scale_fill_continuous in R

The scale_fill_continuous() method is from ggplot2 package. This tutorial demonstrates how and where to use scale_fill_continuous() method in R.

Scale Fill Continuous in R

The scale_fill_continuous method is a default color scale for the ggplot2 package when the continuous are mapped onto the fill. The syntax for this method is:

scale_fill_continuous(..., type = getOption("ggplot2.continuous.fill"))

The method uses options() to determine default settings. Where ggplot2.continuous.fill is the default value to the continuous color scale.

The argument to the scale_fill_continuous method can be Viridis or gradient. Let’s try an example of this method.

First, load the ggplot2 package and create a ggplot graph.

library(ggplot2)
DemoGraph <- ggplot(faithfuld, aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density)) + geom_tile()
DemoGraph

We can now give patterns to the graph using the scale_fill_continuous() method. See example:

DemoGraph + scale_fill_continuous(type = "gradient")

The code above gives a gradient pattern to the graph. See output:

We can also use the Viridis option in the scale_fill_continuous method.

DemoGraph + scale_fill_continuous(type = "viridis")

The code above gives the Viridis pattern, highlighting the graph’s points. See output:

Here is the full code for convenience.

library(ggplot2)
DemoGraph <- ggplot(faithfuld, aes(waiting, eruptions, fill = density)) + geom_tile()

DemoGraph

DemoGraph + scale_fill_continuous(type = "gradient")

DemoGraph + scale_fill_continuous(type = "viridis")