Yorick
Chapter 3: Graphics
Yorick's graphics functions produce most of the generic kinds of pictures you see in scientific publications. However, providing the perfect graphics interface for every user is not a realistic design goal. Instead, my aim has been to provide the simplest possible graphics model and the most basic plotting functions. If you want more, I expect you to build your own ``perfect'' interface from the parts I supply.
My dream is to eventually supply several interfaces as interpreted code
in the Yorick distribution. Currently, the best example of this
strategy is the `pl3d.i' interface, which I describe at the end of
this chapter. Not every new graphics interface needs to be a major
production like `pl3d.i', however. Modest little functions are
arguably more useful; the plh function discussed below is an
example.
As you will see, the simplest possible graphics model is still very complicated. Unfortunately, I don't see any easy remedies, but I can promise that careful study pays off. I recommend the books ``The Visual Display of Quantitative Information'' and ``Envisioning Information'' by Edward Tufte for learning the fundamentals of scientific graphics.
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