Graphics

How to Annotate Graphs

Annotating graphs with text and other explanatory material can improve the graph's ability to convey information. This section describes techniques available in MATLAB for creating annotations.

Graph Annotation Features

MATLAB provides a variety of features for annotating graphs, including those that

• Add text, lines and arrows, rectangles, ellipses, and other annotation objects anywhere on the figure
• Anchor annotations to locations in data space
• Add a legend and colorbar
• Add axis labels and titles
• Edit the properties of graphics objects

The following sections provide more information.

• Enclosing Regions of a Graph in a Rectangle or an Ellipse
• Textbox Annotations
• Annotation Lines and Arrows
• Adding a Colorbar to a Graph
• Adding a Legend to a Graph
• Pinning -- Attaching to a Point in the Figure

Annotation Tools on the Plot Edit Toolbar

Select Plot Edit Toolbar from the View menu to display the toolbar.

Annotation Tools on the Figure Palette

Basic annotation tools are available from the figure palette. Select Figure Palette from the View menu to display the figure palette.

Adding Annotations from the Insert Menu

Annotation features are available from the Insert menu.

Command Interface

You can add annotations using MATLAB commands. The following table lists the functions used to create annotations.

MATLAB Functions for Creating Annotations

Function	Purpose
annotation	Create annotations including lines, arrows, text arrows, double arrows, text boxes, rectangles, and ellipses
xlabel, ylabel, zlabel	Add a text label to the respective axis
title	Add a title to a graph
colorbar	Add a colorbar to a graph
legend	Add a legend to a graph

Annotating Graphs

Enclosing Regions of a Graph in a Rectangle or an Ellipse

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