The chart #270 describes how to draw a basic bubble plot with matplotlib. This page aims to describe how to custom several features of your bubble plot.
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The ‘c‘ argument allow you to pick up a color. I recommend to lower the opacity with the ‘alpha‘ argument for a better looking result (alpha=0 means totally transparent, alpha=1 means totally opaque)
# libraries import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np # create data x = np.random.rand(5) y = np.random.rand(5) z = np.random.rand(5) # Change color with c and alpha plt.scatter(x, y, s=z*4000, c="red", alpha=0.4) #plt.show()
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As in scatterplot, you can easily custom the shape of the markers on the bubble plot.
# libraries import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np # create data x = np.random.rand(5) y = np.random.rand(5) z = np.random.rand(5) # Change shape with marker plt.scatter(x, y, s=z*4000, marker="D") #plt.show()
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You can custom the average size of markers playing with the s argument. Multiply the numerical variable you use for size by 2 and the markers will be 2 times bigger.
# libraries import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np # create data x = np.random.rand(5) y = np.random.rand(5) z = np.random.rand(5) # Change global size playing with s plt.scatter(x, y, s=z*200) plt.savefig('PNG/#271_Bubble_plot_customization3.png', dpi=96) plt.clf() #plt.show() -
You can even custom the edges of the markers with the linewidth argument.
# libraries import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np # create data x = np.random.rand(5) y = np.random.rand(5) z = np.random.rand(5) # Change line around dot plt.scatter(x, y, s=z*4000, c="green", alpha=0.4, linewidth=6) plt.savefig('PNG/#271_Bubble_plot_customization4.png', dpi=96) plt.clf() #plt.show() -
As usual, just calling the seaborn library before the code of your graphic will highly improve the general aspect of your graphic:
# libraries import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np # create data x = np.random.rand(5) y = np.random.rand(5) z = np.random.rand(5) # pimp your plot with the seaborn style import seaborn as sns plt.scatter(x, y, s=z*4000, c="green", alpha=0.4, linewidth=6) # Add titles (main and on axis) plt.xlabel("the X axis") plt.ylabel("the Y axis") plt.title("A bubble plot", loc="left")
