Guides to scientific plotting, fitting and figures
Practical, method-first guides for scientists who plot their own data. Each one says what to check before you trust a result, and where Autoplot stops and another tool should take over.
Choosing software
Fair comparisons for a Mac workflow: what each tool does well, and where Autoplot fits.
Scientific plotting and data analysis software for Mac
Native Mac apps, cross-platform tools and code, compared on one representative project.
7 min read
Igor Pro alternative for Mac
Igor 9.05 is the last Mac release. Move new work, keep the experiments that still need Igor.
6 min read
OriginPro alternative for Mac
Origin needs Windows. When a native Mac workflow is enough, and when it is not.
5 min read
DataGraph alternative for Mac
DataGraph's mature 2D workflow against a broader 2D, 3D and analysis project.
4 min read
MagicPlot alternative for Mac
Keep MagicPlot for multipeak fitting and .mppz files; start new work elsewhere.
4 min read
Plotly Studio alternative for scientists
An interactive data app or a journal figure: choose by the deliverable.
5 min read
Jupyter alternative for scientific plotting
When a notebook has become a long route to one figure, and when it should stay.
5 min read
From data to plot
Import, check and plot tabular data without losing track of what the parser did.
How to plot CSV data on a Mac
One file from import preview to named variables, an X&Y plot and an export.
6 min read
How to plot multiple CSV files
Merge or compare a set of runs safely, keeping each source traceable.
6 min read
How to make a scientific heat map
Grid, aggregation, empty cells and colour limits, decided before you read the colours.
6 min read
How to read a correlation matrix heatmap
Use Pearson coefficients to pick the pairs worth plotting, not to draw conclusions.
5 min read
How to make a 3D scatter plot
When a third axis adds information, and how to stop the camera from hiding it.
6 min read
Curve fitting
Fit a model, then find out whether it deserves to be believed.
How to fit a curve to data
The full workflow: data, model, estimate, residuals, sensitivity and the record.
5 min read
Nonlinear curve fitting
Starting values, bounds, local minima, convergence and honest parameter errors.
6 min read
How to interpret residual plots
Read curvature, funnels, drift and clusters as clues, not verdicts.
5 min read
Curve-fitting software for Mac
What Autoplot, DataGraph, MagicPlot, Igor, Origin and SciPy can each fit.
5 min read
Distributions and heavy tails
Histograms, log bins, cumulative views and power laws, with the conventions spelled out.
Histogram bin width
Start from Freedman–Diaconis or Scott, then check that the conclusion survives nearby bins.
5 min read
Histogram normalization
Counts, proportions, percentages and density, and what each bar height means.
4 min read
Log binning
Logarithmic bins for data across orders of magnitude, normalised by width.
5 min read
PDF vs CDF vs CCDF
Which distribution view answers your question, and which one needs bins.
5 min read
How to make a CCDF plot
Build and read an empirical tail without bins.
5 min read
How to fit a power law to data
Log-binned least squares or a CCDF tail fit, xmin, and the evidence a claim needs.
5 min read
Publication figures
From finished plots to the file a journal will accept.
How to make a multi-panel figure
Finish each plot, then place, align and label panels on a paper-sized board.
6 min read
How to export a vector PDF figure
Set the final size, know what stays vector, and inspect the saved file.
5 min read
How to embed fonts in a figure PDF
Export with embedded fonts and check for substitution and missing glyphs.
5 min read
How these guides are written
Each guide answers the method question first and the product question second. Product statements are checked against the app's own documentation on the date shown, and the limits are stated as plainly as the features. Comparisons cite the other vendor's current documentation and say where that tool is the better choice.
Try it on your own data.
Autoplot is a native Mac app for importing, analysing, plotting and exporting scientific data. The free plan never expires.
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