Skip to content
tikzfigure

Styling: Colors, Shapes, and Line Styles

This tutorial explores the visual styling options available in tikzfigure: - node shapes - colors and color mixing - line styles and widths - arrow types - node anchors

from tikzfigure import TikzFigure

Node shapes

Section titled “Node shapes”

The shape parameter accepts any TikZ node shape. Common built-in shapes are circle, rectangle, ellipse, and diamond. The minimum_size / minimum_width / minimum_height options control the node size.

fig = TikzFigure()


fig.add_node(0, 0, shape="circle", fill="blue!30", content="circle")
fig.add_node(3, 0, shape="rectangle", fill="red!30", content="rectangle")
fig.add_node(6, 0, shape="ellipse", fill="green!30", content="ellipse")
fig.add_node(9, 0, shape="diamond", fill="orange!30", content="diamond")


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=circle, fill=blue!30] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {circle};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=red!30] (node1) at ({3}, {0}) {rectangle};
    \node[shape=ellipse, fill=green!30] (node2) at ({6}, {0}) {ellipse};
    \node[shape=diamond, fill=orange!30] (node3) at ({9}, {0}) {diamond};
\end{tikzpicture}

Colors and color mixing

Section titled “Colors and color mixing”

TikZ supports named colors (red, blue, green, …) and mix expressions like red!50!white (50 % red + 50 % white). You can define custom colors with fig.colorlet(name, expression).

fig = TikzFigure()


fig.colorlet("lightblue", "blue!30!white")
fig.colorlet("salmon", "red!40!white")
fig.colorlet("mint", "green!40!white")


colors = [
    ("red", "red"),
    ("red!50!white", "red!50!white"),
    ("red!20!white", "red!20!white"),
    ("salmon", "salmon (custom)"),
    ("lightblue", "lightblue"),
    ("mint", "mint"),
    ("cyan!60", "cyan!60"),
    ("purple", "purple"),
]


for i, (color, label) in enumerate(colors):
    fig.add_node(i * 3, 0, shape="circle", fill=color, content="", minimum_size="1cm")
    fig.add_node(i * 3, -1, content=f"\\texttt{{{label}}}", draw="none")


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \colorlet{lightblue}{blue!30!white}
    \colorlet{salmon}{red!40!white}
    \colorlet{mint}{green!40!white}
    \node[shape=circle, fill=red, minimum size=1cm] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node1) at ({0}, {-1}) {\texttt{red}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=red!50!white, minimum size=1cm] (node2) at ({3}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node3) at ({3}, {-1}) {\texttt{red!50!white}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=red!20!white, minimum size=1cm] (node4) at ({6}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node5) at ({6}, {-1}) {\texttt{red!20!white}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=salmon, minimum size=1cm] (node6) at ({9}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node7) at ({9}, {-1}) {\texttt{salmon (custom)}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=lightblue, minimum size=1cm] (node8) at ({12}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node9) at ({12}, {-1}) {\texttt{lightblue}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=mint, minimum size=1cm] (node10) at ({15}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node11) at ({15}, {-1}) {\texttt{mint}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!60, minimum size=1cm] (node12) at ({18}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node13) at ({18}, {-1}) {\texttt{cyan!60}};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=purple, minimum size=1cm] (node14) at ({21}, {0}) {};
    \node[draw=none] (node15) at ({21}, {-1}) {\texttt{purple}};
\end{tikzpicture}

Line styles

Section titled “Line styles”

Paths accept TikZ style keywords as options: dashed, dotted, thick, ultra thick, etc. line_width maps to TikZ line width=<value>pt.

fig = TikzFigure()


styles = [
    ([], 1, "plain"),
    (["dashed"], 1, "dashed"),
    (["dotted"], 1, "dotted"),
    (["thick"], 1, "thick"),
    ([], 4, "line width=4pt"),
    (["dashed"], 3, "dashed"),
]


for i, (opts, lw, label) in enumerate(styles):
    y = -i * 1.2
    fig.draw([(0, y), (5, y)], options=opts, line_width=lw, color="black")
    fig.add_node(5.1, y, content=f"\\texttt{{{label}}}", draw="none", anchor="west")
fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[color=black, line width=1] (0, 0.0) to (5, 0.0);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node0) at ({5.1}, {0.0}) {\texttt{plain}};
    \draw[dashed, color=black, line width=1] (0, -1.2) to (5, -1.2);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node1) at ({5.1}, {-1.2}) {\texttt{dashed}};
    \draw[dotted, color=black, line width=1] (0, -2.4) to (5, -2.4);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node2) at ({5.1}, {-2.4}) {\texttt{dotted}};
    \draw[thick, color=black, line width=1] (0, -3.5999999999999996) to (5, -3.5999999999999996);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node3) at ({5.1}, {-3.5999999999999996}) {\texttt{thick}};
    \draw[color=black, line width=4] (0, -4.8) to (5, -4.8);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node4) at ({5.1}, {-4.8}) {\texttt{line width=4pt}};
    \draw[dashed, color=black, line width=3] (0, -6.0) to (5, -6.0);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node5) at ({5.1}, {-6.0}) {\texttt{dashed}};
\end{tikzpicture}

