+                return
+            image = Image.frombuffer('RGBA', size, buf, 'raw', 'RGBA', 0, 1)
+            options = restrict_dict(kwargs, ['quality', 'optimize',
+                                             'progressive'])
+
+            if 'quality' not in options:
+                options['quality'] = rcParams['savefig.jpeg_quality']
+
+            return image.save(filename_or_obj, format='jpeg', **options)
+        print_jpeg = print_jpg
+
+        # add TIFF support
+        def print_tif(self, filename_or_obj, *args, **kwargs):
+            buf, size = self.print_to_buffer()
+            if kwargs.pop("dryrun", False):
+                return
+            image = Image.frombuffer('RGBA', size, buf, 'raw', 'RGBA', 0, 1)
+            dpi = (self.figure.dpi, self.figure.dpi)
+            return image.save(filename_or_obj, format='tiff',
+                              dpi=dpi)
+        print_tiff = print_tif
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index 9494d535cd98..f210f6be6839 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -514,3 +514,6 @@ def _save (self, fo, format, **kwargs):
 
         ctx.show_page()
         surface.finish()
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasCairo
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
index 0b4c38326462..2a9fb6ba72b7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cocoaagg.py
@@ -249,8 +249,6 @@ def show(self):
         NSApplication.sharedApplication().run()
 
 
-FigureManager = FigureManagerCocoaAgg
-
 #### Everything below taken from PyObjC examples
 #### This is a hack to allow python scripts to access
 #### the window manager without running pythonw.
@@ -302,3 +300,7 @@ def WMEnable(name='Python'):
         print('SetFrontProcess', (err, psn), file=sys.stderr)
         return False
     return True
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasCocoaAgg
+FigureManager = FigureManagerCocoaAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
index d71365244d96..c7c805972764 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk.py
@@ -1065,4 +1065,5 @@ def error_msg_gtk(msg, parent=None):
     dialog.destroy()
 
 
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK
 FigureManager = FigureManagerGTK
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 740d8bb0e872..e915c29111e6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -359,7 +359,6 @@ def stop_event_loop(self):
         FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default(self)
     stop_event_loop.__doc__=FigureCanvasBase.stop_event_loop_default.__doc__
 
-FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3
 
 class FigureManagerGTK3(FigureManagerBase):
     """
@@ -870,3 +869,7 @@ def error_msg_gtk(msg, parent=None):
         message_format = msg)
     dialog.run()
     dialog.destroy()
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3
+FigureManager = FigureManagerGTK3
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
index 0c10426c14df..2985087f07be 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3agg.py
@@ -107,5 +107,6 @@ def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
     return manager
 
 
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Agg
 FigureManager = FigureManagerGTK3Agg
 show = backend_gtk3.show
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
index 4421cd0e2fd4..c53c20239b79 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3cairo.py
@@ -62,5 +62,6 @@ def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
     return manager
 
 
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTK3Cairo
 FigureManager = FigureManagerGTK3Cairo
 show = backend_gtk3.show
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
index 13c8d89997d2..3e108417dd36 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkagg.py
@@ -122,3 +122,6 @@ def print_png(self, filename, *args, **kwargs):
     pixbuf = gtk.gdk.pixbuf_new_from_data(
 ValueError: data length (3156672) is less then required by the other parameters (3160608)
 """
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTKAgg
+FigureManager = FigureManagerGTKAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
index 15f86413a5bd..93bb69857a1f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtkcairo.py
@@ -73,3 +73,7 @@ def _get_toolbar(self, canvas):
 class NavigationToolbar2Cairo(NavigationToolbar2GTK):
     def _get_canvas(self, fig):
         return FigureCanvasGTKCairo(fig)
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasGTKCairo
+FigureManager = FigureManagerGTKCairo
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index 71965170e2f1..5c88eb0c57ce 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -423,5 +423,5 @@ def dynamic_update(self):
 #
 ########################################################################
 
-
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasMac
 FigureManager = FigureManagerMac
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
index 8e9c29f4df3f..5fa623a5e033 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pdf.py
@@ -2467,4 +2467,6 @@ def print_pdf(self, filename, **kwargs):
 class FigureManagerPdf(FigureManagerBase):
     pass
 
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPdf
 FigureManager = FigureManagerPdf
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
index af9cc3f75d33..b7b5a6a8852d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_pgf.py
@@ -940,10 +940,11 @@ class FigureManagerPgf(FigureManagerBase):
     def __init__(self, *args):
         FigureManagerBase.__init__(self, *args)
 
-########################################################################
 
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPgf
 FigureManager = FigureManagerPgf
 
+
 def _cleanup_all():
     LatexManager._cleanup_remaining_instances()
     TmpDirCleaner.cleanup_remaining_tmpdirs()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
index 004e85bee279..a4f4ff6df0fb 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_ps.py
@@ -1725,14 +1725,10 @@ def pstoeps(tmpfile, bbox=None, rotated=False):
     shutil.move(epsfile, tmpfile)
 
