Getting started with TikZ 1

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TikZ is a package used for programmatic creation of graphics in LaTex[ more info… ]. Points and paths are the basic elements used to draw pictures in TikZ.

Points and Paths

Path is drawn between two coordinates in a picture environment by specifying a “path extension operation”. The simplest path operation is a solid line just obtained with “–”. Every path must end with a semicolon(“;”). For drawing the path, we can use \draw command which is an abbreviation for \path[draw]. We can discuss more about the path command in the later sections. The syntax for path is

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path[draw] (x1,y1) -- (x2,y2);
\end{tikzpicture}

Points are the co-ordinates in the TIkZ picture environment can be specified in any of the following ways:

  • Cartesian coordinates : The syntax is ( a, b) where point “a” centimeters in the x-direction and “b” centimeters in the y-direction from origin. TikZ uses one centimeter as the default unit of measure.
  • Polar coordinates : The syntax is (α : r) where an angle, “α” in degrees, and distance from the origin, “r” in centimeters
  • Named points : It is sometimes convenient to refer to a point by name, especially when this point occurs in multiple \draw commands. The syntax is:
    \path (a,b) coordinate (P); assigns name “P” to the Cartesian coordinate ( a, b). \path (α:r) coordinate (Q); assigns name “Q” to polar coordinate (α:r)
  • Relative points : A relative point may be defined by providing offsets in the respective units. \path (P) ++(∆x,∆y) coordinate (Q); defines a new relative point “Q” in Cartesian coordinates to point “P” at ∆x and ∆y offset. \path (P) ++(α:rim) coordinate (Q); defines a new relative point “Q” in polar coordinates to point “P” at a angle α and radius r.

 

 

 

Quick start

  • Add the Tikz package to preamble and create a graphic object using TikZ environment. 
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
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\end{tikzpicture}
  • The first TikZ figure I prefer in this get started is background grid. It is the most helpful item in the process of developing and debugging TikZ based graphics. In the following code snippet Line-6 generates grid between (-1,-1) and (1,1) coordinates and the grid lines are spaced 0.5cm apart.
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
%\draw[step=spacing,thickness-of-gridline,color-of-gridline]
%      (x1,y1) grid (x2,y2);
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • Draw a horizontal line of 1cm starting at (0,0), red colored and 2pt thickness
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (0,0) -- (1,0);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw both horizontal and vertical line
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (1,0) -- (0,0);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (0,0) -- (0,1);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw a triangle
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
%\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (1,0) -- (0,0);
%\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (0,0) -- (0,1); 
%\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (0,1) -- (1,0); 
% more precise way 
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red]
     (1,0) -- (0,0) -- (0,1) -- cycle;
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw a square filled with color we use fill command instead of draw command
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\fill[line width=2pt,color=red] 
     (1,0) -- (0,0) -- (0,1) -- (1,1) -- cycle;
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw a filled square with rounded corners
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\fill[line width=2pt,color=red] 
{[rounded corners] (1,0) -- (0,0) -- (0,1) -- (1,1)} -- cycle;
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • A circle is drawn by providing its center point or origin and the desired radius. The command is

    \draw (a,b) circle (radius=r0);

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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] 
(0,0) circle[radius=1];
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw an arc
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red] (-1,0)  arc (180:90:1) ;
\draw[fill=red] (0,0)-- +(270:1cm) arc (270:360:1cm) -- cycle;
\fill[color=red] (0,0) circle[radius=0.1];
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw an ellipse
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,very thin,black!20] (-2,-1) grid (2,1);
\draw[step=0.5,thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • To draw an ellipse
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,thin,black!20] (-2,-1) grid (2,1);
\draw[line width=2pt,color=red,rotate=45] 
      (0,0) ellipse (1.5 and 0.75);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • Adding text to the picture
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
    \node[draw,circle] at (-0.5,-0.5) (start) {start};
    \node[draw,circle] at (0.5,0.5) (end) {end};
    \draw[red,->] (start) to (end);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • Scaling the picture
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=2]
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[step=0.5,thin,black!20] (-1,-1) grid (1,1);
    \node[draw,circle] at (-0.5,-0.5) (start) {start};
    \node[draw,circle] at (0.5,0.5) (end) {end};
    \draw[red,->] (start) to (end);
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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  • Plotting the data
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    \usepackage{tikz}
\begin{tikzpicture}[domain=0:7,scale=0.5]
%--------start graphics code --------
\draw[very thin,color=gray] (0,-1) grid (7,7);
    \draw[->] (-0.2,0) -- (7,0) node[right] {$x$};
    \draw[->] (0,-1.2) -- (0,7) node[above] {$f(x)$};
    \draw[thick, color=red] plot[id=x] 
         function{x} node[right] {$f(x) =x$};
    \draw[color=blue] plot[id=sin] 
         function{sin(x)} node[right] {$f(x) = \sin x$};
%--------end graphics code ----------
\end{tikzpicture}

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