Specifying colors for a plot of a multidimensional array
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I have a multidimensional array that I want to plot, but want to use a different color scheme than the default. I've tried
plot(x,y,'color',[colors])
where x is nx1, y is nxm and colors is an mx3 array of colors (such as [1 0 0]; [0 0 1] for m=2) but this gives the error "Color value must be a 3 element numeric vector" Is there a way to do this without changing the default color scheme?
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Accepted Answer
Image Analyst
on 8 Nov 2012
John, see my ColorOrder demo:
% Unless you specify the 'Color' property when you plot,
% plots are plotted according to the 'ColorOrder' property of the axes.
% This demo shows how you can change the default color order of plots.
clc; % Clear the command window.
close all; % Close all figures (except those of imtool.)
clear; % Erase all existing variables.
workspace; % Make sure the workspace panel is showing.
fontSize = 18;
% Make 20 plots, with 25 data points in each plot.
numberOfDataSets = 20;
x = 1:25;
y = rand(numberOfDataSets, length(x));
% These y would all be on top of each other.
% Separate the plots vertically.
offsets = repmat((1:numberOfDataSets)', [1, length(x)]);
y = y + offsets;
% Get the initial set of default plot colors.
initialColorOrder = get(gca,'ColorOrder') % Initial
% See what the colors look like when plotted:
subplot(2, 1, 1);
plot(x,y, 'LineWidth', 3);
grid on;
caption = sprintf('%d plots with the Initial Default Color Order (Note the repeating colors)', numberOfDataSets);
title(caption, 'FontSize', fontSize);
xlabel('X', 'FontSize', fontSize);
ylabel('Y', 'FontSize', fontSize);
% Enlarge figure to full screen.
set(gcf, 'units','normalized','outerposition',[0 0 1 1]); % Maximize figure.
% Give a name to the title bar.
set(gcf,'name','Image Analysis Demo','numbertitle','off')
choice = menu('Which ColorOrder do you want?', 'jet', 'random', 'hsv', 'hot', 'cool', 'spring', 'summer',...
'autumn', 'winter', 'lines', 'gray', 'bone', 'copper', 'pink');
% Make a new axes:
subplot(2, 1, 2);
% Create a new colormap that will define the new default color order property.
switch choice
case 1
newDefaultColors = jet(numberOfDataSets);
case 2
newDefaultColors = rand(numberOfDataSets, 3);
case 3
newDefaultColors = hsv(numberOfDataSets);
case 4
newDefaultColors = hot(numberOfDataSets);
case 5
newDefaultColors = cool(numberOfDataSets);
case 6
newDefaultColors = spring(numberOfDataSets);
case 7
newDefaultColors = summer(numberOfDataSets);
case 8
newDefaultColors = autumn(numberOfDataSets);
case 9
newDefaultColors = winter(numberOfDataSets);
case 10
newDefaultColors = lines(numberOfDataSets);
case 11
newDefaultColors = gray(numberOfDataSets);
case 12
newDefaultColors = bone(numberOfDataSets);
case 13
newDefaultColors = copper(numberOfDataSets);
otherwise
newDefaultColors = pink(numberOfDataSets);
end
% Note: You can build your own custom order if you want,
% just make up a array with numberOfDataSets rows and 3 columns
% where each element is in the range 0-1.
% Apply the new default colors to the current axes.
set(gca, 'ColorOrder', newDefaultColors, 'NextPlot', 'replacechildren');
% Now get the new set of default plot colors.
% Verify it changed by printing out the new default color set to the command window.
newColorOrder = get(gca,'ColorOrder')
% Now plot the datasets with the changed default colors.
plot(x,y, 'LineWidth', 3);
grid on;
caption = sprintf('%d plots with the New Default Color Order', numberOfDataSets);
title(caption, 'FontSize', fontSize);
xlabel('X', 'FontSize', fontSize);
ylabel('Y', 'FontSize', fontSize);
msgbox('Done with ColorOrder demo!');
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