R/aes-linetype-size-shape.R

In ggplot2: Create Elegant Data Visualisations Using the Grammar of Graphics

#' Differentiation related aesthetics: linetype, size, shape
#'
#' @description
#' The `linetype`, `linewidth`, `size`, and `shape` aesthetics modify the
#' appearance of lines and/or points. They also apply to the outlines of
#' polygons (`linetype` and `linewidth`) or to text (`size`).
#'
#' @section Linetype:
#' The `linetype` aesthetic can be specified with either an integer (0-6), a
#' name (0 = blank, 1 = solid, 2 = dashed, 3 = dotted, 4 = dotdash, 5 = longdash,
#' 6 = twodash), a mapping to a discrete variable, or a string of an even number
#' (up to eight) of hexadecimal digits which give the lengths in consecutive
#' positions in the string. See examples for a hex string demonstration.
#'
#' @section Linewidth and stroke:
#' The `linewidth` aesthetic sets the widths of lines, and can be specified
#' with a numeric value (for historical reasons, these units are about 0.75
#' millimetres). Alternatively, they can also be set via mapping to a continuous
#' variable. The `stroke` aesthetic serves the same role for points, but is
#' distinct for discriminating points from lines in geoms such as
#' [`geom_pointrange()`].
#'
#' @section Size:
#' The `size` aesthetic control the size of points and text, and can be
#' specified with a numerical value (in millimetres) or via a mapping to a
#' continuous variable.
#'
#' @section Shape:
#' The `shape` aesthetic controls the symbols of points, and can be specified
#' with an integer (between 0 and 25), a single character (which uses that
#' character as the plotting symbol), a `.` to draw the smallest rectangle that
#' is visible (i.e., about one pixel), an `NA` to draw nothing, or a mapping to
#' a discrete variable. Symbols and filled shapes are described in the examples
#' below.
#'
#' @seealso
#' * [geom_line()] and [geom_point()] for geoms commonly used
#'  with these aesthetics.
#' * [aes_group_order()] for using `linetype`, `size`, or
#' `shape` for grouping.
#' * Scales that can be used to modify these aesthetics: [`scale_linetype()`],
#'   [`scale_linewidth()`], [`scale_size()`], and [`scale_shape()`].
#' * Run `vignette("ggplot2-specs")` to see an overview of other aesthetics that
#' can be modified.
#' @family aesthetics documentation
#' @name aes_linetype_size_shape
#' @aliases linetype size shape
#' @examples
#'
#' df <- data.frame(x = 1:10 , y = 1:10)
#' p <- ggplot(df, aes(x, y))
#' p + geom_line(linetype = 2)
#' p + geom_line(linetype = "dotdash")
#'
#' # An example with hex strings; the string "33" specifies three units on followed
#' # by three off and "3313" specifies three units on followed by three off followed
#' # by one on and finally three off.
#' p + geom_line(linetype = "3313")
#'
#' # Mapping line type from a grouping variable
#' ggplot(economics_long, aes(date, value01)) +
#'   geom_line(aes(linetype = variable))
#'
#' # Linewidth examples
#' ggplot(economics, aes(date, unemploy)) +
#'   geom_line(linewidth = 2, lineend = "round")
#' ggplot(economics, aes(date, unemploy)) +
#'   geom_line(aes(linewidth = uempmed), lineend = "round")
#'
#' # Size examples
#' p <- ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg))
#' p + geom_point(size = 4)
#' p + geom_point(aes(size = qsec))
#' p + geom_point(size = 2.5) +
#'   geom_hline(yintercept = 25, size = 3.5)
#'
#' # Shape examples
#' p + geom_point()
#' p + geom_point(shape = 5)
#' p + geom_point(shape = "k", size = 3)
#' p + geom_point(shape = ".")
#' p + geom_point(shape = NA)
#' p + geom_point(aes(shape = factor(cyl)))
#'
#' # A look at all 25 symbols
#' df2 <- data.frame(x = 1:5 , y = 1:25, z = 1:25)
#' p <- ggplot(df2, aes(x, y))
#' p + geom_point(aes(shape = z), size = 4) +
#'   scale_shape_identity()
#' # While all symbols have a foreground colour, symbols 19-25 also take a
#' # background colour (fill)
#' p + geom_point(aes(shape = z), size = 4, colour = "Red") +
#'   scale_shape_identity()
#' p + geom_point(aes(shape = z), size = 4, colour = "Red", fill = "Black") +
#'   scale_shape_identity()
NULL