a function for sequentially presenting ggplot2 layers

seq_presentation.R

seq_presentation <- function(p, name = 'plot_layers_%i.png', res = 320, width = 6.2, height = 6.2){
  n_layers <- length(p$layers)
  y_range <- ggplot_build(p)$layout$panel_scales_y[[1]]$range$range
  
  for (i in c(n_layers:0)){
    if (!is.null(name))
      png(file = sprintf(name , i), res = res, width = width*res, height = height*res)
    if (i!=0) {
      p_copy <- copy(p)
      p_copy$layers[n_layers:i] <- NULL
      print(p_copy+coord_cartesian(ylim = y_range))
    } else print(p+coord_cartesian(ylim = y_range))
    if (!is.null(name))
      dev.off()
  }
}