# Styling & Themes
Complete guide to customizing plot appearance with colors, markers, themes, and publication-quality output.
## Colors
### RGB Colors
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.color(Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 0)) // Red
.save("red_line.png")?;
```
**Common Colors**:
```rust
Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 0) // Red
Color::from_rgb(0, 255, 0) // Green
Color::from_rgb(0, 0, 255) // Blue
Color::from_rgb(255, 255, 0) // Yellow
Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 255) // Magenta
Color::from_rgb(0, 255, 255) // Cyan
Color::from_rgb(0, 0, 0) // Black
Color::from_rgb(255, 255, 255) // White
Color::from_rgb(128, 128, 128) // Gray
```
### Hex Colors
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.color(Color::from_hex("#FF5733")?) // Coral
.save("hex_color.png")?;
```
### seaborn Color Palettes
**Muted Palette** (professional, readable):
```rust
// Blue
Color::from_rgb(76, 114, 176) // #4C72B0
// Orange
Color::from_rgb(221, 132, 82) // #DD8452
// Green
Color::from_rgb(85, 168, 104) // #55A868
// Red
Color::from_rgb(196, 78, 82) // #C44E52
// Purple
Color::from_rgb(129, 114, 179) // #8172B3
```
**Example with seaborn colors**:
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y1)
.label("Series 1")
.color(Color::from_rgb(76, 114, 176)) // Muted blue
.line(&x, &y2)
.label("Series 2")
.color(Color::from_rgb(221, 132, 82)) // Muted orange
.line(&x, &y3)
.label("Series 3")
.color(Color::from_rgb(85, 168, 104)) // Muted green
.legend(Position::TopRight)
.save("seaborn_colors.png")?;
```
### Alpha (Transparency)
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Semi-transparent colors
Color::from_rgba(255, 0, 0, 128) // 50% transparent red
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.color(Color::from_rgba(0, 0, 255, 100)) // Transparent blue
.marker_size(10.0)
.save("transparent_scatter.png")?;
```
## Line Styling
### Line Width
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.line_width(0.5) // Thin line
.save("thin_line.png")?;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.line_width(3.0) // Thick line
.save("thick_line.png")?;
```
### Line Styles
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Solid line (default)
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y1)
.line_style(LineStyle::Solid)
.label("Solid")
.save("line_solid.png")?;
// Dashed line
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y2)
.line_style(LineStyle::Dashed)
.label("Dashed")
.save("line_dashed.png")?;
// Dotted line
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y3)
.line_style(LineStyle::Dotted)
.label("Dotted")
.save("line_dotted.png")?;
// Dash-dot line
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y4)
.line_style(LineStyle::DashDot)
.label("DashDot")
.save("line_dashdot.png")?;
```
### Combined Line Styling
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.line_width(2.5)
.line_style(LineStyle::Dashed)
.color(Color::from_rgb(255, 100, 0))
.label("Styled Line")
.legend(Position::TopRight)
.save("line_fully_styled.png")?;
```
## Marker Styling
### Marker Shapes
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Circle (most common)
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Circle)
.save("marker_circle.png")?;
// Square
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Square)
.save("marker_square.png")?;
// Triangle
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Triangle)
.save("marker_triangle.png")?;
// Diamond
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Diamond)
.save("marker_diamond.png")?;
// Cross
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Cross)
.save("marker_cross.png")?;
// Plus
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Plus)
.save("marker_plus.png")?;
```
### Marker Size
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Circle)
.marker_size(4.0) // Small
.save("marker_small.png")?;
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Circle)
.marker_size(12.0) // Large
.save("marker_large.png")?;
```
### Marker Colors
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x, &y)
.marker(MarkerStyle::Circle)
.marker_size(8.0)
.color(Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 128)) // Pink markers
.save("colored_markers.png")?;
```
### Differentiated Series
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.scatter(&x1, &y1)
.label("Group A")
.marker(MarkerStyle::Circle)
.marker_size(8.0)
.color(Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 0))
.scatter(&x2, &y2)
.label("Group B")
.marker(MarkerStyle::Square)
.marker_size(8.0)
.color(Color::from_rgb(0, 0, 255))
.scatter(&x3, &y3)
.label("Group C")
.marker(MarkerStyle::Triangle)
.marker_size(10.0)
.color(Color::from_rgb(0, 128, 0))
.legend(Position::TopRight)
.save("differentiated_series.png")?;
```
## Themes
ruviz includes professional themes for different use cases.
