--- title: "Arrow parameters" output: rmarkdown::html_vignette vignette: > %\VignetteIndexEntry{Arrow parameters} %\VignetteEngine{knitr::rmarkdown} %\VignetteEncoding{UTF-8} --- ```{r, include = FALSE} knitr::opts_chunk$set( collapse = TRUE, comment = "#>" ) ``` This vignette walks through the various options present in `geom_arrow()` and friends. First, let's setup a very basic plot in which we can show what the parameters are doing. ```{r setup} library(ggarrow) p <- ggplot(data.frame(x = c(0, 1), y = 0), aes(x, y)) + geom_point(colour = c(2, 4), size = 3) + geom_text( aes(label = c("start\n'fins'", "end\n'head'")), colour = c(2, 4), vjust = -1 ) ``` ## Aesthetics There are 3 aesthetics that depart from the typical `geom_path()` behaviour. The first one is the `linewidth` aesthetic, in that it can vary within a path. ```{r vary_linewidth} p + geom_arrow(linewidth = c(0, 3)) ``` This all means that you could in theory display a kernel density estimate using an arrow, by remapping a computed density aesthetic to the linewidth. ```{r complicated linewidth} ggplot(faithful, aes(waiting)) + geom_arrow( stat = "density", aes(y = after_stat(0), linewidth = after_scale(ndensity * 20)) ) ``` The other two are the `stroke_colour` and `stroke_width` aesthetics. These can be used to outline the arrow. ```{r strokes} p + geom_arrow(stroke_colour = "black", stroke_width = 1, colour = "white", linewidth = 5) ``` ## Heads, fins and middle arrows This dealt with more thoroughly in another vignette. To briefly recap, an arrow comes in three parts: a head, a shaft and fins. All these parts are valid places to place ornaments. ### Using arrow parts The three different parts of an arrow can be populated with the `arrow_head`, `arrow_fins` and `arrow_mid` arguments. Whereas `arrow_head` and `arrow_fins` are pointed towards their respective path ends, the `arrow_mid` follows the forward orientation. ```{r arrow_parts} p + geom_arrow( arrow_head = arrow_head_wings(), arrow_mid = arrow_head_wings(), arrow_fins = arrow_head_wings() ) ``` ### Setting sizes The arrow sizes can be controlled by the `length_head`, `length_fins` and `length_mid` arguments. You can use a plain `` to have the arrow size be relative to the `linewidth` aesthetic. Alternatively, you set the length in an absolute manner by providing a `` object. ```{r arrow_sizes} p + geom_arrow( arrow_head = arrow_head_wings(), arrow_mid = arrow_head_wings(), arrow_fins = arrow_head_wings(), length_head = 10, length_fins = 4, length_mid = unit(10, "mm") ) ``` ### Middle arrows Middle arrows needn't be on the middle. You can control where they are placed using the `mid_place` argument. It accepts input between [0-1], and represents the distance along the path where the arrows are drawn. ```{r mid_place} p + geom_arrow( arrow_head = NULL, arrow_mid = arrow_head_wings(), mid_place = c(0.33, 0.66) ) ``` You can swap the direction of middle arrows by providing negative numbers to the `mid_place` argument. ```{r negative_mid_place} p + geom_arrow( arrow_head = NULL, arrow_mid = arrow_head_wings(), mid_place = c(0.16, -0.33, 0.66, -0.82) ) ``` One alternative to manually specifying positions, is to provide a distance between subsequent arrows. You can do this by giving a `` instead of a ``. Again, to change the direction of the middle arrows, you can set this to a negative unit. ```{r} p + geom_arrow( arrow_head = NULL, arrow_mid = arrow_head_wings(), mid_place = unit(-1, "cm") ) ``` ## Resection Sometimes, you wouldn't want your arrows to exactly touch the object that they're pointing to. To prevent this, you can 'resect' the arrow to make it a bit shorter near the ends. You can provide the `resect` argument in millimetres to cut the path at both the heads and the fins of the arrow. ```{r} p + geom_arrow(resect = 5) ``` You can also control independently for the head and fins of the arrow how much resection is to be done with the `resect_head` and `resect_fins` arguments. ```{r} p + geom_arrow(resect_head = 10, resect_fins = 3) ``` A geom that does this automatically is `geom_arrow_chain()`. Normally, it has a default `resect` value of 1 millimeter, but if you turn this off and set the `size` appropriate for the start and end points we've drawn, you can see that it doesn't overlap the points, but barely touches them. ```{r} p + geom_arrow_chain(size = 3, resect = 0) ``` ## Other parameters Sometimes, you've already dodged the object to be pointed at a bit. Now you may find yourself with an arrow that is too short. You can then use `justify = 1` to have the arrow start where the path ends. ```{r} p + geom_arrow(justify = 1, linewidth = 2) ``` Other times, you might find that you have resected your arrow too much. If there is no more space left for placing the arrow, they are omitted by default. To change this, and show arrows despite how short they may be, you can use the `force_arrow` argument. There is no guarantee that it will be placed in a nice position though. ```{r} p + geom_arrow(resect = 100, force_arrow = TRUE) ```