Here we show how to set graphical parameters in R, for colors, font types, and font sizes of plot titles, labels, axis, sub-titles, and borders.

See also colors, texts on plots, and mathematical expressions on plots.

1 Parameters for Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes in R

This section will show some of the arguments for setting graphical parameters on plots and charts in R.

Summary of Some Graphical Parameters in R
Region Text Font Size Font Type Color
General for no plot: type = "n" cex font col
Main main cex.main font.main col.main
Labels xlab & ylab cex.lab font.lab col.lab
Axis limits: xlim & ylim
no axis: xaxt = "n", yaxt = "n"		 cex.axis font.axis col.axis
Sub-titles sub cex.sub font.sub col.sub
Border border
Background bg
Foreground fg

2 Examples Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes in R

Here, we show some examples setting the graphical parameters shown above.

2.1 Example: Using a Histogram

The example below shows how to set graphical parameters using a histogram.

set.seed(12)
histdata = rnorm(100)
hist(histdata,
     main = "Plots and Charts Example in R - Histogram",
     xlab = "X Label Here",
     ylab = "Y Label Here",
     sub = "A Plot Sub",
     xlim = c(-4, 4),
     ylim = c(0, 30),
     cex = 1, cex.main = 1.4, cex.lab = 1.2,
     cex.axis = 0.8, cex.sub = 0.8,
     font = 1, font.main = 2, font.lab = 4,
     font.axis = 3, font.sub = 2,
     col = "orange", col.main = "orange",
     col.lab = "magenta", col.axis = "cyan",
     col.sub = "khaki",
     border = "red", bg = "white", fg = "limegreen")
Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes on Plots and Charts in R - Histogram

Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes on Plots and Charts in R - Histogram

2.2 Example: Using a Boxplot

The example below shows how to set graphical parameters using a boxplot.

set.seed(1234)
boxdata = rnorm(30)
boxgroup = c(rep("A", 10), rep("B", 10), rep("C", 10))
boxplot(boxdata ~ boxgroup,
     main = "Plots and Charts Example in R - BoxPlot",
     xlab = "Groups",
     ylab = "Range",
     sub = "Sub Statement",
     ylim = c(-3, 3),
     cex = 1.2, cex.main = 1.5, cex.lab = 1.2,
     cex.axis = 0.8, cex.sub = 1,
     font = 3, font.main = 4, font.lab = 2,
     font.axis = 1, font.sub = 3,
     col = c("limegreen", "gray", "pink"),
     col.main = "navy", col.lab = "tomato",
     col.axis = "royalblue", col.sub = "plum",
     border = "blue")
Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes on Plots and Charts in R - BoxPlot

Setting Colors and Font Types & Sizes on Plots and Charts in R - BoxPlot

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