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tikzfigure

Advanced Styling

This tutorial covers advanced visual styling options that go beyond basic colors and line widths:

  • double and double_distance for double-bordered nodes and paths
  • dash_pattern and dash_phase for custom dash sequences
  • line_cap styles: butt, rect, round
  • line_join styles: miter, bevel, round
  • shadow effects: shadow_xshift, shadow_yshift, shadow_color
  • pin annotations: attaching small labels to nodes
  • special shapes: star, regular polygon, cylinder
from tikzfigure import TikzFigure

double and double_distance: double borders

Section titled “double and double_distance: double borders”

The double parameter draws a second parallel stroke, creating a double-border effect. double_distance controls the gap between the two strokes. Setting double="white" with a colored outer stroke gives a classic railway-line look.

fig = TikzFigure()


# Double-bordered node with white gap (railway style)
fig.add_node(
    x=0,
    y=0,
    shape="rectangle",
    draw="black",
    fill="gray!10",
    double="white",
    double_distance="3pt",
    minimum_width="2.5cm",
    minimum_height="1cm",
    content="double=white",
    line_width=1.5,
)


# Double-bordered with black inner line
fig.add_node(
    x=4,
    y=0,
    shape="rectangle",
    draw="blue!70",
    fill="blue!10",
    double="blue!70",
    double_distance="2pt",
    minimum_width="2.5cm",
    minimum_height="1cm",
    content="double=blue",
    line_width=1,
)


# Double on a circle
fig.add_node(
    x=8,
    y=0,
    shape="circle",
    draw="red!70",
    fill="red!10",
    double="red!70",
    double_distance="2pt",
    minimum_size="1.5cm",
    content="circle",
    line_width=1,
)


# Double on a path (railway track)
fig.draw(
    [(0, -1.8), (8, -1.8)],
    double="white",
    double_distance="4pt",
    line_width=2,
    color="black",
)
fig.add_node(
    4, -2.3, content="railway track (double path)", draw="none", font=r"\small\itshape"
)


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=gray!10, draw=black, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1cm, line width=1.5, double=white, double distance=3pt] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {double=white};
    \node[shape=rectangle, fill=blue!10, draw=blue!70, minimum width=2.5cm, minimum height=1cm, line width=1, double=blue!70, double distance=2pt] (node1) at ({4}, {0}) {double=blue};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=red!10, draw=red!70, minimum size=1.5cm, line width=1, double=red!70, double distance=2pt] (node2) at ({8}, {0}) {circle};
    \draw[color=black, line width=2, double=white, double distance=4pt] (0, -1.8) to (8, -1.8);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small\itshape] (node3) at ({4}, {-2.3}) {railway track (double path)};
\end{tikzpicture}

dash_pattern and dash_phase: custom dash sequences

Section titled “dash_pattern and dash_phase: custom dash sequences”

dash_pattern accepts a TikZ dash specification string such as "on 5pt off 3pt". You can combine multiple on/off segments for complex patterns. dash_phase shifts the starting position within the pattern.

fig = TikzFigure()


patterns = [
    ("on 3pt off 2pt", 0, "on 3 off 2"),
    ("on 1pt off 1pt on 5pt off 1pt", 0, "on 1 off 1 on 5 off 1"),
    ("on 6pt off 2pt on 1pt off 2pt", 0, "on 6 off 2 on 1 off 2"),
    ("on 2pt off 2pt", 3, "on 2 off 2, phase=3pt"),
]


for i, (dp, phase, label) in enumerate(patterns):
    y = -i * 1.3
    fig.draw(
        [(0, y), (6, y)],
        dash_pattern=dp,
        dash_phase=f"{phase}pt" if phase else None,
        line_width=2,
        color="black",
    )
    fig.add_node(
        6.2,
        y,
        content=f"\\texttt{{{label}}}",
        draw="none",
        anchor="west",
        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}
    \draw[color=black, line width=2, dash pattern=on 3pt off 2pt] (0, 0.0) to (6, 0.0);
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=west] (node0) at ({6.2}, {0.0}) {\texttt{on 3 off 2}};
    \draw[color=black, line width=2, dash pattern=on 1pt off 1pt on 5pt off 1pt] (0, -1.3) to (6, -1.3);
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=west] (node1) at ({6.2}, {-1.3}) {\texttt{on 1 off 1 on 5 off 1}};
    \draw[color=black, line width=2, dash pattern=on 6pt off 2pt on 1pt off 2pt] (0, -2.6) to (6, -2.6);
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=west] (node2) at ({6.2}, {-2.6}) {\texttt{on 6 off 2 on 1 off 2}};
    \draw[color=black, line width=2, dash pattern=on 2pt off 2pt, dash phase=3pt] (0, -3.9000000000000004) to (6, -3.9000000000000004);
    \node[draw=none, font=\tiny, anchor=west] (node3) at ({6.2}, {-3.9000000000000004}) {\texttt{on 2 off 2, phase=3pt}};
\end{tikzpicture}

line_cap: end-cap styles

Section titled “line_cap: end-cap styles”

line_cap controls how the ends of thick open paths are rendered. "butt" cuts flat at the endpoint, "rect" extends a half-linewidth rectangle past the endpoint, and "round" caps with a semicircle.

