Raw TikZ

tikzfigure covers the most common TikZ operations through its Python API, but TikZ is a vast language. fig.add_raw(string) injects an arbitrary LaTeX/TikZ snippet directly into the generated code - giving you a full escape hatch.

A key pattern: create nodes with the Python API (to get auto-generated labels), then reference them in raw TikZ commands via {node.label}.

This tutorial covers: - basic raw insertion - flowcharts with decision diamonds - mathematical annotations and axis drawing - network graphs with curved edges - timeline visualizations

import math

from tikzfigure import TikzFigure

Basic raw insertion

Pass any TikZ string to add_raw. Node labels created by add_node can be interpolated into the string.

fig = TikzFigure()

n1 = fig.add_node(0, 0, shape="circle", color="white", fill="blue", content="Hello!")
n2 = fig.add_node(5, 0, shape="circle", color="white", fill="red", content="Hi!")

# A raw comment
fig.add_raw("% --- raw TikZ below ---")

# A plain text node at a fixed coordinate
fig.add_raw("\\node at (2.5, 1.2) {raw TikZ node};")

# A dashed arrow referencing the Python-created node labels
fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, thick, dashed] ({n2.label}) -- ({n1.label});")

fig.show()

Show Tikz code

Tikz Code

print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=circle, color=white, fill=blue] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {Hello!};
    \node[shape=circle, color=white, fill=red] (node1) at ({5}, {0}) {Hi!};
    % --- raw TikZ below ---
    \node at (2.5, 1.2) {raw TikZ node};
    \draw[->, thick, dashed] (node1) -- (node0);
\end{tikzpicture}

Standalone LaTeX Document

print(fig.generate_standalone())

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\begin{document}
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=circle, color=white, fill=blue] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {Hello!};
    \node[shape=circle, color=white, fill=red] (node1) at ({5}, {0}) {Hi!};
    % --- raw TikZ below ---
    \node at (2.5, 1.2) {raw TikZ node};
    \draw[->, thick, dashed] (node1) -- (node0);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Flowchart

Flowcharts need diamond decision nodes and labelled arrows - both easy with raw TikZ.

fig = TikzFigure()

start = fig.add_node(2, 4, shape="ellipse", fill="green!30", content="Start")
process = fig.add_node(2, 2, shape="rectangle", fill="blue!20", content="Process")
decision = fig.add_node(2, 0, shape="diamond", fill="orange!30", content="Decision?")
yes_node = fig.add_node(0, -2, shape="rectangle", fill="red!20", content="Action A")
no_node = fig.add_node(4, -2, shape="rectangle", fill="green!20", content="Action B")
end = fig.add_node(2, -4, shape="ellipse", fill="red!30", content="End")

fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, thick] ({start.label})    -- ({process.label});")
fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, thick] ({process.label})  -- ({decision.label});")
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, thick] ({decision.label}) -- node[left]  {{Yes}} ({yes_node.label});"
)
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, thick] ({decision.label}) -- node[right] {{No}}  ({no_node.label});"
)
fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, thick] ({yes_node.label}) -- ({end.label});")
fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, thick] ({no_node.label})  -- ({end.label});")

fig.show()

Show Tikz code

Tikz Code

print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=ellipse, fill=green!30] (node0) at ({2}, {4}) {Start};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=blue!20] (node1) at ({2}, {2}) {Process};
    \node[shape=diamond, fill=orange!30] (node2) at ({2}, {0}) {Decision?};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=red!20] (node3) at ({0}, {-2}) {Action A};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=green!20] (node4) at ({4}, {-2}) {Action B};
    \node[shape=ellipse, fill=red!30] (node5) at ({2}, {-4}) {End};
    \draw[->, thick] (node0)    -- (node1);
    \draw[->, thick] (node1)  -- (node2);
    \draw[->, thick] (node2) -- node[left]  {Yes} (node3);
    \draw[->, thick] (node2) -- node[right] {No}  (node4);
    \draw[->, thick] (node3) -- (node5);
    \draw[->, thick] (node4)  -- (node5);
\end{tikzpicture}

