A dot matrix chart displays proportions using a grid of equally-sized dots where filled or colored dots represent counts out of a total. Each dot corresponds to one unit, making it intuitive to read "X out of N" statistics at a glance. Unlike waffle charts that use percentage-based squares, dot matrix charts emphasize absolute counts with variable grid sizes, excelling at risk communication and survey result visualization.
""" anyplot.ai
dot-matrix-proportional: Dot Matrix Chart for Proportional Counts
Library: matplotlib 3.10.9 | Python 3.13.13
Quality: 89/100 | Created: 2026-05-08
"""
import os
import matplotlib.patches as mpatches
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
THEME = os.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG = "#FAF8F1" if THEME == "light" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG = "#FFFDF6" if THEME == "light" else "#242420"
INK = "#1A1A17" if THEME == "light" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT = "#4A4A44" if THEME == "light" else "#B8B7B0"
INK_MUTED = "#6B6A63" if THEME == "light" else "#A8A79F"
IMPRINT = ["#009E73", "#C475FD", "#4467A3"]
# Data: remote work preference survey, n=100 employees
categories = ["Hybrid", "Fully Remote", "In-Office"]
counts = [44, 35, 21]
total = sum(counts) # 100
# Grid: 10 columns × 10 rows
n_cols = 10
n_rows = total // n_cols
# Assign category index to each dot (left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
dot_cats = []
for i, c in enumerate(counts):
dot_cats.extend([i] * c)
xs = [idx % n_cols for idx in range(total)]
ys = [n_rows - 1 - idx // n_cols for idx in range(total)]
dot_colors = [IMPRINT[c] for c in dot_cats]
# Landscape figure: dot grid occupies a square central column; legend sits below
fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(16, 10), facecolor=PAGE_BG)
# Axes spans roughly 7 × 7 inches in the center of a 16 × 10 figure.
# With 10.3 data units in both x and y this gives ~204 px/unit @ 300 dpi,
# so s ≈ 1000 yields ~65 % fill diameter.
fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.265, right=0.735, top=0.88, bottom=0.17)
ax.set_facecolor(PAGE_BG)
ax.scatter(xs, ys, c=dot_colors, s=1000, edgecolors=PAGE_BG, linewidth=1.8, zorder=2)
ax.set_xlim(-0.65, n_cols - 0.35)
ax.set_ylim(-0.65, n_rows - 0.35)
ax.axis("off")
# Legend — three items in one row, centred below the grid
handles = [
mpatches.Patch(color=IMPRINT[i], label=f"{categories[i]} — {counts[i]} / {total}")
for i in range(len(categories))
]
leg = ax.legend(
handles=handles,
loc="upper center",
bbox_to_anchor=(0.5, -0.05),
ncol=3,
fontsize=20,
frameon=True,
handlelength=1.8,
handleheight=1.4,
borderpad=0.8,
columnspacing=1.2,
)
leg.get_frame().set_facecolor(ELEVATED_BG)
leg.get_frame().set_edgecolor(INK_SOFT)
plt.setp(leg.get_texts(), color=INK_SOFT)
ax.set_title(
"Remote Work Survey · dot-matrix-proportional · matplotlib · anyplot.ai",
fontsize=24,
fontweight="medium",
color=INK,
pad=18,
)
plt.savefig(f"plot-{THEME}.png", dpi=300, bbox_inches="tight", facecolor=PAGE_BG)
Part of Dot Matrix Chart for Proportional Counts on anyplot.ai.