fig = TikzFigure()


caps = ["butt", "rect", "round"]


for i, cap in enumerate(caps):
    y = -i * 1.5
    fig.draw(
        [(0.5, y), (4.5, y)],
        line_cap=cap,
        line_width=12,
        color="blue!60",
    )
    # Thin reference line to show exact endpoint
    fig.draw([(0.5, y - 0.5), (0.5, y + 0.5)], line_width=0.5, color="red")
    fig.draw([(4.5, y - 0.5), (4.5, y + 0.5)], line_width=0.5, color="red")
    fig.add_node(
        5.2, y, content=f"\\texttt{{{cap}}}", draw="none", anchor="west", font=r"\small"
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[color=blue!60, line width=12, line cap=butt] (0.5, 0.0) to (4.5, 0.0);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (0.5, -0.5) to (0.5, 0.5);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (4.5, -0.5) to (4.5, 0.5);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small, anchor=west] (node0) at ({5.2}, {0.0}) {\texttt{butt}};
    \draw[color=blue!60, line width=12, line cap=rect] (0.5, -1.5) to (4.5, -1.5);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (0.5, -2.0) to (0.5, -1.0);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (4.5, -2.0) to (4.5, -1.0);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small, anchor=west] (node1) at ({5.2}, {-1.5}) {\texttt{rect}};
    \draw[color=blue!60, line width=12, line cap=round] (0.5, -3.0) to (4.5, -3.0);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (0.5, -3.5) to (0.5, -2.5);
    \draw[color=red, line width=0.5] (4.5, -3.5) to (4.5, -2.5);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small, anchor=west] (node2) at ({5.2}, {-3.0}) {\texttt{round}};
\end{tikzpicture}

line_join: corner join styles

Section titled “line_join: corner join styles”

line_join controls how two path segments meet at a corner. "miter" extends to a sharp point, "bevel" cuts the corner flat, and "round" rounds it.

fig = TikzFigure()


joins = ["miter", "bevel", "round"]


for i, join in enumerate(joins):
    x0 = i * 4
    zigzag = [(x0 + 0, 0), (x0 + 1, 2), (x0 + 2, 0), (x0 + 3, 2)]
    fig.draw(zigzag, line_join=join, line_width=8, color="teal!70")
    fig.add_node(
        x0 + 1.5, -0.6, content=f"\\texttt{{{join}}}", draw="none", font=r"\small"
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \draw[color=teal!70, line width=8, line join=miter] (0, 0) to (1, 2) to (2, 0) to (3, 2);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small] (node0) at ({1.5}, {-0.6}) {\texttt{miter}};
    \draw[color=teal!70, line width=8, line join=bevel] (4, 0) to (5, 2) to (6, 0) to (7, 2);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small] (node1) at ({5.5}, {-0.6}) {\texttt{bevel}};
    \draw[color=teal!70, line width=8, line join=round] (8, 0) to (9, 2) to (10, 0) to (11, 2);
    \node[draw=none, font=\small] (node2) at ({9.5}, {-0.6}) {\texttt{round}};
\end{tikzpicture}

Shadow effects

Section titled “Shadow effects”

The shadows library adds drop shadows to nodes. Control the shadow offset with shadow_xshift / shadow_yshift and the shadow color with shadow_color.

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


shadow_specs = [
    ("gray!60", "3pt", "-3pt", "gray shadow"),
    ("blue!40", "4pt", "-2pt", "blue shadow"),
    ("red!50", "2pt", "-4pt", "red shadow"),
    ("black!30", "5pt", "-5pt", "deep shadow"),
]


for i, (sc, sx, sy, label) in enumerate(shadow_specs):
    fig.add_node(
        x=i * 3,
        y=0,
        shape="rectangle",
        fill="white",
        draw="gray!70",
        minimum_width="2cm",
        minimum_height="1cm",
        content=label,
        options=["drop shadow"],  # activate the drop shadow style
        shadow_xshift=sx,
        shadow_yshift=sy,
        shadow_color=sc,
        font=r"\small",
        rounded_corners="3pt",
    )


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[drop shadow, shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2cm, minimum height=1cm, font=\small, rounded corners=3pt, shadow xshift=3pt, shadow yshift=-3pt, shadow color=gray!60] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {gray shadow};
    \node[drop shadow, shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2cm, minimum height=1cm, font=\small, rounded corners=3pt, shadow xshift=4pt, shadow yshift=-2pt, shadow color=blue!40] (node1) at ({3}, {0}) {blue shadow};
    \node[drop shadow, shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2cm, minimum height=1cm, font=\small, rounded corners=3pt, shadow xshift=2pt, shadow yshift=-4pt, shadow color=red!50] (node2) at ({6}, {0}) {red shadow};
    \node[drop shadow, shape=rectangle, fill=white, draw=gray!70, minimum width=2cm, minimum height=1cm, font=\small, rounded corners=3pt, shadow xshift=5pt, shadow yshift=-5pt, shadow color=black!30] (node3) at ({9}, {0}) {deep shadow};
\end{tikzpicture}

pin annotations

Section titled “pin annotations”