Arrow types

Section titled “Arrow types”

Arrow direction and style are controlled via options. Standard TikZ arrow specs work: ->, <-, <->, -stealth, |->, etc. bend_left / bend_right curve the path.

fig = TikzFigure()


arrows = [
    ("->", "->       forward"),
    ("<-", "<-       backward"),
    ("<->", "<->      both"),
    ("-stealth", "-stealth tip"),
    ("|->|", "|->|     bar tips"),
]


for i, (arrow, label) in enumerate(arrows):
    y = -i * 1.2
    fig.draw([(0, y), (4, y)], options=[arrow], line_width=1.5, color="black")
    fig.add_node(5, y, content=f"\\texttt{{{label}}}", draw="none", anchor="west")


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[->, color=black, line width=1.5] (0, 0.0) to (4, 0.0);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node0) at ({5}, {0.0}) {\texttt{->       forward}};
    \draw[<-, color=black, line width=1.5] (0, -1.2) to (4, -1.2);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node1) at ({5}, {-1.2}) {\texttt{<-       backward}};
    \draw[<->, color=black, line width=1.5] (0, -2.4) to (4, -2.4);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node2) at ({5}, {-2.4}) {\texttt{<->      both}};
    \draw[-stealth, color=black, line width=1.5] (0, -3.5999999999999996) to (4, -3.5999999999999996);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node3) at ({5}, {-3.5999999999999996}) {\texttt{-stealth tip}};
    \draw[|->|, color=black, line width=1.5] (0, -4.8) to (4, -4.8);
    \node[draw=none, anchor=west] (node4) at ({5}, {-4.8}) {\texttt{|->|     bar tips}};
\end{tikzpicture}

Node anchors

Section titled “Node anchors”

When placing a node at a coordinate, the anchor option controls which part of the node sits at that point. The default is center. Useful values: center, north, south, east, west, north west, north east, south east, south west.

# Let's try to reproduce this: https://rmwu.github.io/tutorial/latex/2019/11/21/positioning/


fig = TikzFigure(figure_setup="every node/.append style={draw, minimum size=0.8cm}")


fig.add_node(0, 0, draw="none", content="\\textbullet", comment="center")
fig.add_node(0, 0)
fig.add_node(0, 0, options="anchor=center, label=below:{{center}}")


fig.add_node(2, 0, draw="none", content="\\textbullet", comment="West and east")
fig.add_node(2, 0, anchor="west", content="west")
fig.add_node(2, 0, anchor="east", content="east")




fig.add_node(4, 0, draw="none", content="\\textbullet", comment="North and south")
fig.add_node(4, 0, anchor="north", content="north")
fig.add_node(4, 0, anchor="south", content="south")


fig.add_node(6, 0, draw="none", content="\\textbullet", comment="NW, NE, SE, and SW")
fig.add_node(6, 0, anchor="north west", content="nw")
fig.add_node(6, 0, anchor="north east", content="ne")
fig.add_node(6, 0, anchor="south east", content="se")
fig.add_node(6, 0, anchor="south west", content="sw")


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    [every node/.append style={draw, minimum size=0.8cm}]
    % center
    \node[draw=none] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {\textbullet};
    \node (node1) at ({0}, {0}) {};
    \node[anchor=center, label=below:{{center}}, ] (node2) at ({0}, {0}) {};
    % West and east
    \node[draw=none] (node3) at ({2}, {0}) {\textbullet};
    \node[anchor=west] (node4) at ({2}, {0}) {west};
    \node[anchor=east] (node5) at ({2}, {0}) {east};
    % North and south
    \node[draw=none] (node6) at ({4}, {0}) {\textbullet};
    \node[anchor=north] (node7) at ({4}, {0}) {north};
    \node[anchor=south] (node8) at ({4}, {0}) {south};
    % NW, NE, SE, and SW
    \node[draw=none] (node9) at ({6}, {0}) {\textbullet};
    \node[anchor=north west] (node10) at ({6}, {0}) {nw};
    \node[anchor=north east] (node11) at ({6}, {0}) {ne};
    \node[anchor=south east] (node12) at ({6}, {0}) {se};
    \node[anchor=south west] (node13) at ({6}, {0}) {sw};
\end{tikzpicture}

Putting it together: Olympic rings

Section titled “Putting it together: Olympic rings”

Five thick rings in the classic Olympic layout with correct interlocking overlaps. The weave order is Blue > Yellow > Black > Green > Red: at each crossing the “greater” ring appears in front.

