## 3 Graphics ¶

Yorick’s graphics functions produce most of the generic kinds of pictures you see in scientific publications. However, providing the perfect graphics interface for every user is not a realistic design goal. Instead, my aim has been to provide the simplest possible graphics model and the most basic plotting functions. If you want more, I expect you to build your own “perfect” interface from the parts I supply.

My dream is to eventually supply several interfaces as interpreted code in the Yorick distribution. Currently, the best example of this strategy is the `pl3d.i` interface, which I describe at the end of this chapter. Not every new graphics interface needs to be a major production like `pl3d.i`, however. Modest little functions are arguably more useful; the plh function discussed below is an example.

As you will see, the simplest possible graphics model is still very complicated. Unfortunately, I don’t see any easy remedies, but I can promise that careful study pays off. I recommend the books “The Visual Display of Quantitative Information” and “Envisioning Information” by Edward Tufte for learning the fundamentals of scientific graphics.