R

Text can provide much needed context to traditional visual cues and can be used as a visual cue itself in some cases.

A frequent challenge of visualization is behind the scenes, to get the data and to mold it into the format you need. Do that. Then map.

The combination of a time series chart and a scatter plot lets you compare two variables along with temporal changes.

Maybe you want to make spatial comparisons over time or across categories. Organized small maps might do the trick.

Also known as specialized or custom line charts. Figure out how to draw lines with the right spacing and pointed in the right direction, and you’ve got your slopegraphs.

Make a lot of charts at once, line them up in a grid, and you can make quick comparisons across several categories.

Although time series plots and small multiples can go a long way, animation can make your data feel more real and relatable. Here is how to do it in R via the animated GIF route.

When you plot a lot of data at once, points and lines can obscure others and hide patterns. Transparency can help reveal what is really there.

You get a lot of bang for the buck with R, charting-wise, but it can be confusing at first, especially if you’ve never written code. Here are some examples to get started.