### Light Theme (Default)
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.theme(Theme::light()) // White background, dark text
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Light Theme")
.save("theme_light.png")?;
```
**Characteristics**:
- White background
- Black text and axes
- Clean, minimal styling
- Ideal for: General use, presentations
### Dark Theme
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.theme(Theme::dark()) // Dark background, light text
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Dark Theme")
.save("theme_dark.png")?;
```
**Characteristics**:
- Dark background
- Light text and axes
- Reduced eye strain
- Ideal for: Screens, dark mode applications
### Publication Theme
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.theme(Theme::publication()) // IEEE/Nature quality
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Publication Theme")
.save("theme_publication.png")?;
```
**Characteristics**:
- Optimized for print
- Professional typography
- High-contrast elements
- Clean, minimal design
- Ideal for: Journal articles, academic papers, theses
### seaborn Theme
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.theme(Theme::seaborn()) // matplotlib seaborn style
.line(&x, &y)
.title("seaborn Theme")
.save("theme_seaborn.png")?;
```
**Characteristics**:
- Muted color palette
- Grid by default
- Clean, minimal styling
- Optimized for readability
- Ideal for: Statistical analysis, data science, Python migration
## Typography
### Global Font Family
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
let custom_theme = Theme::builder()
.font("Arial")
.font_size(14.0)
.title_font_size(18.0)
.build();
Plot::new()
.theme(custom_theme)
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Custom Typography")
.save("custom_title.png")?;
```
### Typography Sizing
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.font_size(14.0) // Base size for labels and ticks
.title_size(18.0) // Title size
.xlabel("X Axis")
.ylabel("Y Axis")
.save("custom_typography_sizes.png")?;
```
Axis labels and tick labels scale from the base `font_size()`. Title size is controlled independently with `title_size()` or `Theme::builder().title_font_size(...)`.
### System Fonts
**Common system fonts**:
- **Arial** (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- **Times New Roman** (Windows, macOS)
- **Helvetica** (macOS)
- **Liberation Sans** (Linux)
- **DejaVu Sans** (Linux)
### Installed Open Fonts
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
let open_font_theme = Theme::builder()
.font("Open Sans")
.font_size(14.0)
.title_font_size(16.0)
.build();
Plot::new()
.theme(open_font_theme)
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Open Sans Title")
.save("open_font.png")?;
```
ruviz resolves fonts through the system font stack. Install the font on the target machine before selecting it by family name.
**Popular open fonts**:
- **Open Sans** - Clean, professional
- **Roboto** - Modern, geometric
- **Lato** - Humanist, warm
- **Montserrat** - Geometric, elegant
- **Source Sans Pro** - Technical, clean
### Custom TTF Files
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
let custom_theme = Theme::builder()
.font("My Installed Font")
.font_size(14.0)
.title_font_size(16.0)
.build();
Plot::new()
.theme(custom_theme)
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Custom Font Title")
.save("custom_font.png")?;
```
Custom font files are not loaded through a dedicated `Plot` API today. Install the font on the system, then select it by family name in the theme.
