A brief introduction into TikZ

Norbert Manthey
International Center for Computational Logic
Dresden
Technische Universitat
Germany

I What is TikZ?
I How to draw figures?
I How to place text inside the figures?

These slides are based on slides of Tobias Pietzsch

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

PGF and TikZ

I PGF (portable graphics format)

. package for creating graphics inline

. TEX and LATEX input
. PDF, PostScript, and SVG output
. three layers: System, Basic, and Frontend

I TikZ(TikZ is not a drawing program)

. is a PGF frontend layer.

. high-level user interface.
. Current version 2.00 is quite old (February 2008)
. For features and bug-fixes: http://www.texample.net/tikz/builds/

I written by Till Tantau (author of Beamer package) and Mark Wibrow.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Setup your environment

I Use a LATEX document

I Use the TikZ package and required TikZ libraries

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{...}
I Draw TikZ figure in the document.

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

\tikz \draw (0,0) circle (0.5);

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Setup your environment

I Use a LATEX document

I Use the TikZ package and required TikZ libraries

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{...}
I Draw TikZ figure in the document.

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

\tikz \draw (0,0) circle (0.5);

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Setup your environment

I Use a LATEX document

I Use the TikZ package and required TikZ libraries

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{...}
I Draw TikZ figure in the document.

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

\tikz \draw (0,0) circle (0.5);

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Drawing Basics

I A path is a series of straight and curved line segments.

I Syntax:

\path (path-operation | graphic-option)* ;

I there are two major operations: draw and node
I \draw is an abbreviation for \path [draw]

. Next, drawing figures by using \draw is presented

. By using \node text is added afterwards

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

I Move-To Operation: move to coordinate (0,0)

I without drawing anything

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

I Circle Operation: draw circle with radius (0.5)

I current point remains (0,0)

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

I Move-To Operation: move to coordinate (-0.5,-0.5)

I without drawing anything

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

I Line-To Operation: line to coordinate (0.5,0.5)

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Drawing with paths

I A step by step example for \draw:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\path [draw] (0,0) circle (0.5)
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5) ;
\end{tikzpicture}

I Path ends.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue] (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Add color to the line.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white] (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Fill the circle with color.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white,fill opacity=0.6]
(0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Make circle transparent.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white,fill opacity=0.6]
(0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [thick] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Draw a thick line.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white,fill opacity=0.6]
(0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [thick, dashed] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Draw a dashed line.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white,fill opacity=0.6]
(0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [thick, dashed, ->] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Draw an arrow.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Graphic Options
I Add color and line styles to the picture:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [color=blue, fill=blue!20!white,fill opacity=0.6]
(0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [thick, dashed, ->, rotate=30]
(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Rotate the arrow.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw [orange, very thick] (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [orange, very thick](-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw [orange, very thick](0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\begin{tikzpicture} [orange, very thick]

\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw(0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Define a set of options for the whole figure.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\begin{scope} [orange, very thick]
\draw(-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw(0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{scope}
\end{tikzpicture}

I Set a scope.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\begin{tikzpicture}
[marked/.style = {orange, very thick}]
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [marked] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw [marked] (0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Define a style.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\tikzset{marked/.style = {orange, very thick}}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [marked] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw [marked] (0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Draw a global style.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Scoping and Grouping Graphic Options

I Grouping multiple graphic options:

\tikzset{marked/.style = {orange, very thick}}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw (0,0) circle (0.5);
\draw [marked,blue] (-0.5,-0.5) -- (0.5,0.5);
\draw [marked,dashed] (0.5,-0.5) -- (-0.5,0.5);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Properties of styles can be overwritten.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Coordinates
I There exists multiple coordinate systems

. Polar coordinates are not introduced here

I Absolute coordinates

\tikz \draw [thick,red] (0,0) -- (2mm, 0) -- (2mm, 5pt);

I Relative coordinates
\tikz \draw [thick,red] (0,0) -- +(2mm, 0) -- +(0, 5pt);

I Named points
\tikz \draw [thick,red] (0,0) -- ++(2mm, 0) -- +(0, 5pt);

I Named points
\tikz \draw [thick,red] (10mm,1mm) coordinate (c1) circle (5pt)
(0,0) -- (c1);

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Nodes

I A node is a simple shape with some text on it.

hello

\tikz \path node [shape=circle, draw, color=red] {hello};

I Constructed using the path-operation node.

I \path node can be abbreviated as \node.
I shape= and color= can be omitted if there is no confusion.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Nodes

I A node is a simple shape with some text on it.

hello

\tikz \node [circle, draw, red] {hello};

I Constructed using the path-operation node.