Standalone LaTeX Document

print(fig.generate_standalone())

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\begin{document}
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=ellipse, fill=green!30] (node0) at ({2}, {4}) {Start};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=blue!20] (node1) at ({2}, {2}) {Process};
    \node[shape=diamond, fill=orange!30] (node2) at ({2}, {0}) {Decision?};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=red!20] (node3) at ({0}, {-2}) {Action A};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=green!20] (node4) at ({4}, {-2}) {Action B};
    \node[shape=ellipse, fill=red!30] (node5) at ({2}, {-4}) {End};
    \draw[->, thick] (node0)    -- (node1);
    \draw[->, thick] (node1)  -- (node2);
    \draw[->, thick] (node2) -- node[left]  {Yes} (node3);
    \draw[->, thick] (node2) -- node[right] {No}  (node4);
    \draw[->, thick] (node3) -- (node5);
    \draw[->, thick] (node4)  -- (node5);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Mathematical annotations and coordinate axes

Raw TikZ handles axis arrows, tick marks, parabolas, and LaTeX math ($...$) naturally.

fig = TikzFigure()

p1 = fig.add_node(0, 0, content="")
p2 = fig.add_node(3, 2, content="")
p3 = fig.add_node(6, 0, content="")

fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[thick, blue] ({p1.label}) parabola bend ({p2.label}) ({p3.label});"
)
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, dashed, red] ({p1.label}) -- ({p2.label}) node[midway, left=40pt] {{$\\Delta y$}};"
)
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, dashed, green!50!black] ({p1.label}) -- ({p3.label}) node[midway, below=10pt] {{$\\Delta x$}};"
)
fig.add_raw("\\node at (3, 3) {$y = ax^2 + bx + c$};")

fig.add_raw("\\draw[->, thick] (-1, 0) -- (7, 0) node[right] {$x$};")
fig.add_raw("\\draw[->, thick] (0, -1) -- (0, 3.5) node[above] {$y$};")

for i in range(1, 7):
    fig.add_raw(f"\\draw ({i}, -0.1) -- ({i}, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {{\\small {i}}};")

fig.show()

Show Tikz code

Tikz Code

print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {};
    \node (node1) at ({3}, {2}) {};
    \node (node2) at ({6}, {0}) {};
    \draw[thick, blue] (node0) parabola bend (node1) (node2);
    \draw[->, dashed, red] (node0) -- (node1) node[midway, left=40pt] {$\Delta y$};
    \draw[->, dashed, green!50!black] (node0) -- (node2) node[midway, below=10pt] {$\Delta x$};
    \node at (3, 3) {$y = ax^2 + bx + c$};
    \draw[->, thick] (-1, 0) -- (7, 0) node[right] {$x$};
    \draw[->, thick] (0, -1) -- (0, 3.5) node[above] {$y$};
    \draw (1, -0.1) -- (1, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 1};
    \draw (2, -0.1) -- (2, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 2};
    \draw (3, -0.1) -- (3, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 3};
    \draw (4, -0.1) -- (4, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 4};
    \draw (5, -0.1) -- (5, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 5};
    \draw (6, -0.1) -- (6, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 6};
\end{tikzpicture}

Standalone LaTeX Document

print(fig.generate_standalone())

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\begin{document}
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {};
    \node (node1) at ({3}, {2}) {};
    \node (node2) at ({6}, {0}) {};
    \draw[thick, blue] (node0) parabola bend (node1) (node2);
    \draw[->, dashed, red] (node0) -- (node1) node[midway, left=40pt] {$\Delta y$};
    \draw[->, dashed, green!50!black] (node0) -- (node2) node[midway, below=10pt] {$\Delta x$};
    \node at (3, 3) {$y = ax^2 + bx + c$};
    \draw[->, thick] (-1, 0) -- (7, 0) node[right] {$x$};
    \draw[->, thick] (0, -1) -- (0, 3.5) node[above] {$y$};
    \draw (1, -0.1) -- (1, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 1};
    \draw (2, -0.1) -- (2, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 2};
    \draw (3, -0.1) -- (3, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 3};
    \draw (4, -0.1) -- (4, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 4};
    \draw (5, -0.1) -- (5, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 5};
    \draw (6, -0.1) -- (6, 0.1) node[below=3pt] {\small 6};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Network graph with curved edges

