TUTORIAL: Icon-supported Graphics
Graphics Workflow of Interactive Analysis and Editing
Imagine a possible workflow in which a rheological experiment is transferred into knowledge and set into it into clear visuals for a report or oral presentation. This is our objective here. With the initial data plotted on the IRIS graphics portal, select View → Recently Activated Project Status on the toolbar, then click Save. A miniature replica of the active plot (called “icon” in this context) will appear to start a column on the left. As the analysis develops, repeatedly click Save to preserve each of the useful stages as added icons. Every saved icon provides one-click access to the corresponding plot and settings, creating a visual history of the workflow sequence. To conclude the workflow by communicating the results, click on your preferred icons to open plots and transfer these by copy & paste it into your desired document or slide. It is advisable to keep a copy of the icon-stacked IRIS file for future analysis and documentation. The icons serve as '“recovery buttons” to be pushed to return to earlier states of the advancing workflow.
Demonstration
The time-temperature superposition (tTs) procedure for SAOS data is ideal for demonstrating an icon-based workflow. Small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments, represented as G'(T,w) and G''(T,w) , serve this purpose. To activate icon support, import the tTs file into IRIS and select View → Recently Activated Project Status, then click Save. An icon column will appear on the left side of the screen, initially containing only the current IRIS plot, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Small-amplitude oscillatory shear data for polystyrene measured at seven temperatures and saved as single file.
As the analysis proceeds, the icon column grows, preserving each useful stage for later one-click recovery as needed. The original data plot remains accessible as the bottom-left icon in Figure 2. The additional icons represent:
· Second icon from the bottom left: The data are separated into seven isothermal frequency sweeps, G'(w) and G''(w),
· Third icon from the bottom left: Time–temperature superposition is performed at a selected reference temperature.
· Fourth icon from the bottom left: The resulting master curve is displayed at the reference temperature.
Figure 2: The current project (complex viscosity) is presented in the main figure. It is preceded by a sequence of analysis steps, all represented by small plots on the left called “icons”. The column on the left shows icons 1 to 4.
CONTINUATION: the control plots need to be shifted up since there are too many icons and the column got too long (see figure 3 below)
· Fifth icon from the bottom left: The temperature shift factors are shown.
· Sixth icon from the bottom left: The relaxation-time spectrum is calculated.
· Seventh icon from the bottom left: The relaxation modulus, G(t), and creep compliance, J(t), are displayed.
· Eighth from the bottom left: The complex viscosity is shown at the reference temperature.
· Continue as needed
Figure 3: The same representation of the current project as shown in the figure above, but together with the most recent icons, ready to be revived as needed. ”. The column on the left shows icons 4 to 8.
The final icon on top of the displayed sequence represents the complex viscosity, which is also shown at full size and is ready for further editing and parameter fitting. Any previous stage of the analysis or plotting represented by one of the icons can be restored with a single click. This immediately reactivates the corresponding data and settings, making them available for additional rheological analysis.
Layout note:
The column of control icons may become quite long. When necessary, it can be shifted upward to provide access to earlier analysis and plotting states
Access and Icon Generation:
In summary,: The icon column appears when selecting “View” and then “Recently Activated Project Status.” on the IRIS ruler at the top of the screen. As the data analysis & editing proceeds, each time you push the “Save” button, a new icon adds to the top of the column.
Putting Any of the Finished Plots to Use:
Cherry-pick any of your favorite plots on the icon list, activate the full image by clicking on the icon, and paste the beautiful image (your personal style) directly into your report, oral presentation, email, or any other document in which it will be used. The transfer involves “Graph” and then “Copy Graph” to be found on the top of the IRIS screen (ruler). Complete by following up by pasting. Done.
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