1. Designing Effective Graphics Using MATLAB The Cain Project in Engineering and Professional Communication ENGINEERING SERIES

2. The Purpose of Using Graphics In your own problem solving –As part of design –As analysis of operating data For persuasion and interpretation –Dramatize relationships –Promote identification –Make complex information accessible

3. Criteria for Good Graphics Purpose clear? Pattern and arrangement lead eye without distraction? Similar items grouped and indicated? Graphic hierarchy consistent? Fonts legible?

4. Criteria for Good Graphics (contd.) Critical components defined? Essential calculations behind claims shown? Any significant reference or standard omitted? Presenters’ expertise demonstrated?

5. Types of Graphics in Matlab Line graph –2D –3D

6. Types of Graphics in Matlab Column or bar graph

7. Types of Graphics in Matlab Pie graph –Shows “whole to part” relationships

8. Types of Graphics in Matlab Ribbon graph

9. Select Right Type of Graphic What Is Your Purpose? –Problem solving? –Persuasion and interpretation? Who Is the Audience? –What are their backgrounds? –What do they want to know? What Is the Context? –Presentation? –Report/Paper?

10. Context Affects Graph Qualities Presentation –Big titles, labels, etc. –Can use any color –Can use animation Report –Smaller titles, labels, etc. –Often just black and white –Animation impossible

11. 2D Plot Tips Use the best line style/size for the situation. Think about the best placement of legend/key. Incorporate error bars, if necessary. Use gridlines sparingly.

12. An Example You have: –Vector 1: x(0:0.2:10); –Vector 2: sin(x); –Vector 3: cos(x); You are asked to: –Plot sin(x) vs. x and cos(x) vs. x in the same figure. –Customize the figure so that it is suitable for presentation.

13. A Simple Matlab Program clear all; X=[0:0.2:10]; sinx=sin(x); cosx=cos(x); plot(x,sinx,x,cosx); xlabel('x'); ylabel('y'); title([‘sin and cos Functions']);

14. Default Plot Given by Matlab

15. We Want … Titles and labels bigger Lines thicker Colors more contrasting Key data points visible Legend or labels close to lines

16. How to Get What We Want

17. Open the Property Editor

18. Edit Figure Properties

19. Edit Axes Properties

20. Edit Line Properties

21. So Far, A Better-Looking Figure

22. Insert Legend

23. Edit Legend Properties

24. Insert Y Grid Line

25. Final Version!

26. Frequently Used Functions “plot” “xlabel”, “ylabel” “title” “xlim”, “ylim” “axis” “legend” “errorbar” Type “help xxx” in Matlab command window for detailed information on the usage of the function xxx.

27. Other 2D Plotting Commands “loglog”: graph with logarithmic scales for both axes. “semilogx”: graph with a logarithmic scale for x-axis and a linear scale for y-axis. “semilogy”: graph with a logarithmic scale for y-axis and a linear scale for x-axis. “plotyy”: graph with y-tick labels on the left and right side.

28. A Whole Lot More … 2D contour –“contour” –“contourslice” 3D plots –“plot3” –“mesh” –“surf” Movie –“getframe” –“movie”

29. Plotting in Excel

30. Selecting Chart Type and Inputting Data

31. Adding Labels and Selecting Location

32. What do we need to change?

33. Formatting your Chart

34. Adding a Trendline

35. Formatting the Data

36. Editing the Line and Markers

37. Formatting the Font

38. Final Product!

39. Other Features Logarithmic axis –Select the axis you want to change –Right click or select the “Format” option in your toolbar and select “Format Axis” –Click on the “Scale” tab –Check the box marked “Logarithmic Scale”

40. More resources are available for you under “Engineering Communication” at Connexions at http://cnx.org http://cnx.org at the Cain Project site at http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj in your course Communication Folder in OWLSPACE. Lead through Excellence in Engineering Communication