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tikzfigure

Shading and Patterns

TikZ supports rich fill styles beyond solid colors: smooth color gradients (shadings) and repeating geometric fill patterns. This tutorial covers:

  • axis shading on nodes: horizontal and vertical gradients
  • radial shading: glowing circles
  • ball shading: three-dimensional-looking spheres
  • axis shading on closed paths
  • fill patterns: hatching, dots, crosshatch, checkerboard
  • combining shadings and patterns in one figure

All shading examples require \usetikzlibrary{shadings} and all pattern examples require \usetikzlibrary{patterns}, both passed via document_setup.

from tikzfigure import TikzFigure

Axis shading: horizontal and vertical gradients

Section titled “Axis shading: horizontal and vertical gradients”

shading="axis" produces a linear gradient. Use left_color/right_color for a horizontal gradient, or top_color/bottom_color for a vertical one.

fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{shadings}")


# Horizontal gradients
pairs = [
    ("red", "yellow"),
    ("blue", "cyan"),
    ("purple", "orange"),
    ("green!60!black", "lime"),
]


for i, (lc, rc) in enumerate(pairs):
    fig.add_node(
        x=i * 3,
        y=1.5,
        shape="rectangle",
        shading="axis",
        left_color=lc,
        right_color=rc,
        minimum_width="2.2cm",
        minimum_height="1.2cm",
        draw="gray!50",
    )
    fig.add_node(
        i * 3, 0.5, content=f"{lc} → {rc}", draw="none", font=r"\tiny", anchor="center"
    )


# Vertical gradients
vert_pairs = [
    ("blue!80", "white"),
    ("orange", "yellow!50"),
    ("teal", "green!30"),
]


for i, (tc, bc) in enumerate(vert_pairs):
    fig.add_node(
        x=i * 3,
        y=-1,
        shape="rectangle",
        shading="axis",
        top_color=tc,
        bottom_color=bc,
        minimum_width="2.2cm",
        minimum_height="1.2cm",
        draw="gray!50",
    )
    fig.add_node(
        i * 3, -2, content=f"{tc} ↕ {bc}", draw="none", font=r"\tiny", anchor="center"
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, left color=red, right color=yellow] (node0) at ({0}, {1.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node1) at ({0}, {0.5}) {red → yellow};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, left color=blue, right color=cyan] (node2) at ({3}, {1.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node3) at ({3}, {0.5}) {blue → cyan};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, left color=purple, right color=orange] (node4) at ({6}, {1.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node5) at ({6}, {0.5}) {purple → orange};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, left color=green!60!black, right color=lime] (node6) at ({9}, {1.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node7) at ({9}, {0.5}) {green!60!black → lime};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, top color=blue!80, bottom color=white] (node8) at ({0}, {-1}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node9) at ({0}, {-2}) {blue!80 ↕ white};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, top color=orange, bottom color=yellow!50] (node10) at ({3}, {-1}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node11) at ({3}, {-2}) {orange ↕ yellow!50};
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=gray!50, minimum width=2.2cm, minimum height=1.2cm, shading=axis, top color=teal, bottom color=green!30] (node12) at ({6}, {-1}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=center] (node13) at ({6}, {-2}) {teal ↕ green!30};
\end{tikzpicture}

Radial shading: glowing circles

Section titled “Radial shading: glowing circles”

shading="radial" paints from inner_color at the center outward to outer_color. This gives a convincing glow effect.

fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{shadings}")


glows = [
    ("white", "red"),
    ("white", "blue"),
    ("yellow", "orange"),
    ("cyan!20", "teal"),
    ("white", "purple"),
]


for i, (ic, oc) in enumerate(glows):
    fig.add_node(
        x=i * 2.5,
        y=0,
        shape="circle",
        shading="radial",
        inner_color=ic,
        outer_color=oc,
        minimum_size="1.8cm",
        draw="none",
    )


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, draw=none, minimum size=1.8cm, shading=radial, inner color=white, outer color=red] (node0) at ({0.0}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.8cm, shading=radial, inner color=white, outer color=blue] (node1) at ({2.5}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.8cm, shading=radial, inner color=yellow, outer color=orange] (node2) at ({5.0}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.8cm, shading=radial, inner color=cyan!20, outer color=teal] (node3) at ({7.5}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.8cm, shading=radial, inner color=white, outer color=purple] (node4) at ({10.0}, {0}) {};
\end{tikzpicture}

Ball shading: three-dimensional spheres

Section titled “Ball shading: three-dimensional spheres”

shading="ball" with ball_color produces a highlight-shaded sphere that looks three-dimensional.

fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{shadings}")


colors = ["red", "blue", "green!60!black", "orange", "purple", "teal"]


for i, color in enumerate(colors):
    fig.add_node(
        x=i * 2.2,
        y=0,
        shape="circle",
        shading="ball",
        ball_color=color,
        minimum_size="1.6cm",
        draw="none",
    )


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, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=red] (node0) at ({0.0}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=blue] (node1) at ({2.2}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=green!60!black] (node2) at ({4.4}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=orange] (node3) at ({6.6000000000000005}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=purple] (node4) at ({8.8}, {0}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.6cm, shading=ball, ball color=teal] (node5) at ({11.0}, {0}) {};
\end{tikzpicture}

Axis shading on a closed path

Section titled “Axis shading on a closed path”

Shading is not limited to nodes — you can apply it to any filled closed path using fig.draw(pts, cycle=True, shading="axis", ...).

import math


fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{shadings}")


