Examples:

• Contour plot with outliers
• Overlayed histograms

Return to the general information on generating publication quality graphs.

Example 1: Contour plot with outliers.

 

To generate this plot, the preference "Export all graphs as high resolution PICTs" was checked in the preferences dialog. A contour plot (with outliers) was displayed on the screen, and the graph was copied (cmd-C, or "Copy" under the "Edit" menu). In Canvas, the graph was pasted into the document window. Ungroup the objects once to separate the internal graph objects from everything else. For the graph contents, select a foreground color of yellow and a background color of black. The contents were ungrouped again: each contour level is grouped: the outermost level was selected, and the line pattern was changed to 2-pt width, dashed line, and red. The fifth, 10th, and 15th contour lines were changed to red. At this point, all outlier points are still grouped; select the outliers, change the color to cyan and a 2-pt penwidth.

Note that the axes, axis labels, and parameter labels are all grouped in logical order so that you could easily change the text font, size, style, or color easily.

Example 2: Overlayed histograms.

 

This plot was generated by copying three different histograms into Canvas. They were ungrouped twice so that the axes were a separate group. Two of the axis groups were deleted to leave a single set of labels for the graph; these were set to have a light blue foreground color. The graph box was set to have a dark blue fill pattern. Each of the histograms was selected and modified separately. For two of the histograms (red and gray), the fill pattern was set to "white" and the fill color set to red or grey. For the green histogram, the fill pattern was set to a hashed line, and the fill color set to green. For this histogram, the pen size was set to 2-pt and the color to green; the other histograms had the pen color set to white. The gray histogram's pen pattern was set to dashed.

Note that histograms are exported as two objects: the polygon (line) and the filled interior. If you wish, you can delete the filled interior and then use your drawing program to specify that the polygon should have its own fill pattern and color.

Thus, in general: (1) overlay the histograms onto a single location; (2) remove excess axes and axis labels; (3) for each histogram, set the pen pattern, style, and color, and the fill pattern, style and color.

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