## Grid
### Basic Grid
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.grid(true) // Enable grid
.save("with_grid.png")?;
```
### No Grid
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.grid(false) // Disable grid (default for most themes)
.save("no_grid.png")?;
```
**Note**: seaborn theme enables grid by default.
## Legend
### Legend Position
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Top right (most common)
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.label("Data")
.legend(Position::TopRight)
.save("legend_top_right.png")?;
// Top left
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.label("Data")
.legend(Position::TopLeft)
.save("legend_top_left.png")?;
// Bottom right
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.label("Data")
.legend(Position::BottomRight)
.save("legend_bottom_right.png")?;
// Bottom left
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.label("Data")
.legend(Position::BottomLeft)
.save("legend_bottom_left.png")?;
```
**Available positions**:
- `Position::TopLeft`
- `Position::TopRight`
- `Position::BottomLeft`
- `Position::BottomRight`
### Legend with Multiple Series
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y1)
.label("Linear")
.color(Color::from_rgb(255, 0, 0))
.line(&x, &y2)
.label("Quadratic")
.color(Color::from_rgb(0, 0, 255))
.line(&x, &y3)
.label("Cubic")
.color(Color::from_rgb(0, 128, 0))
.legend(Position::TopLeft)
.save("multi_series_legend.png")?;
```
## Axes
### Axis Limits
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.xlim(0.0, 10.0) // X axis from 0 to 10
.ylim(-5.0, 5.0) // Y axis from -5 to 5
.save("custom_limits.png")?;
```
### Axis Labels
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.xlabel("Time (seconds)")
.ylabel("Amplitude (mV)")
.save("axis_labels.png")?;
```
### Tick Marks
Ticks are enabled by default. The default style draws inward tick marks on all four sides while
keeping tick labels on the bottom and left axes.
Migration note: older releases only drew default tick marks on the bottom and left sides. Use
`.ticks_bottom_left()` if you want to preserve that appearance.
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Default: four-sided inward ticks
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.save("default_ticks.png")?;
// Hide tick marks and tick labels, but keep the frame and axis labels
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.ticks(false)
.xlabel("Time")
.ylabel("Value")
.save("ticks_disabled.png")?;
```
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Customize direction and visible sides
Plot::new()
.line(&x, &y)
.tick_direction_inout()
.ticks_bottom_left()
.show_top_ticks(true)
.show_right_ticks(true)
.save("ticks_custom.png")?;
```
Available tick controls:
- `.ticks(bool)` to enable or disable tick marks and tick labels together
- `.tick_direction_inside()`, `.tick_direction_outside()`, `.tick_direction_inout()`
- `.ticks_all_sides()` and `.ticks_bottom_left()`
- `.show_top_ticks(bool)`, `.show_bottom_ticks(bool)`, `.show_left_ticks(bool)`, `.show_right_ticks(bool)`
- `.tick_sides(TickSides { .. })` for explicit per-side control
## Figure Dimensions
### Custom Size
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
Plot::new()
.dimensions(1200, 800) // Width x Height in pixels
.line(&x, &y)
.title("Custom Dimensions")
.save("custom_size.png")?;
```
**Common sizes**:
- **800 × 600** - Standard screen
- **1200 × 800** - Large screen
- **1920 × 1080** - Full HD
- **1000 × 600** - Wide presentation
- **600 × 600** - Square
### Publication Sizes
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Single column (IEEE)
Plot::new()
.dimensions(252, 189) // 3.5" × 2.625" @ 72 DPI
.dpi(300) // High resolution
.theme(Theme::publication())
.line(&x, &y)
.save("ieee_single_column.png")?;
