diff --git a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
index 6736564..7f275a9 100644
--- a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
+++ b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ backends = {'tk': 'TkAgg',
             'nbagg': 'nbAgg',
             'notebook': 'nbAgg',
             'agg': 'agg',
+            'svg': 'svg',
+            'pdf': 'pdf',
+            'ps': 'ps',
             'inline': 'module://ipykernel.pylab.backend_inline',
             'ipympl': 'module://ipympl.backend_nbagg',
             'widget': 'module://ipympl.backend_nbagg',