Change the line opacity in Matplotlib

In this article, we will learn how to Create the line opacity in Matplotlib. Let’s discuss some concepts :

• A line chart or line graph may be a sort of chart which displays information as a series of knowledge points called ‘markers’ connected by line segments. Line graphs are usually wont to find relationships between two data sets on the different axis; as example X, Y.
• Matplotlib allows you to regulate the transparency of a graph plot using the alpha attribute.
• By default, alpha=1.
• If you would like to form the graph plot more transparent, then you’ll make alpha but 1, such as 0.5 or 0.25.
• If you would like to form the graph plot less transparent, then you’ll make alpha greater than 1. This solidifies the graph plot, making it less transparent and more thick and dense, so to talk .

Approach:

1. Import Library (Matplotlib)
2. Import / create data.
3. Plot a graph (line) with opacity.

Example 1: (Simple line graph with its opacity)

Python3

# importing libraries
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# create data
x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
y = x

# plot the graph
plt.plot(x, y, linewidth=10, alpha=0.2)
plt.show()

Output :

Normal view (without alpha or alpha =1)

Edited view (with alpha = 0.2)

Example 2: (Lines with different opacities)

Python3

# importing libraries
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

# create data
x = np.array([-2, -1, 0, 1, 2])
y1 = x*0
y2 = x*x
y3 = -x*x

# plot the graph
plt.plot(x, y2, alpha=0.2)
plt.plot(x, y1, alpha=0.5)
plt.plot(x, y3, alpha=1)
plt.legend(["op = 0.2", "op = 0.5", "op = 1"])
plt.show()

Output :

Example 3: (Multiple line plots with multiple opacity)

Python3

# importing libraries
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

# create data
x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# plot
for i in range(10):
    plt.plot([1, 2.8], [i]*2, linewidth=5, color='red', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([3.1, 4.8], [i]*2, linewidth=5, color='green', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([5.1, 6.8], [i]*2, linewidth=5, color='yellow', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([7.1, 8.8], [i]*2, linewidth=5, color='blue', alpha=0.1*i)

for i in range(10):
    plt.plot([1, 2.8], [-i]*2, linewidth=5, color='red', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([3.1, 4.8], [-i]*2, linewidth=5, color='green', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([5.1, 6.8], [-i]*2, linewidth=5, color='yellow', alpha=0.1*i)
    plt.plot([7.1, 8.8], [-i]*2, linewidth=5, color='blue', alpha=0.1*i)

plt.show()

Output :