 
-
 class FigureManagerPS(FigureManagerBase):
     pass
 
 
-FigureManager = FigureManagerPS
-
-
 # The following Python dictionary psDefs contains the entries for the
 # PostScript dictionary mpldict.  This dictionary implements most of
 # the matplotlib primitives and some abbreviations.
@@ -1771,3 +1767,6 @@ class FigureManagerPS(FigureManagerBase):
       newpath
     } bind def""",
 ]
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasPS
+FigureManager = FigureManagerPS
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index 65a06e0da12c..b1d49758b22b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -881,4 +881,5 @@ def exception_handler(type, value, tb):
         error_msg_qt(msg)
 
 
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQT
 FigureManager = FigureManagerQT
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
index ad49853759cc..25fc2e7d7b9b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4agg.py
@@ -182,3 +182,6 @@ def blit(self, bbox=None):
     def print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs):
         FigureCanvasAgg.print_figure(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self.draw()
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasQTAgg
+FigureManager = FigureManagerQTAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
index f68801cfd229..585f51420e8b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_svg.py
@@ -1204,7 +1204,6 @@ def get_default_filetype(self):
 class FigureManagerSVG(FigureManagerBase):
     pass
 
-FigureManager = FigureManagerSVG
 
 def new_figure_manager(num, *args, **kwargs):
     FigureClass = kwargs.pop('FigureClass', Figure)
@@ -1227,3 +1226,7 @@ def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
   "http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/1.1/DTD/svg11.dtd">
 <!-- Created with matplotlib (http://matplotlib.org/) -->
 """
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasSVG
+FigureManager = FigureManagerSVG
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
index c77406bb6038..a26679d0e0ab 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py
@@ -31,11 +31,19 @@
   import matplotlib
   matplotlib.use('module://my_backend')
 
-where my_backend.py is your module name.  Thus syntax is also
+where my_backend.py is your module name.  This syntax is also
 recognized in the rc file and in the -d argument in pylab, eg::
 
   python simple_plot.py -dmodule://my_backend
 
+If your backend implements support for saving figures (i.e. has a print_xyz()
+method) you can register it as the default handler for a given file type
+
+  from matplotlib.backend_bases import register_backend
+  register_backend('xyz', 'my_backend', 'XYZ File Format')
+  ...
+  plt.savefig("figure.xyz")
+
 The files that are most relevant to backend_writers are
 
   matplotlib/backends/backend_your_backend.py
@@ -262,5 +270,5 @@ class FigureManagerTemplate(FigureManagerBase):
 #
 ########################################################################
 
-
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasTemplate
 FigureManager = FigureManagerTemplate
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 5f60937d3e3b..209a8520d044 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -817,9 +817,6 @@ def dynamic_update(self):
         self.canvas.draw_idle()
 
 
-FigureManager = FigureManagerTkAgg
-
-
 class ToolTip(object):
     """
     Tooltip recipe from
@@ -869,3 +866,6 @@ def hidetip(self):
         self.tipwindow = None
         if tw:
             tw.destroy()
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasTkAgg
+FigureManager = FigureManagerTkAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg.py
index d895b6d2c349..a8a0c81e2f3b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg.py
@@ -392,3 +392,6 @@ def ipython_inline_display(figure):
         toolitems=core.NavigationToolbar2WebAgg.toolitems,
         canvas=figure.canvas,
         port=WebAggApplication.port)
+
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWebAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
index c656c9756daa..c7a50b420a4d 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_webagg_core.py
@@ -357,3 +357,6 @@ def release_zoom(self, event):
         super(NavigationToolbar2WebAgg, self).release_zoom(event)
         self.canvas.send_event(
             "rubberband", x0=-1, y0=-1, x1=-1, y1=-1)
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWebAggCore
+FigureManager = FigureManagerWebAgg
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index f934af9a69b4..d99f04f07ea9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -1875,5 +1875,6 @@ def OnPrintPage(self, page):
 #
 ########################################################################
 
-Toolbar = NavigationToolbar2Wx
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWx
 FigureManager = FigureManagerWx
+Toolbar = NavigationToolbar2Wx
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
index 298a8f79c3c7..5dd01030560b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wxagg.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from .backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg
 from . import backend_wx    # already uses wxversion.ensureMinimal('2.8')
-from .backend_wx import FigureManager, FigureManagerWx, FigureCanvasWx, \
+from .backend_wx import FigureManagerWx, FigureCanvasWx, \
     FigureFrameWx, DEBUG_MSG, NavigationToolbar2Wx, error_msg_wx, \
     draw_if_interactive, show, Toolbar, backend_version
 import wx
@@ -189,3 +189,6 @@ def _WX28_clipped_agg_as_bitmap(agg, bbox):
     destDC.SelectObject(wx.NullBitmap)
 
     return destBmp
+
+FigureCanvas = FigureCanvasWxAgg
+FigureManager = FigureManagerWx