23  Stylized Plot Example

The code below shows how much control users have over graphics in R. The package xkcd was created to produce plots that look like they are the hand-drawn versions in the XKCD comic strip. They even allow you to add stick figures to the plots.

23.1 Custom Graphics Packages

install.packages( "xkcd",dependencies = TRUE )
install.packages( "gridExtra" )
install.packages( "cowplot" )

library( ggplot2 )
library( gridExtra )
library( cowplot )
library( xkcd )

23.2 xkcd Style

xrange <- range(mtcars$mpg)
yrange <- range(mtcars$wt)
set.seed(123) # for reproducibility
p <- ggplot() + geom_point(aes(mpg, wt), data=mtcars) +
     xkcdaxis(xrange,yrange)
p

23.3 Add Stick Figure

ratioxy <- diff(xrange)/diff(yrange)

mapping <- aes( x, y, scale, ratioxy, 
                angleofspine, 
                anglerighthumerus, 
                anglelefthumerus,
                anglerightradius, 
                angleleftradius,
                anglerightleg, 
                angleleftleg, 
                angleofneck,
                linetype=city )

dataman <- data.frame(x= c(15,30), y=c(3, 4), 
                      scale = c(0.3,0.51) ,
                      ratioxy = ratioxy,
                      angleofspine = -pi/2 ,
                      anglerighthumerus = c(pi/4, -pi/6),
                      anglelefthumerus = c(pi/2 + pi/4, pi +pi/6),
                      anglerightradius = c(pi/3, -pi/3),
                      angleleftradius = c(pi/3, -pi/3),
                      anglerightleg = 3*pi/2 - pi / 12,
                      angleleftleg = 3*pi/2 + pi / 12 ,
                      angleofneck = runif(1, 3*pi/2-pi/10, 3*pi/2+pi/10),
                      city=c("Liliput","Brobdingnag") )

p <- ggplot() + geom_point(aes(mpg, wt, colour=as.character(vs)), data=mtcars) +
       xkcdaxis(xrange,yrange) +
       xkcdman(mapping, dataman) +
       theme(legend.position = "none") 

p

23.4 Grid Options

# library( gridExtra )
grid.arrange( p, p, p, p, ncol=2, nrow=2 )

# library( cowplot )
plot_grid( p, p, p, p, 
           labels= c("A","B","C","D"), ncol=2, nrow=2 )

dataman <- data.frame(x= c(15,30), y=c(3, 4), 
                      scale = c(0.3,0.51) ,
                      ratioxy = ratioxy,
                      angleofspine = -pi,
                      anglerighthumerus = c(pi/2, -pi/3),
                      anglelefthumerus = c(pi/2 + pi/4, pi +pi/6),
                      anglerightradius = c(pi/3, -pi/3),
                      angleleftradius = c(pi/6, -pi/2),
                      anglerightleg = 3*pi/2 - pi / 8,
                      angleleftleg = 3*pi/2 + pi / 12 ,
                      angleofneck = runif(1, 3*pi/2-pi/10, 3*pi/2+pi/10),
                      city=c("Liliput","Brobdingnag") )

p <- ggplot() + geom_point(aes(mpg, wt, colour=as.character(vs)), data=mtcars) +
       xkcdaxis(xrange,yrange) +
       xkcdman(mapping, dataman) +
       theme(legend.position = "none") 

p