How to add image to ggplot2 under the grid?

Question

The most popular (and simplest) way to adding image to the ggplot2 graph is annotation_custom:

library(ggplot2)
library(png)
library(grid)

img <- readPNG(system.file("img", "Rlogo.png", package="png"), TRUE)
gpp <- rasterGrob(img, interpolate=TRUE)
gpp$width <- unit(1, "npc") 
    gpp$height <- unit(1, "npc")
df <- data.frame(x=seq(1,2,0.01),y=seq(1,2,0.01))
ggplot(df,aes(x=x,y=y)) + 
    annotation_custom(gpp, xmin=1, xmax=2.5, ymin=1, ymax=1.5) +
    geom_point()

In this way, image will be placed over the scale grid.

How to place image under the grid, but with bindings to the coords, not to the borders of the plot?

You mean like `p <- ggplot(df,aes(x=x,y=y))+ theme(plot.margin = unit(c(1,1,8,1), "lines")) + annotation_custom(gpp, xmin=.9, xmax=1.1, ymin=.7, ymax=.9); gt <- ggplot_gtable(ggplot_build(p)); gt$layout$clip[gt$layout$name == "panel"] <- "off"; grid.draw(gt)`? There are numerous examples on SO. — lukeA, Dec 03 '15 at 17:45
`gt$layout$clip[gt$layout$name == "panel"] <- "off";` did not change anything, but `theme(panel.ontop=TRUE, panel.background = element_rect(colour = NA,fill="transparent"))` in _dev_ version working as required. Thanks! Is it possible to get this behavior in the stable ggplot? — Stanislav Ivanov, Dec 04 '15 at 13:35

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:30

It's possible in the development version of ggplot2.

How to install it see this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/9656182/4265407

Minimal working example:

library(devtools)
dev_mode(on=T)

library(ggplot2)
library(png)
library(grid)

img <- readPNG(system.file("img", "Rlogo.png", package="png"), TRUE)
gpp <- rasterGrob(img, interpolate=TRUE)
gpp$width <- unit(1, "npc") 
gpp$height <- unit(1, "npc")
df <- data.frame(x=seq(1,2,0.01),y=seq(1,2,0.01))
ggplot(df,aes(x=x,y=y)) + 
    annotation_custom(gpp, xmin=1, xmax=2.5, ymin=1, ymax=1.5) +
    geom_point() + theme(panel.ontop=TRUE,
    panel.background = element_rect(colour = NA,fill="transparent"))

How to add image to ggplot2 under the grid?

1 Answers1