Using pattern fill for ggplot2 is not rendering image as expected.

[StatSteph]

I am trying to use the new ability of ggplot2 to fill geoms with patterns but I'm not even able to run examples without error. I'm trying to just run the code in the Blog but the output is not rendered. All the packages are up to date.

library(ggplot2)
library(grid)
library(patchwork)

colours <- scales::viridis_pal()(10)
patterns <- list(
  linearGradient(colours, group = FALSE),
  "limegreen",
  radialGradient(colours, group = FALSE),
  pattern(
    rectGrob(x = c(0.25, 0.75), y = c(0.25, 0.75), width = 0.5, height = 0.5),
    width = unit(5, "mm"), height = unit(5, "mm"), extend = "repeat",
    gp = gpar(fill = "limegreen")
  )
)

ggplot(mpg, aes(factor(cyl), fill = factor(cyl))) +
  geom_bar() +
  scale_fill_manual(values = patterns)
#> Warning in fill_alpha(coords$fill, coords$alpha): Unable to check the
#> capabilities of the png device.
#> Warning in fill_alpha(data$fill %||% "grey20", data$alpha): Unable to check the capabilities of the png device.
#> Unable to check the capabilities of the png device.
#> Unable to check the capabilities of the png device.

^{Created on 2024-04-21 with reprex v2.1.0}

Session info

sessioninfo::session_info()
#> ─ Session info ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
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#>  version  R version 4.3.3 (2024-02-29 ucrt)
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#>  system   x86_64, mingw32
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#>  language (EN)
#>  collate  English_United States.utf8
#>  ctype    English_United States.utf8
#>  tz       America/New_York
#>  date     2024-04-21
#>  pandoc   3.1.1 @ C:/Program Files/RStudio/resources/app/bin/quarto/bin/tools/ (via rmarkdown)
#> 
#> ─ Packages ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
#>  package     * version date (UTC) lib source
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#> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

[jrkrideau]

I had not even realized the new capacity existed.

I tried running the code an hit a closure error. I then stepped through the early examples which worked. Then, just for the heck of it, I tried the pattern one again and it worked.

I wonder if something is getting set/initialized earlier? I have no idea what it might be.

[prubin]

You are on Windows and seem to be using the PNG output device (based on the warnings). Per the blog post:

Note: On Windows machines, the default device in RStudio and in the knitr package is png(), which does not support patterns. In RStudio, you can go to ‘Tools > Global Options > General > Graphics’ and choose the ‘ragg’ or ‘Cairo PNG’ device from the dropdown menu to display patterns.

Have you tried switching the graphics device?