Designing Effective Graphics

Using MATLAB

The Cain Project in

Engineering and Professional Communication

Linda Driskill, driskila@ruf.rice.edu

Daniel Trahan, trahan@ruf.rice.edu
Gang Cheng, gang@rice.edu
The Purpose of Using Graphics
• In problem solving
 As part of design
 As analysis of operating data

• For persuasion and interpretation

 Dramatize relationships
 Promote identification
 Make complex information accessible

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Criteria for Good Graphics
• Purpose clear?

• Pattern and arrangement lead eye without

distraction?

• Similar items grouped and indicated?

• Graphic hierarchy consistent?

• Fonts legible?
3
Criteria for Good Graphics (contd.)
• Critical components defined?

• Essential calculations behind claims shown?

• Any significant reference or standard

omitted?

• Presenters’ expertise demonstrated?

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The Type of Graphics in Matlab
• Line graph
 2D
 3D

• Bar graph

• Pie graph

• Ribbon graph

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Select the Right Type of Graphic
• Purpose
 Problem solving?
 Persuasion and interpretation?

• Audience
 What are their background?
 What are they interested to know?

• Context
 Presentation?
 Report/Paper? 6
Context
• Presentation
 Big titles, labels, etc.
 Can use any color
 Can use animation

• Report
 Smaller titles, labels, etc.
 Often just black and white
 Animation impossible

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2D Plot Tips
• Use the best line style/size for the situation.

• Think about the best placement of

legend/key.

• Incorporate error bars, if necessary.

• Use gridline sparingly.

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An Example
• You have:
 Vector 1: x(0:0.2:10);
 Vector 2: sin(x);
 Vector 3: cos(x);

• You are asked to:

 Plot sin(x) vs. x and cos(x) vs. x in the same
figure;
 Customize the figure so that it is suitable for
presentation.

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A Simple Matlab Program
clear all;
X=[0:0.2:10];
sinx=sin(x);
cosx=cos(x);
plot(x,sinx,x,cosx);
xlabel('x');
ylabel('y');
title([‘sin and cos Functions']);

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Default Plot Given by Matlab
sin and cos Functions
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
y

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x
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We Want …
• Titles and labels bigger.

• Lines thicker.

• Colors more contrasting.

• Data points.

• Legend.
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Open the Property Editor

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Edit Figure Properties

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Edit Axes Properties

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Edit Line Properties

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A Better-Looking Figure
sin and cos Functions
1

0.5

0
y

-0.5

-1
0 2 4 6 8 10
x 17
Insert Legend

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Edit Legend Properties

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Insert Y Grid Line

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Final
sin and cos Functions
1.5
sin(x)
cos(x)
1

0.5

0
y

-0.5

-1

-1.5
0 2 4 6 8 10
x 21
Frequently Used Functions
• “plot”
• “xlabel”, “ylabel”
• “title”
• “xlim”, “ylim”
• “axis”
• “legend”
• “errorbar”

• Type “help xxx” in Matlab command window

for detailed information on the usage of the
function xxx. 22
Other 2D Plotting Commands
• “loglog”: graph with logarithmic scales for
both axes.

• “semilogx”: graph with a logarithmic scale for

x-axis and a linear scale for y-axis.

• “semilogy”: graph with a logarithmic scale for

y-axis and a linear scale for x-axis.

• “plotyy”: graph with y-tick labels on the left

and right side.
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A Whole Lot More …
• 2D contour
 “contour”
 “contourslice”

• 3D plots
 “plot3”
 “mesh”
 “surf”

• Movie
 “getframe”
 “movie”
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