    1. The full rings are drawn in layer 0.
    1. The overlapping crossings are drawn as arcs on top of the full rings in layer 1.
import math


fig = TikzFigure()


r = 1.0  # ring radius (cm)
lw = "5pt"  # line width


ring_specs = [
    ((0, 0), (330, 360), "blue"),
    ((1.25, -1.25), (60, 90), "yellow!80!black"),
    ((2.5, 0), (330, 360), "black"),
    ((3.75, -1.25), (60, 90), "green!60!black"),
    ((5, 0), (None, None), "red"),
]




def arc_seg(center, radius, start_angle, end_angle, color):
    """Draw an arc on the circle centered at `center`."""
    cx, cy = center
    sx = cx + radius * math.cos(math.radians(start_angle))
    sy = cy + radius * math.sin(math.radians(start_angle))
    fig.arc(
        start=(sx, sy),
        start_angle=start_angle,
        end_angle=end_angle,
        radius=f"{radius}cm",
        color=color,
        line_width=lw,
        layer=1,
    )




for (cx, cy), (start_angle, end_angle), color in ring_specs:
    fig.circle(center=(cx, cy), radius=f"{r}cm", color=color, line_width=lw, layer=0)
    if start_angle is not None and end_angle is not None:
        arc_seg((cx, cy), r, start_angle, end_angle, color)


fig.show()


print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    % Define the layers library
    \pgfdeclarelayer{0}
    \pgfdeclarelayer{1}
    \pgfsetlayers{0,1}


    % Layer 0
    \begin{pgfonlayer}{0}
        \draw[color=blue, line width=5pt] (0, 0) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=yellow!80!black, line width=5pt] (1.25, -1.25) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=black, line width=5pt] (2.5, 0) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=green!60!black, line width=5pt] (3.75, -1.25) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=red, line width=5pt] (5, 0) circle (1.0cm);
    \end{pgfonlayer}{0}


    % Layer 1
    \begin{pgfonlayer}{1}
        \draw[color=blue, line width=5pt, start angle=330, end angle=360, radius=1.0cm] (0.8660254037844384, -0.5000000000000004) arc;
        \draw[color=yellow!80!black, line width=5pt, start angle=60, end angle=90, radius=1.0cm] (1.75, -0.3839745962155614) arc;
        \draw[color=black, line width=5pt, start angle=330, end angle=360, radius=1.0cm] (3.3660254037844384, -0.5000000000000004) arc;
        \draw[color=green!60!black, line width=5pt, start angle=60, end angle=90, radius=1.0cm] (4.25, -0.3839745962155614) arc;
    \end{pgfonlayer}{1}
\end{tikzpicture}
Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    % Define the layers library
    \pgfdeclarelayer{0}
    \pgfdeclarelayer{1}
    \pgfsetlayers{0,1}


    % Layer 0
    \begin{pgfonlayer}{0}
        \draw[color=blue, line width=5pt] (0, 0) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=yellow!80!black, line width=5pt] (1.25, -1.25) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=black, line width=5pt] (2.5, 0) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=green!60!black, line width=5pt] (3.75, -1.25) circle (1.0cm);
        \draw[color=red, line width=5pt] (5, 0) circle (1.0cm);
    \end{pgfonlayer}{0}


    % Layer 1
    \begin{pgfonlayer}{1}
        \draw[color=blue, line width=5pt, start angle=330, end angle=360, radius=1.0cm] (0.8660254037844384, -0.5000000000000004) arc;
        \draw[color=yellow!80!black, line width=5pt, start angle=60, end angle=90, radius=1.0cm] (1.75, -0.3839745962155614) arc;
        \draw[color=black, line width=5pt, start angle=330, end angle=360, radius=1.0cm] (3.3660254037844384, -0.5000000000000004) arc;
        \draw[color=green!60!black, line width=5pt, start angle=60, end angle=90, radius=1.0cm] (4.25, -0.3839745962155614) arc;
    \end{pgfonlayer}{1}
\end{tikzpicture}