I \path node can be abbreviated as \node.
I shape= and color= can be omitted if there is no confusion.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Node Syntax
\path ... node

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

[options]

(name)

at (coordinate)

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{contents} ...;

Node Syntax
\path ... node

[options]

(name)

at (coordinate)

{contents} ...;

I options may contain node shape, color, sizes, labels, . . .

I A node may get a name for later reference.
I A node may be placed using at (coordinate).

(Otherwise it is placed at the current path coordinate.)

I Nodes contents can be arbitrary LATEX.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Node Syntax
\path ... node

[options]

(name)

at (coordinate)

{contents} ...;

I options may contain node shape, color, sizes, labels, . . .

I A node may get a name for later reference.
I A node may be placed using at (coordinate).

(Otherwise it is placed at the current path coordinate.)

I Nodes contents can be arbitrary LATEX.

TikZ is quite liberal with respect to the order of the arguments.

hello

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\tikz \node [circle] at (0,0) [draw] (hello) [red] {hello};

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Placing Nodes
p1

p1

pn

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [packet] (p1) at (0,0.5) {$p_1$};
\node [packet] (p1) at (1,0.5) {$p_1$};
\node [packet] (p1) at (4,0.5) {$p_1$};
\end{tikzpicture}
I Can be placed at absolute positions.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Placing Nodes
p1

p2

pn

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [packet] (p1) at (0,0.5) {$p_1$};
\node [packet,right=0.25of p1] (p2) {$p_2$}
\node [packet,right=2of p2] (pn) {$p_n$}
\end{tikzpicture}
I Relative placement allows to say things like:

. Node (p2) should be right of (p1) (wherever (p1) happens to be).

. Requires the positioning TikZ library:
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}
. available: right=of, below=of, above left=of, . . .

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Connecting Nodes
I We can simply draw paths between node anchors.

\usetikzlibrary{arrows}
b

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a.east) -- (b.west);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Each node has anchors, e.g. east, west, center, . . .

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Connecting Nodes
I We can simply draw paths between node anchors.

\usetikzlibrary{arrows}
b

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) -- (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Each node has anchors, e.g. east, west, center, . . .

I If anchor specifications are left out TikZ tries to be smart about the anchor it

should choose.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Connecting Nodes
I We can simply draw paths between node anchors.

\usetikzlibrary{arrows}
b

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) -| (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

I Each node has anchors, e.g. east, west, center, . . .

I If anchor specifications are left out TikZ tries to be smart about the anchor it

should choose.
I Another path operation -|
I Again, TikZ is clever about the correct anchors

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Connecting Nodes

I A very powerful path operation is to.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

38

Connecting Nodes

I A very powerful path operation is to.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

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Connecting Nodes

I A very powerful path operation is to.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\begin{tikzpicture}[>=latex]
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [out=0, in=180] (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

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Labeling Connections
I Connections can be labeled by inserting text nodes in the path.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

41

Labeling Connections
I Connections can be labeled by inserting text nodes in the path.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] node [auto] {$f$} (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

42

Labeling Connections
I Connections can be labeled by inserting text nodes in the path.

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] node [auto] {$f$} (b);
\end{tikzpicture}

I The auto option places the label such that it is next to the path and doesnt

overlap anything.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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Labeling Connections
I Connections can be labeled by inserting text nodes in the path.

b
f
a

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] node [auto,swap] {$f$}(b);
\end{tikzpicture}

I The auto option places the label such that it is next to the path and doesnt

overlap anything.
I swap places the label on the other side of the path.

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

44

Labeling Connections
I Connections can be labeled by inserting text nodes in the path.

b
f

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [circle, draw] (a) {a};
\node [circle, draw] (b) [above right=of a] {b};
\draw [->] (a) to [bend left=45] node [left] {$f$}(b);
\end{tikzpicture}

I The auto option places the label such that it is next to the path and doesnt

overlap anything.
I swap places the label on the other side of the path.
I Instead of auto, also left, above, right and below can be used

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

45

For Loop

I For drawing multiple objects a for loop can be used

I Loops can be nested

\begin{tikzpicture}
\foreach \y in {1,2,3} {
\draw [blue, ultra thick] (0,\y ) circle [radius=0.3];
}
\end{tikzpicture}

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A brief introduction into TikZ

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Good Practice
I Place nodes relative to each other
I Do not use to many colors and styles
I Do not overload figures.

I Further information:

. Gnuplot has a TikZ terminal

. Inkscape can export to TikZ
. Dia is another GUI that can export TikZ
. see http://www.texample.net/tikz/resources/

Norbert Manthey
A brief introduction into TikZ

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