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A minimal theme for statistical graphics

Source: R/theme.R
theme_tufte.Rd

Remove the panel background, grid, panel border and legend frame. The theme follows Tufte's advice to reduce ink that doesn't represent data.

Usage

theme_tufte(
  base_size = 12,
  base_family = "",
  ticks = TRUE,
  axis_lines = FALSE,
  grid = c("none", "x", "y", "both")
)

Arguments

base_size

Base font size in points. Defaults to 12.

base_family

Base font family. Defaults to "" (the device default). "serif" is closer to Tufte's own books.

ticks

Logical. Draw axis tick marks? Defaults to TRUE; ticks are data-ink in the weak sense that they locate values.

axis_lines

Logical. Draw conventional axis lines? Defaults to FALSE. Add a range frame if you'd like axes tied to the data.

grid

One of "none" (the default), "x", "y" or "both". Draws a hairline grid where you ask for one.

Value

A ggplot2 theme object.

Details

There are no axis lines by default. Add geom_rangeframe() or geom_quartileframe(), or set axis_lines = TRUE for ordinary axes.

I'd keep a grid when it helps readers estimate values. Use grid = "y" or "x" for a light grid on one axis. For Tufte's bar design, with rules erased through the bars, use geom_col_tufte().

See also

theme_sparkline(), theme_slopegraph()

Examples

library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
  geom_point() +
  geom_rangeframe() +
  theme_tufte()