Modifying the graph

No network graph is ever perfect, no matter how much time one spends tweaking it, but every graph can be substantially improved from the original output, whether you are using Gephi or any other graph analysis tool. Even a well-selected algorithm using carefully prepared data is unlikely to provide the exact output we seek. This is why the final modifications, either manually applied or executed using some broad criteria (clusters, partitions, and so on), invariably add more power to the finished graph. Whether the modifications address aesthetic, technical, or navigational aspects of the network, these final tweaks will lead to a better output than that provided by total dependence on the data and the layout algorithm.

Recall our earlier selection of the Yifan Hu output for the power grid network display. While the network had improved considerably from its original version, there are still some simple actions that will make the network far more useful for viewers. Let...