Sketch-Based Interactions for Untangling of Force-Directed Graphs

Abstract

The exploration of moderately dense networks is used in various challenges of visual data analysis. Frequently, the solutions lay in graph drawing, based on automatic forcedirected layout, which results in a spontaneous and irreproducible node-link diagram. Currently available approaches to improve its readability are generally oriented to finite rendering without providing to the analyst handy tools for post-layout manipulations. Enabling indirect manual control on visualizations through multi-step menus may appear difficult to learn and use. Thus, this problem requires a more intuitive way of solving. This paper presents an original toolset for userguided refinement of the force-directed graph layout, with a bias on pen-centric sketching techniques.