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How to Plot Dashed Lines in Pine Script (It's Easier Than You Think)

· 8 min read
Pineify Team
Pineify Team

Ever stared at your TradingView charts wondering how to make those clean dashed lines you see in professional indicators? You know, the ones that separate different types of data without cluttering up your entire screen?

I get it. When you're starting with Pine Script, it feels like everything should be as simple as adding style=dashed to your plot function. But Pine Script has its own way of doing things, and honestly, once you understand the logic behind it, you'll appreciate why it works the way it does.

Here's the thing - dashed lines aren't just about making your charts look prettier (though they definitely do that). They're about creating visual hierarchy. When you're juggling multiple indicators, moving averages, and trend lines, dashed lines help your brain instantly categorize what you're looking at.

Why Dashed Lines Matter More Than You Think​

Before jumping into code, let me tell you why this technique is actually game-changing. Picture this: you've got a 20-period moving average and a 50-period moving average on the same chart. Both are solid lines in similar colors. Your brain has to work overtime to distinguish between them, especially during volatile market sessions.

Make one dashed, and boom - instant visual separation. I use dashed lines for:

  • Support and resistance levels that are less reliable
  • Secondary indicators that provide context but shouldn't dominate
  • Projected or theoretical lines versus actual price data
  • Alerts and warning levels that need to stand out

Method 1: Using line.new (The Professional Approach)​

The Best Pine Script Generator

This is honestly the most reliable way to create proper dashed lines in Pine Script. The line.new function gives you complete control over how your lines appear, and it's what most professional indicator developers use.

Here's a straightforward example that actually works:

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/
// © Pineify

//======================================================================//
//                    ____  _            _  __                          //
//                   |  _ \(_)_ __   ___(_)/ _|_   _                    //
//                   | |_) | | '_ \ / _ \ | |_| | | |                   //
//                   |  __/| | | | |  __/ |  _| |_| |                   //
//                   |_|   |_|_| |_|\___|_|_|  \__, |                   //
//                                             |___/                    //
//======================================================================//

//@version=6
indicator(title="Simple Dashed Line Example", overlay=true)

// Draw a line on the last bar
if barstate.islast
    line.new(x1=bar_index[35], y1=close[35],
             x2=bar_index, y2=close, 
             style=line.style_dashed, 
             color=color.blue)
Simple dashed line example

The magic happens with style=line.style_dashed. That's your ticket to creating authentic dashed lines instead of solid ones. You can also use line.style_dotted for a different visual effect.

Method 2: The Plot Interval Technique (Quick and Resourceful)​

Sometimes you want to stick with the familiar plot() function. While it doesn't have built-in dashing support, you can create a similar effect by plotting points at specific intervals. It's not as clean as the line.new method, but it gets the job done:

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/
// © Pineify

//======================================================================//
//                    ____  _            _  __                          //
//                   |  _ \(_)_ __   ___(_)/ _|_   _                    //
//                   | |_) | | '_ \ / _ \ | |_| | | |                   //
//                   |  __/| | | | |  __/ |  _| |_| |                   //
//                   |_|   |_|_| |_|\___|_|_|  \__, |                   //
//                                             |___/                    //
//======================================================================//

//@version=6
indicator("Fake Dashed Line with Plot", overlay=true)

// Calculate a simple moving average
smaValue = ta.sma(close, 20)

// Only plot every 5th bar to create a "dashed" effect
plot(bar_index % 5 == 0 ? smaValue : na, color=color.blue, linewidth=2)
Fake dashed line using plot intervals

This approach essentially says "only show the line every 5 bars, otherwise show nothing." The result is a dotted appearance that mimics dashed lines, though it's not as refined as using line.new.

Real-World Application: Dual Moving Average System​

Let me show you how I actually implement this in my trading strategies. Here's a practical script that plots two moving averages - one solid for the primary signal, one dashed for confirmation:

// This source code is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public License 2.0 at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/
// © Pineify

//======================================================================//
//                    ____  _            _  __                          //
//                   |  _ \(_)_ __   ___(_)/ _|_   _                    //
//                   | |_) | | '_ \ / _ \ | |_| | | |                   //
//                   |  __/| | | | |  __/ |  _| |_| |                   //
//                   |_|   |_|_| |_|\___|_|_|  \__, |                   //
//                                             |___/                    //
//======================================================================//

//@version=6
indicator("Solid vs Dashed Moving Averages", overlay=true)

// Calculate moving averages
fastMA = ta.sma(close, 14)
slowMA = ta.sma(close, 50)

// Plot the fast MA as a solid line
plot(fastMA, color=color.green, title="Fast MA (14)")

// For the slow MA, let's use the interval method for a dashed effect
plot(bar_index % 3 == 0 ? slowMA : na, color=color.red, linewidth=2, title="Slow MA (50) - Dashed")
Two moving averages - one solid, one dashed

Now you can instantly distinguish between your primary trend indicator (solid green) and your confirmation signal (dashed red) without any mental effort.

Streamlining Your Process with Pineify​

Pineify interface

Look, if you're more of a visual person or just want to skip the coding headaches, Pineify offers a completely different approach. It's basically a visual editor that handles all the Pine Script syntax for you, so you can focus on the trading logic instead of debugging code.

I've used it when I need to prototype ideas quickly or when I'm feeling lazy about writing everything from scratch. You can explore all its features here if you're curious about the no-code approach.

Pineify plotting interface

Hard-Learned Lessons About Dashed Lines​

After working with dashed lines for years, here are some practical tips that'll save you time:

Color choice matters more than you think: Make sure your dashed lines actually contrast with your chart background. I once spent an hour debugging a "broken" indicator, only to realize my gray dashed lines were invisible against TradingView's dark theme.

Moderation is key with intervals: When using the plot interval method, don't get carried away with the gaps. I usually stick with % 3 for dense charts or % 5 for cleaner looks. Going higher makes the line too sparse to be useful.

Test across timeframes: What looks perfect on a 1-hour chart might look terrible on a 5-minute chart. Always test your dashed lines on different timeframes before considering them finished.

Consider line weight: Dashed lines often need to be slightly thicker than solid lines to maintain visibility. Don't be afraid to bump up the linewidth.

Advanced Techniques for Better Visuals​

If you want to get fancy with your dashed lines, here are some advanced techniques I've picked up:

You can combine dashed lines with transparency to create subtle background elements:

line.new(x1=bar_index[20], y1=high[20], x2=bar_index, y2=high, 
         style=line.style_dashed, color=color.new(color.blue, 70))

For conditional plotting, you can make dashed lines appear only under specific market conditions, which is incredibly useful for dynamic support and resistance levels.

You can also explore drawing horizontal lines and plotting vertical lines to create comprehensive chart markup systems.

Wrapping Up​

Dashed lines in Pine Script aren't rocket science, but they're not immediately obvious either. The line.new method gives you professional results, while the plot interval technique works great for quick implementations.

The real value isn't just in making prettier charts - it's in creating visual systems that help you process market information faster and more accurately. When you can instantly distinguish between primary signals and secondary confirmation, your trading decisions become more confident and systematic.

Try both methods in your next indicator project and see which one fits your workflow better. Remember, the goal is clarity, not complexity.

Ready to dive deeper into Pine Script? Check out these resources that helped me master chart visualization:

These guides will take your chart visualization skills to the next level and help you create indicators that are both functional and visually appealing.