Create a blank plot with optional labels

Create a blank plot with optional labels for margins

nullPlot(
  xaxt = "n",
  yaxt = "n",
  xlab = "",
  ylab = "",
  col = "transparent",
  xlim = c(1, 2),
  ylim = c(1, 2),
  las = par("las"),
  doBoxes = TRUE,
  doUsrBox = doBoxes,
  fill = "#FFFF9966",
  doAxes = FALSE,
  doMargins = TRUE,
  marginUnit = c("lines", "inches"),
  plotAreaTitle = "Plot Area",
  plotSrt = 0,
  plotNumPrefix = "",
  bty = "n",
  showMarginsOnly = FALSE,
  add = FALSE,
  ...
)

Arguments

xaxt

character value compatible with options(xaxt)

yaxt

character value compatible with options(xaxt)

xlab

character x-axis label

ylab

character y-axis label

col

character colors passed to plot()

xlim

numeric x-axis range

ylim

numeric y-axis range

las

integer value indicating whether axis labels should be parallel (1) or perpendicular (2) to the axis line.

doBoxes

logical whether to draw annotated boxes around the plot and inner and outer margins.

doUsrBox

logical whether to draw a colored bow indicating the exact plot space, using the function usrBox.

fill

character R color used to fill the background of the plot as used by usrBox.

doAxes

logical whether to draw default x- and y-axes.

doMargins

logical whether to label margins, only active when doBoxes=TRUE.

plotAreaTitle

character label printed in the center of the plot area.

plotSrt

numeric angle for the plotAreaTitle, which is good for labeling this plot with vertical text when displaying a plot panel inside a grid layout, where the plot is taller than it is wide.

plotNumPrefix

character or integer label appended as suffix to margin labels, which is useful when annotating multiple plots in a grid layout, where labels are sometimes quite close together. This label is but a simple attempt to sidestep the real problem of fitting labels inside each visual component.

bty

character passed to the basic plot() function, usually bty="n" suppresses the default box, which can then be optionally drawn based upon the doBoxes parameter.

showMarginsOnly

logical whether to create a new plot or to annotate an existing active plot.

add

logical whether to add to an existing active R plot, or create a new plot window.

Details

This function creates an empty plot space, using the current par settings for margins, text size, etc. By default it displays a box around the plot window, and labels the margins and plot area for review. It can be useful as a visual display of various base graphics settings, or to create an empty plot window with pre-defined axis ranges. Lastly, one can use this function to create a "blank" plot which uses a defined background color, which can be a useful precursor to drawing an image density which may not cover the whole plot space.

The doBoxes=TRUE functionality was adapted from Earl F. Glynn's margin tutorial: http://research.stowers.org/mcm/efg/R/Graphics/Basics/mar-oma/index.htm with much respect for his effective visual.

See also

Other jam plot functions: adjustAxisLabelMargins(), coordPresets(), decideMfrow(), drawLabels(), getPlotAspect(), groupedAxis(), imageByColors(), imageDefault(), minorLogTicksAxis(), plotPolygonDensity(), plotRidges(), plotSmoothScatter(), shadowText_options(), shadowText(), showColors(), smoothScatterJam(), sqrtAxis(), usrBox()

Examples

nullPlot()


nullPlot(doBoxes=FALSE)