Nodes placed in a ring with bend left edges and some cross-connections.

fig = TikzFigure()

n = 6
R = 3
nodes = []
for i in range(n):
    angle = 360 / n * i
    x = R * math.cos(math.radians(angle))
    y = R * math.sin(math.radians(angle))
    nodes.append(fig.add_node(x, y, shape="circle", fill="cyan!40", content=f"N{i}"))

# Ring
for i in range(n):
    j = (i + 1) % n
    fig.add_raw(
        f"\\draw[->, thick, bend left=15] ({nodes[i].label}) edge ({nodes[j].label});"
    )

# Cross-connections
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, red,              thick, dashed, bend right=30] ({nodes[0].label}) edge ({nodes[3].label});"
)
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, blue,             thick, dotted, bend left=30]  ({nodes[1].label}) edge ({nodes[4].label});"
)
fig.add_raw(
    f"\\draw[->, green!60!black,   thick,         bend right=30] ({nodes[2].label}) edge ({nodes[5].label});"
)

fig.add_raw("\\node[font=\\Large\\bfseries] at (0, 4.5) {Network Graph};")

fig.show()

Show Tikz code

Tikz Code

print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node0) at ({3.0}, {0.0}) {N0};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node1) at ({1.5000000000000004}, {2.598076211353316}) {N1};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node2) at ({-1.4999999999999993}, {2.598076211353316}) {N2};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node3) at ({-3.0}, {3.6739403974420594e-16}) {N3};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node4) at ({-1.5000000000000013}, {-2.598076211353315}) {N4};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node5) at ({1.5000000000000004}, {-2.598076211353316}) {N5};
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node0) edge (node1);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node1) edge (node2);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node2) edge (node3);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node3) edge (node4);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node4) edge (node5);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node5) edge (node0);
    \draw[->, red,              thick, dashed, bend right=30] (node0) edge (node3);
    \draw[->, blue,             thick, dotted, bend left=30]  (node1) edge (node4);
    \draw[->, green!60!black,   thick,         bend right=30] (node2) edge (node5);
    \node[font=\Large\bfseries] at (0, 4.5) {Network Graph};
\end{tikzpicture}

Standalone LaTeX Document

print(fig.generate_standalone())

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\begin{document}
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node0) at ({3.0}, {0.0}) {N0};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node1) at ({1.5000000000000004}, {2.598076211353316}) {N1};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node2) at ({-1.4999999999999993}, {2.598076211353316}) {N2};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node3) at ({-3.0}, {3.6739403974420594e-16}) {N3};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node4) at ({-1.5000000000000013}, {-2.598076211353315}) {N4};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=cyan!40] (node5) at ({1.5000000000000004}, {-2.598076211353316}) {N5};
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node0) edge (node1);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node1) edge (node2);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node2) edge (node3);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node3) edge (node4);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node4) edge (node5);
    \draw[->, thick, bend left=15] (node5) edge (node0);
    \draw[->, red,              thick, dashed, bend right=30] (node0) edge (node3);
    \draw[->, blue,             thick, dotted, bend left=30]  (node1) edge (node4);
    \draw[->, green!60!black,   thick,         bend right=30] (node2) edge (node5);
    \node[font=\Large\bfseries] at (0, 4.5) {Network Graph};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Timeline

A horizontal timeline with event markers, year labels, and bracket annotations.

