Decorating the Background Grid in Julia Plots

Overview

Keywords related to the grid background in Plots.jl are as follows:

Code

Display Grid

The keyword for displaying the grid is grid. Inputting :x or :y displays only the lines assisting the $x$ axis or the $y$ axis ticks, respectively. Inputting false does not display the grid.

plot(plot(rand(10)),
     plot(rand(10), grid = :x),
     plot(rand(10), grid = :y),
     plot(rand(10), grid = false))

Transparency

The grid in the background is drawn with a transparency of 0.1 by default. The keyword for adjusting the grid’s transparency is gridalpha(=ga)(=gα).

plot(rand(10, 3), layout = (3, 1),
     gridalpha = [0.1 0.5 1])

Color

The default grid color is black, and it can be changed with the keyword foreground_color_grid(=fgcolor_grid).

plot(rand(10, 3), layout = (3, 1), gridalpha = 1,
     fgcolor_grid = [:red :green :orange])

Thickness

The keyword for specifying the grid thickness is gridlinewidth(=grid_lw), with a default value of 0.5.

plot(rand(10, 3), layout = (3, 1), 
     grid_lw = [0.5 5 10])

Grid Style

The grid line style can be specified with the keyword gridstyle(=grid_ls). Possible symbols are :auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot.

plot(rand(10, 2), layout = 2, ga = 1,
     gridstyle = [:solid :dash])

Minor Grid

Inputting the keyword argument minorgrid = true draws the minor grid. Keywords for specifying the minor grid’s transparency, color, thickness, and line style are minorgridalpha, foreground_color_minor_grid minorgrid_lw, minorgrid_ls, respectively.

plot(plot(rand(10)),
     plot(rand(10), minorgrid = true),
     gridalpha = 0.8,
     minorgridalpha = 0.2)

Environment

• OS: Windows11
• Version: Julia 1.9.4, Plots v1.39.0