# A gradient-filled pentagon
N = 5
angles = [math.pi / 2 + 2 * math.pi * k / N for k in range(N)]
pentagon = [(2 * math.cos(a), 2 * math.sin(a)) for a in angles]


fig.draw(
    pentagon,
    cycle=True,
    shading="axis",
    left_color="blue!60",
    right_color="cyan!30",
    draw="blue!80",
    line_width=1.5,
)


# A gradient-filled star (six-point crossing)
star = [(0, 0), (1, 2.5), (2, 0), (-0.5, 1.5), (2.5, 1.5), (0, 0)]
shifted = [(x + 5, y - 1) for x, y in star]
fig.draw(
    shifted,
    cycle=True,
    shading="axis",
    left_color="orange",
    right_color="yellow!60",
    draw="orange!80",
    line_width=1.5,
)


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[draw=blue!80, line width=1.5, shading=axis, left color=blue!60, right color=cyan!30] (1.2246467991473532e-16, 2.0) to (-1.902113032590307, 0.618033988749895) to (-1.1755705045849465, -1.6180339887498947) to (1.1755705045849458, -1.6180339887498951) to (1.9021130325903073, 0.6180339887498943) -- cycle;
    \draw[draw=orange!80, line width=1.5, shading=axis, left color=orange, right color=yellow!60] (5, -1) to (6, 1.5) to (7, -1) to (4.5, 0.5) to (7.5, 0.5) to (5, -1) -- cycle;
\end{tikzpicture}

Fill patterns on nodes

Section titled “Fill patterns on nodes”

Patterns are repeating geometric fills. Common patterns include "north east lines", "dots", "crosshatch", "grid", and "checkerboard". Use pattern_color to set the pattern ink color.

fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{patterns}")


patterns = [
    ("north east lines", "blue!60"),
    ("north west lines", "red!60"),
    ("dots", "black"),
    ("crosshatch", "teal"),
    ("grid", "orange!80"),
    ("checkerboard", "purple!60"),
]


for i, (pat, pc) in enumerate(patterns):
    col = i % 3
    row = i // 3
    fig.add_node(
        x=col * 3.5,
        y=row * (-2.5),
        shape="rectangle",
        pattern=pat,
        pattern_color=pc,
        minimum_width="2.5cm",
        minimum_height="1.8cm",
        draw="gray!70",
        fill="white",
    )
    fig.add_node(
        col * 3.5,
        row * (-2.5) - 1.2,
        content=f"\\texttt{{{pat}}}",
        draw="none",
        font=r"\tiny",
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=north east lines, pattern color=blue!60] (node0) at ({0.0}, {-0.0}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node1) at ({0.0}, {-1.2}) {\texttt{north east lines}};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=north west lines, pattern color=red!60] (node2) at ({3.5}, {-0.0}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node3) at ({3.5}, {-1.2}) {\texttt{north west lines}};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=dots, pattern color=black] (node4) at ({7.0}, {-0.0}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node5) at ({7.0}, {-1.2}) {\texttt{dots}};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=crosshatch, pattern color=teal] (node6) at ({0.0}, {-2.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node7) at ({0.0}, {-3.7}) {\texttt{crosshatch}};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=grid, pattern color=orange!80] (node8) at ({3.5}, {-2.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node9) at ({3.5}, {-3.7}) {\texttt{grid}};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1.8cm, pattern=checkerboard, pattern color=purple!60] (node10) at ({7.0}, {-2.5}) {};
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny] (node11) at ({7.0}, {-3.7}) {\texttt{checkerboard}};
\end{tikzpicture}

Combining shadings and patterns in one figure

Section titled “Combining shadings and patterns in one figure”

Here a shaded background rectangle sits on a lower layer, while patterned nodes sit on top, demonstrating how shadings and patterns can coexist in one figure.

fig = TikzFigure(
    document_setup=(
        r"\usetikzlibrary{shadings}"
        "\n"
        r"\usetikzlibrary{patterns}"
    )
)


# Shaded background panel
fig.add_node(
    x=3,
    y=1,
    shape="rectangle",
    shading="axis",
    top_color="blue!20",
    bottom_color="white",
    minimum_width="8cm",
    minimum_height="4cm",
    draw="blue!30",
)


# Ball-shaded decorative sphere
fig.add_node(
    x=0.5,
    y=2,
    shape="circle",
    shading="ball",
    ball_color="cyan",
    minimum_size="1.2cm",
    draw="none",
)


# Patterned foreground nodes
for i, (pat, fc) in enumerate(
    [
        ("north east lines", "red!40"),
        ("dots", "green!40"),
        ("crosshatch", "orange!40"),
    ]
):
    fig.add_node(
        x=2 + i * 2,
        y=1,
        shape="rectangle",
        pattern=pat,
        pattern_color=fc,
        fill="white",
        draw="gray!60",
        minimum_width="1.4cm",
        minimum_height="1.4cm",
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=rectangle, draw=blue!30, minimum width=8cm, minimum height=4cm, shading=axis, top color=blue!20, bottom color=white] (node0) at ({3}, {1}) {};
    \node[shape=circle, draw=none, minimum size=1.2cm, shading=ball, ball color=cyan] (node1) at ({0.5}, {2}) {};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!60, minimum width=1.4cm, minimum height=1.4cm, pattern=north east lines, pattern color=red!40] (node2) at ({2}, {1}) {};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!60, minimum width=1.4cm, minimum height=1.4cm, pattern=dots, pattern color=green!40] (node3) at ({4}, {1}) {};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!60, minimum width=1.4cm, minimum height=1.4cm, pattern=crosshatch, pattern color=orange!40] (node4) at ({6}, {1}) {};
\end{tikzpicture}