A pictogram chart represents quantities using repeated icons or symbols, where each icon stands for a fixed number of units. Inspired by Otto Neurath's ISOTYPE system, this visualization makes numerical comparisons more intuitive and engaging than plain bar charts. It is especially effective for public-facing data communication and infographics where visual appeal and immediate comprehension are important.
# anyplot.ai
# pictogram-basic: Pictogram Chart (Isotype Visualization)
# Library: makie 0.22.10 | Julia 1.11.9
# Quality: 86/100 | Created: 2026-06-03
using CairoMakie
using Colors
using Random
Random.seed!(42)
# Theme tokens — Imprint palette, theme-adaptive chrome
const THEME = get(ENV, "ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
const PAGE_BG = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#FAF8F1" : colorant"#1A1A17"
const INK = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#1A1A17" : colorant"#F0EFE8"
const INK_SOFT = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#4A4A44" : colorant"#B8B7B0"
# Imprint palette — semantic color assignments matched to fruit identity
const COLORS = [
colorant"#99B314", # Bananas — lime (yellow-green banana)
colorant"#009E73", # Apples — brand green (green apple)
colorant"#BD8233", # Oranges — ochre (warm orange)
colorant"#C475FD", # Grapes — lavender (purple grapes)
colorant"#AE3030", # Mangoes — matte red (tropical warm)
]
# Data — global fruit production (million tonnes, approx. FAO 2021-22), sorted descending
const categories = ["Bananas", "Apples", "Oranges", "Grapes", "Mangoes"]
const values = [116, 88, 79, 77, 57]
const unit_size = 20 # each icon = 20 million tonnes
# Layout constants
const n_cats = length(categories)
const icon_r = 0.45 # icon radius in data units
const x_gap = 1.5 # horizontal spacing between icon centres
const y_gap = 1.5 # vertical spacing between category rows
# Y positions — first category at top (highest y), last at bottom
y_positions = [(n_cats - i + 1) * y_gap for i in 1:n_cats]
# Figure
fig = Figure(
resolution = (1600, 900),
fontsize = 14,
backgroundcolor = PAGE_BG,
)
# max_icons = ceil(116 / 20) = 6
max_icons = ceil(Int, maximum(values) / unit_size)
ax = Axis(
fig[1, 1];
title = "Fruit Production · pictogram-basic · julia · makie · anyplot.ai",
titlesize = 20,
titlecolor = INK,
aspect = DataAspect(),
yticks = (y_positions, categories),
yticklabelsize = 14,
yticklabelcolor = INK_SOFT,
yticksvisible = false,
xticklabelsvisible = false,
xticksvisible = false,
backgroundcolor = PAGE_BG,
topspinevisible = false,
rightspinevisible = false,
bottomspinevisible = false,
leftspinevisible = false,
xgridvisible = false,
ygridvisible = false,
)
# 60-gon circle approximation — reliable for poly! with DataAspect data-coordinate circles
θ_circle = range(0, 2π, length = 61)[1:60]
# Fixed x for right-aligned value labels
label_x = (max_icons + 1) * x_gap + 0.3
for i in 1:n_cats
val = values[i]
color = COLORS[i]
y_pos = y_positions[i]
n_full = floor(Int, val / unit_size)
fraction = (val / unit_size) - n_full
# Full icons — filled circle polygons
for j in 1:n_full
x_pos = j * x_gap
poly!(ax,
Point2f.(collect(zip(
x_pos .+ icon_r .* cos.(θ_circle),
y_pos .+ icon_r .* sin.(θ_circle),
)));
color = color, strokewidth = 0)
end
# Partial icon — ghost circle outline + filled pie-sector
if fraction > 0.02
x_pos = (n_full + 1) * x_gap
# Ghost circle: 25% alpha fill + 2px stroke for readability in both themes
poly!(ax,
Point2f.(collect(zip(
x_pos .+ icon_r .* cos.(θ_circle),
y_pos .+ icon_r .* sin.(θ_circle),
)));
color = (color, 0.25), strokecolor = color, strokewidth = 2.0)
# Filled pie sector (clockwise from 12 o'clock)
θ_arc = range(π/2, π/2 - 2π * fraction, length = 60)
xs_sector = vcat([x_pos], x_pos .+ icon_r .* cos.(θ_arc), [x_pos])
ys_sector = vcat([y_pos], y_pos .+ icon_r .* sin.(θ_arc), [y_pos])
poly!(ax,
Point2f.(collect(zip(xs_sector, ys_sector)));
color = color, strokewidth = 0)
end
# Value label — aligned right for easy comparison
text!(ax, label_x, y_pos;
text = "$(val) Mt",
fontsize = 12,
color = INK_SOFT,
align = (:left, :center),
)
end
# Focal-point annotation — draws the viewer's eye to the world leader
text!(ax, 0.5 * x_gap, y_positions[1] + y_gap * 0.52;
text = "↑ world's most produced fruit",
fontsize = 10,
color = INK_SOFT,
align = (:left, :center),
)
# Axis limits — x span tuned to ~16:9 with DataAspect
xlims!(ax, -0.8, (max_icons + 3.5) * x_gap)
ylims!(ax, y_positions[end] - y_gap * 0.9, y_positions[1] + y_gap * 0.7)
# Unit legend — below the lowest category row
text!(ax, 0.5 * x_gap, y_positions[end] - y_gap * 0.6;
text = "● = $(unit_size) million tonnes",
fontsize = 11,
color = INK_SOFT,
align = (:left, :center),
)
# Save
save("plot-$(THEME).png", fig; px_per_unit = 2)
Runnable source as JSON, for any HTTP client: https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/pictogram-basic/makie/code. Any spec id and library id listed in llms-full.txt fit the same URL shape; every URL below is complete and callable.
{
"spec_id": "pictogram-basic",
"language": "julia",
"library": "makie",
"page": "https://anyplot.ai/pictogram-basic/julia/makie",
"hub": "https://anyplot.ai/pictogram-basic",
"code_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/pictogram-basic/makie/code",
"spec_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/pictogram-basic",
"render_light_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/pictogram-basic/julia/makie/plot-light.png",
"render_dark_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/pictogram-basic/julia/makie/plot-dark.png",
"quality_score": 86.0,
"license": "MIT",
"guide": "https://anyplot.ai/llms.txt"
}Part of Pictogram Chart (Isotype Visualization) on anyplot.ai.