fig = TikzFigure()

events = [
    (0, "2020", "Project Start", "blue!30"),
    (2, "2021", "Alpha Release", "green!30"),
    (4, "2022", "Beta Release", "yellow!40"),
    (6, "2023", "v1.0", "orange!40"),
    (8, "2024", "v2.0", "red!30"),
]

fig.add_raw("\\draw[->, ultra thick, gray] (-0.5, 0) -- (8.5, 0) node[right] {Time};")

for x, year, label, color in events:
    event_node = fig.add_node(
        x,
        1.2,
        shape="rectangle",
        fill=color,
        content=label,
        options=["rounded corners=3pt"],
    )
    fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[thick] ({x}, 0) -- ({x}, 0.7);")
    fig.add_raw(f"\\fill ({x}, 0) circle (0.1);")
    fig.add_raw(f"\\node[below] at ({x}, -0.3) {{\\textbf{{{year}}}}};")
    fig.add_raw(f"\\draw[->, dashed] ({x}, 0.7) -- ({event_node.label});")

fig.add_raw("\\node[font=\\Large\\bfseries] at (4, 2.5) {Project Timeline};")
fig.add_raw("\\draw[<->, red, thick] (0, -1) -- node[below] {4 years} (8, -1);")

fig.show()

Show Tikz code

Tikz Code

print(fig)

% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[->, ultra thick, gray] (-0.5, 0) -- (8.5, 0) node[right] {Time};
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=blue!30] (node0) at ({0}, {1.2}) {Project Start};
    \draw[thick] (0, 0) -- (0, 0.7);
    \fill (0, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (0, -0.3) {\textbf{2020}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (0, 0.7) -- (node0);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=green!30] (node1) at ({2}, {1.2}) {Alpha Release};
    \draw[thick] (2, 0) -- (2, 0.7);
    \fill (2, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (2, -0.3) {\textbf{2021}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (2, 0.7) -- (node1);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=yellow!40] (node2) at ({4}, {1.2}) {Beta Release};
    \draw[thick] (4, 0) -- (4, 0.7);
    \fill (4, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (4, -0.3) {\textbf{2022}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (4, 0.7) -- (node2);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=orange!40] (node3) at ({6}, {1.2}) {v1.0};
    \draw[thick] (6, 0) -- (6, 0.7);
    \fill (6, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (6, -0.3) {\textbf{2023}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (6, 0.7) -- (node3);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=red!30] (node4) at ({8}, {1.2}) {v2.0};
    \draw[thick] (8, 0) -- (8, 0.7);
    \fill (8, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (8, -0.3) {\textbf{2024}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (8, 0.7) -- (node4);
    \node[font=\Large\bfseries] at (4, 2.5) {Project Timeline};
    \draw[<->, red, thick] (0, -1) -- node[below] {4 years} (8, -1);
\end{tikzpicture}

Standalone LaTeX Document

print(fig.generate_standalone())

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\pgfplotsset{compat=newest}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta}
\begin{document}
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[->, ultra thick, gray] (-0.5, 0) -- (8.5, 0) node[right] {Time};
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=blue!30] (node0) at ({0}, {1.2}) {Project Start};
    \draw[thick] (0, 0) -- (0, 0.7);
    \fill (0, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (0, -0.3) {\textbf{2020}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (0, 0.7) -- (node0);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=green!30] (node1) at ({2}, {1.2}) {Alpha Release};
    \draw[thick] (2, 0) -- (2, 0.7);
    \fill (2, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (2, -0.3) {\textbf{2021}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (2, 0.7) -- (node1);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=yellow!40] (node2) at ({4}, {1.2}) {Beta Release};
    \draw[thick] (4, 0) -- (4, 0.7);
    \fill (4, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (4, -0.3) {\textbf{2022}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (4, 0.7) -- (node2);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=orange!40] (node3) at ({6}, {1.2}) {v1.0};
    \draw[thick] (6, 0) -- (6, 0.7);
    \fill (6, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (6, -0.3) {\textbf{2023}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (6, 0.7) -- (node3);
    \node[rounded corners=3pt, shape=rectangle, fill=red!30] (node4) at ({8}, {1.2}) {v2.0};
    \draw[thick] (8, 0) -- (8, 0.7);
    \fill (8, 0) circle (0.1);
    \node[below] at (8, -0.3) {\textbf{2024}};
    \draw[->, dashed] (8, 0.7) -- (node4);
    \node[font=\Large\bfseries] at (4, 2.5) {Project Timeline};
    \draw[<->, red, thick] (0, -1) -- node[below] {4 years} (8, -1);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}