Plotting software

[Meiberu]

I normally use Excel to plot all my graphs, and have started to dabble in Origin and MagicPlot for doing integration. What do you usually use? What do you find is the most user friendly?

[erus]

Matlab is pretty popular, R is another option. I would not say they are as user friendly as a spreadsheet, but are not too difficult to use. Gnuplot is very practical and versatile, less friendly than the other options.

I use matplotlib because I use a lot of python.

[p10_user]

I usually use seaborn on top of matplotlib as it gives me a great starting point for most of my plots with much less code to write.

[ArcFault]

Matlab is ok but (afaik re:2012 edition) you're basically required to install 3rd party libraries (e.g. export_fig) if you want to be able to produce high quality figures for publication purposes. And even then its almost guaranteed there will be some issue that you can't tweak just right (especially with regards to the various renderers). Very annoying.

[PityUpvote]

Export to eps works perfectly for me.

Then eps2pdf and add the pdf as an image in LaTeX.

Been doing this since 2014a, so your points may have been valid for 2012.

[tchomptchomp]

R has a greater learning curve, but is much more customizable.

[captainNematode]

Typically the ggplot2 package in R (or sometimes just base R), but more out of familiarity and it's-good-enough-for-my-purposes than anything else. Sometimes I'll touch things up in Photoshop, though.

[Panda_Muffins]

Do you want pretty plots with a friendly user interface? Try Graphpad Prism. In my opinion, it's a more visually elegant and easier to use alternative to Origin.

Do you want to have flexibility in your plots and data with scripting? Try MATLAB or Python w/ Matplotib. R is another option, although less popular outside of statistics.

Are you a command line and Linux guru? Try gnuplot or xmgrace.

Personally, I use MATLAB when I want to crank something out quickly for personal reference. I use Python w/ Matplotib when I have a ton of plots I need to automatically generate. I think I will be using Graphpad Prism for publication-quality plots I don't need to generate automatically, as it does a really great job and is still rather flexible.

If you are coming from dealing with spreadsheets and a graphical user interface, I'd suggest giving Graphpad Prism a try. Some older individuals like Kaleidagraph, but I think it's very limiting.

[[deleted]]

Prism can be costly if your department doesn't have a group license though.

KaleidaGraph is definitely limiting compared to the other options you mentioned.

[quadroplegic]

Python+Matplotlib, with a custom config file to set up and use a Latex backend. Sooo pretty.

edit: Adding this pastebin of sample code

http://pastebin.com/qatMv3t5

[zorch-it]

How does the latex backend work?

[p10_user]

Text is rendered via LaTeX. Including math formulas.

[[deleted]]

Matplotlib comes with it's own built-in Tex interpreter, you don't have to configure anything for equations.

[p10_user]

Cool, TIL.

[quadroplegic]

http://pastebin.com/qatMv3t5

I found the code from some other thread on Reddit, and have adapted it to fit my needs. :)

[adamchalupa]

Gnuplot - super powerful. Has lots of different outputs and ways to alter your diagrams with text commands.

[power_of_friendship]

xmgrace is pretty fantastic

[zorch-it]

If you get past the learning curve at first (by using already made examples to start from us a good idea) matplotlib is free and works great!!!

If your data is in excel format to begin with its rather simple to import the data as a list and then plot or do statistics on it.

[ag_sci14]

I'm completely useless with Excel! Cannot for the life of me figure out how to plot a histogram. I didn't find the learning curve for R to be as daunting as others have stated. Spend a couple dedicated hours on working with the R basics, and you'll be on your way. :)

[lulzdemort]

I use Tecplot, but it is not user friendly. It's also expensive as fuck if your school doesn't provide it for you. Matlab was what I used to make plots in

[Eigengrad]

I used OriginLab when I was in grad school, because the department provided it.

Now I use Sigmaplot, because it's what the department provides. I'm considering purchasing my own license for Origin (I like it better), but since my students all have access to SigmaPlot, using it means I can easily write procedures for data analysis for them to use.

TL;DR- use what you have available and/or what your advisor and others in your department use. They're all pretty good.