Hide ggplot geoms without affecting legends, scaling, etc.

hide_geoms.R

hide_geoms <- function(gg_obj) {
  plot_data <- ggplot2::ggplot_build(gg_obj)
  data_list = plot_data$data %>%
    purrr::map(. %>% mutate(size=0,alpha=0))
  plot_data$data <- data_list
  return(ggplot2::ggplot_gtable(plot_data))
}

# Example
df1 <- tibble(
  alp=runif(120,0,3),
  bet=alp*2+1,
  gam=rbinom(120,1,0.5))
df2 <- tibble(
  alp=runif(120,3,10),
  bet=-alp*2+10,
  gam=rbinom(120,1,0.5))
g1 <- df1 %>%
  ggplot(aes(x=alp,y=bet, color=as.factor(gam))) +
  geom_point() +
  geom_vline(xintercept = 5) +
  geom_line(data=df2)
plot(g1)
plot(hide_geoms(g1))