The pin option attaches a small labeled pin to a node. The value is a TikZ pin specification string: "above:text", "right:text", "below left:text", etc.

fig = TikzFigure()


# Three nodes with pins in different directions
nA = fig.add_node(
    0,
    0,
    label="A",
    shape="circle",
    fill="orange!40",
    minimum_size="1cm",
    content="A",
    pin="above:measured here",
)


nB = fig.add_node(
    4,
    0,
    label="B",
    shape="circle",
    fill="teal!40",
    minimum_size="1cm",
    content="B",
    pin="right:peak value",
)


nC = fig.add_node(
    2,
    3,
    label="C",
    shape="circle",
    fill="purple!40",
    minimum_size="1cm",
    content="C",
    pin="below left:origin",
)


fig.draw([nA, nB], arrows="->")
fig.draw([nA, nC], arrows="->")
fig.draw([nB, nC], arrows="->")


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=orange!40, minimum size=1cm, pin=above:measured here] (A) at ({0}, {0}) {A};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=teal!40, minimum size=1cm, pin=right:peak value] (B) at ({4}, {0}) {B};
    \node[shape=circle, fill=purple!40, minimum size=1cm, pin=below left:origin] (C) at ({2}, {3}) {C};
    \draw[arrows=->] (A) to (B);
    \draw[arrows=->] (A) to (C);
    \draw[arrows=->] (B) to (C);
\end{tikzpicture}

Special shapes: star, regular polygon, cylinder

Section titled “Special shapes: star, regular polygon, cylinder”

The shapes.geometric library provides additional node shapes beyond the built-in circle, rectangle, and ellipse.

fig = TikzFigure(document_setup=r"\usetikzlibrary{shapes.geometric}")


# Five-pointed star
fig.add_node(
    x=0,
    y=0,
    shape="star",
    star_points=5,
    star_point_ratio=0.45,
    fill="yellow!70",
    draw="orange",
    minimum_size="2cm",
    line_width=1.5,
    content="star",
    font=r"\small",
)


# Six-pointed star
fig.add_node(
    x=3,
    y=0,
    shape="star",
    star_points=6,
    star_point_ratio=0.5,
    fill="cyan!50",
    draw="teal",
    minimum_size="2cm",
    line_width=1.5,
    content="6-pt",
    font=r"\small",
)


# Regular hexagon
fig.add_node(
    x=6,
    y=0,
    shape="regular polygon",
    regular_polygon_sides=6,
    fill="green!40",
    draw="green!70!black",
    minimum_size="2cm",
    line_width=1.5,
    content="hex",
    font=r"\small",
)


# Regular triangle (3 sides)
fig.add_node(
    x=9,
    y=0,
    shape="regular polygon",
    regular_polygon_sides=3,
    fill="red!30",
    draw="red!70",
    minimum_size="2cm",
    line_width=1.5,
    content="tri",
    font=r"\small",
)


# Cylinder
fig.add_node(
    x=12,
    y=0,
    shape="cylinder",
    fill="purple!30",
    draw="purple!70",
    minimum_width="1.4cm",
    minimum_height="2cm",
    line_width=1.5,
    content="DB",
    font=r"\small",
)


fig.show()

Show Tikz code 
print(fig)
% --------------------------------------------- %
% Tikzfigure generated by tikzfigure v0.2.1     %
% https://github.com/max-models/tikzfigure      %
% --------------------------------------------- %
\begin{tikzpicture}
    \node[shape=star, fill=yellow!70, draw=orange, minimum size=2cm, line width=1.5, font=\small, star points=5, star point ratio=0.45] (node0) at ({0}, {0}) {star};
    \node[shape=star, fill=cyan!50, draw=teal, minimum size=2cm, line width=1.5, font=\small, star points=6, star point ratio=0.5] (node1) at ({3}, {0}) {6-pt};
    \node[shape=regular polygon, fill=green!40, draw=green!70!black, minimum size=2cm, line width=1.5, font=\small, regular polygon sides=6] (node2) at ({6}, {0}) {hex};
    \node[shape=regular polygon, fill=red!30, draw=red!70, minimum size=2cm, line width=1.5, font=\small, regular polygon sides=3] (node3) at ({9}, {0}) {tri};
    \node[shape=cylinder, fill=purple!30, draw=purple!70, minimum width=1.4cm, minimum height=2cm, line width=1.5, font=\small] (node4) at ({12}, {0}) {DB};
\end{tikzpicture}