Formatting ggplot2 Visualization Elements in R from Pluralsight

Use the very popular ggplot2 visualization library and learn how to fine tune your charts. Special emphasis is put on color palettes, axes and scales, as well as plot themes.

Do you want to learn how to fine tune ggplots so that they look even better? Ggplots are great, but their fine tuning can be tricky. They work on different principles than standard R Base plots. So, there is a learning curve to this package. In this course, Formatting ggplot2 Visualization Elements in R, you will learn how ggplots are modified piece by piece.

First, you will learn the general setup of a ggplot and how each ggplot has a typical logic that has to be followed. Next, you will discover how different color palettes can be used in ggplot2 and the several tools available that offer color palettes. You will be looking at these tools and how they are applied in a ggplot, including the R Color Brewer and Color Space. After that, you will be shown how the axes and scales of a plot are modified, as well as how to get access to each piece. Finally, you will have the skills to modify the plot theme, which leads to the component of a ggplot that defines its appearance. When you are finished with this course, you will better understand the logic behind ggplot2 and you will be able to modify the plot theme, the axes, and the coloration.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Understanding a ggplot2 Setup

Changing Default Color Settings

Working on Plot Axes

Using and Changing Plot Themes in ggplot2

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops learners' ability to modify plot themes, axes, and coloration, which are core skills for data visualization

Suited for learners with some experience in data visualization with ggplot2

Taught by Martin Burger, with expertise in data visualization and ggplot2

Part of a larger series of courses on data visualization, indicating comprehensiveness

Focuses on fine-tuning ggplot2 visualizations, which may be of interest to learners seeking advanced skills

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Formatting ggplot2 Visualization Elements in R with these activities:

Mentor Other Students in ggplot2

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Mentoring other students in ggplot2 will help you solidify your own understanding of the library and help others learn.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Join a ggplot2 online forum
Answer questions from other students
Create a ggplot2 tutorial

Review the R Reference Manual

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Reviewing the R Language Reference Manual will help you become familiar with the syntax and structure of the R language.

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Download the R Reference Manual
Review the table of contents
Read through the sections that are relevant to your course

Find a ggplot2 Mentor

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Finding a ggplot2 mentor can help you learn from someone who has more experience with the library.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Attend a ggplot2 workshop
Join a ggplot2 online community
Contact an expert in ggplot2

Five other activities

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Follow the ggplot2 Tutorial

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Following the ggplot2 tutorial will help you learn the basics of using ggplot2 to create visualizations.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Go to the ggplot2 website
Click on the "Tutorial" tab
Work through the tutorial

Practice Creating ggplot2 Visualizations

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Practicing creating ggplot2 visualizations will help you improve your skills and understanding of the library.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Create a scatter plot of two variables
Create a bar chart of a categorical variable
Create a line chart of a time series

Practice Modifying ggplot2 Visualizations

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Practicing modifying ggplot2 visualizations will help you understand how to customize and improve your visualizations.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Change the colors of a plot
Add a title and axis labels to a plot
Change the size and shape of points in a plot

Create a ggplot2 Visualization Project

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Creating a ggplot2 visualization project will help you apply your skills and knowledge to a real-world problem.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Choose a dataset
Create a ggplot2 visualization of the dataset
Write a report that explains your findings

Contribute to the ggplot2 Project

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Contributing to the ggplot2 project will help you learn about the inner workings of the library and help you improve your coding skills.

Browse courses on Ggplot2

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Find an issue on the ggplot2 GitHub repository
Fix the issue
Submit a pull request

Career center

Learners who complete Formatting ggplot2 Visualization Elements in R will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Visualization Analyst

Data Visualization Analysts present complex data in a clear and concise way. They use various visualization tools to communicate data insights to stakeholders. This course is a valuable resource for Data Visualization Analysts to learn ggplot2, a popular data visualization library, and its advanced features for fine-tuning visualizations to meet specific needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting large amounts of data. They also build and maintain data models to help businesses understand their customers and make informed decisions. This course helps Data Scientists refine their data visualization skills using ggplot2 which can increase the credibility and impact of their data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data to provide insights into various fields. The skills learned in this course will be beneficial for Statisticians, particularly in fine-tuning ggplot2 visualizations to clearly and effectively communicate statistical findings and insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Data Analyst

Data Analysts interpret complex data sets into understandable formats to drive informed decision-making. Ggplot2 visualizations are useful for enabling Data Analysts to understand patterns and trends in data. Formatting these visualizations can aid in presenting insights in an efficient manner. This course is useful for Data Analysts to learn ggplot2 visualization techniques and become more effective in communicating their results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations improve their performance by analyzing data and recommending solutions. This course provides Business Analysts with the opportunity to enhance their ggplot2 visualization capabilities and create more effective and engaging presentations for communicating business insights.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to solve problems in medicine and public health. This course may be useful for Biostatisticians who want to improve their data visualization skills to effectively communicate statistical findings and insights in the context of medical and health-related data.

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Market Researcher

Market Researchers gather and analyze data on consumer behavior and market trends to help businesses make informed decisions. This course is helpful for Market Researchers to develop their ggplot2 visualization skills which are essential for visually presenting research findings and communicating insights to clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and spread of diseases in populations. This course may be useful for Epidemiologists seeking to enhance their data visualization capabilities for presenting epidemiological data in a clear and visually appealing manner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts analyze financial data to provide insights and make recommendations for investment decisions. This course may be useful for Financial Analysts seeking to enhance their data visualization capabilities for presenting financial data in a clear and visually appealing manner.

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Data Journalist

Data Journalists use data to tell stories and inform the public. This course may be helpful for Data Journalists who want to develop their ggplot2 visualization skills to create visually appealing and engaging data stories that resonate with their audience.

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Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, construct, and maintain data pipelines and data storage systems. This course may be helpful for Data Engineers seeking to develop their data visualization skills to communicate insights to stakeholders and present technical concepts in a clear and visually appealing manner.

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UX Designer

UX Designers create products and services that provide a seamless user experience. This course may be helpful for UX Designers looking to develop their data visualization skills, particularly in creating user-centered visualizations that effectively communicate data insights.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. This course may be useful for Software Engineers wanting to enhance their data visualization skills, particularly if they are involved in projects that require presenting data-driven insights or creating interactive visualizations.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall success of a product. This course may be useful for Product Managers who want to improve their data visualization skills to better understand user behavior and product metrics, and make data-driven decisions.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites and web applications. This course may be helpful for Web Developers who want to improve their skills in creating visually appealing and informative data visualizations for websites or web-based dashboards.

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