// Double column (IEEE)
Plot::new()
.dimensions(523, 392) // 7.25" × 5.44" @ 72 DPI
.dpi(300)
.theme(Theme::publication())
.line(&x, &y)
.save("ieee_double_column.png")?;
```
## Resolution (DPI)
### Standard DPI
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Screen (default)
Plot::new()
.dpi(96) // Standard screen resolution
.line(&x, &y)
.save("screen_dpi.png")?;
// High-quality screen
Plot::new()
.dpi(150) // Retina/HiDPI
.line(&x, &y)
.save("high_screen_dpi.png")?;
```
### Publication DPI
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
// Print quality
Plot::new()
.dpi(300) // Standard print
.line(&x, &y)
.save("print_dpi.png")?;
// High-quality print
Plot::new()
.dpi(600) // Premium print, archival
.line(&x, &y)
.save("premium_dpi.png")?;
```
**DPI Guidelines**:
- **72-96 DPI**: Web, presentations
- **150 DPI**: High-quality screens
- **300 DPI**: Journals, publications, print
- **600 DPI**: Premium print, archival
## Complete Styling Example
### Scientific Publication Plot
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
use std::f64::consts::PI;
fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
// Generate data
let x: Vec<f64> = (0..200).map(|i| i as f64 * 0.05).collect();
let y_exp: Vec<f64> = x.iter().map(|v| (-v).exp()).collect();
let y_sin: Vec<f64> = x.iter().map(|v| v.sin() * (-v/5.0).exp()).collect();
let publication_theme = Theme::builder()
.font("Arial")
.font_size(14.0)
.title_font_size(16.0)
.build();
// Create publication-quality plot
Plot::new()
// Figure setup
.dimensions(1000, 700)
.dpi(300)
.theme(publication_theme)
// Data series
.line(&x, &y_exp)
.label("Exponential Decay")
.color(Color::from_rgb(76, 114, 176)) // Muted blue
.line_width(2.0)
.line_style(LineStyle::Solid)
.line(&x, &y_sin)
.label("Damped Oscillation")
.color(Color::from_rgb(221, 132, 82)) // Muted orange
.line_width(2.0)
.line_style(LineStyle::Dashed)
// Labels and formatting
.title("Exponential Functions")
.xlabel("Time (s)")
.ylabel("Amplitude")
// Layout
.xlim(0.0, 10.0)
.ylim(-0.5, 1.0)
.grid(true)
.legend(Position::TopRight)
.save("publication_plot.png")?;
println!("✅ Publication-quality plot saved");
Ok(())
}
```
### Presentation Plot
```rust
use ruviz::prelude::*;
let presentation_theme = Theme::builder()
.font("Arial")
.font_size(20.0)
.title_font_size(24.0)
.build();
Plot::new()
.dimensions(1920, 1080) // Full HD
.dpi(150)
.theme(presentation_theme)
.line(&x, &y)
.color(Color::from_rgb(100, 200, 255)) // Bright cyan
.line_width(4.0) // Thick for visibility
.title("Presentation Plot")
.xlabel("X Axis")
.ylabel("Y Axis")
.grid(true)
.save("presentation.png")?;
```
## Style Best Practices
### Accessibility
1. **Color Contrast**: Use high-contrast colors for readability
2. **Color Blindness**: Avoid red-green only distinctions
3. **Line Styles**: Combine colors with line styles/markers
4. **Font Size**: Minimum 10pt for print, 12pt for screen
### Publication Standards
1. **DPI**: Use 300 DPI minimum
2. **Theme**: Use `Theme::publication()`
3. **Colors**: Muted, professional palette
4. **Fonts**: Standard fonts (Arial, Times New Roman)
5. **Size**: Match journal requirements
### Data Visualization Principles
1. **Maximize Data-Ink Ratio**: Remove unnecessary elements
2. **Clear Hierarchy**: Title > labels > legend > grid
3. **Consistent Styling**: Same style across related plots
4. **Readable Labels**: Descriptive, concise labels
5. **Appropriate Colors**: Meaningful color choices
## Next Steps
- **[Subplots & Composition](06_subplots.md)** - Multi-panel figures
- **[Backend Selection](07_backends.md)** - Rendering backends
- **[Performance](08_performance.md)** - Optimization strategies
- **[Export Formats](10_export.md)** - File formats and settings
---
**Ready for multi-panel figures?** → [Subplots Guide](06_subplots.md)