TeX: Creating Graphics

There are many ways to create a picture in TeX , including using:

• libraries of TeX macros (from CTAN): macros/generic/diagrams and graphics;
• METAFONT;
• (another) graphics programming language;
• a GUI utility which outputs (La)TeX source;
• postscript utilites.

1. Using TeX/LaTeX Macros

1.1. TeXdraw

"TeXdraw consists of a set of TeX macros that create line drawings and otherfigures. The drawing commands generate PostScript code."

The manual: ps.gz; local mirror: ps.gz.

1.2. Graph-TeX

"Graph-TeX is actually a Perl library (graphtex.pl) along with a preprocessor (gt) which can be used to generate TeXdraw commands producing graphs and related diagrams in side a TeX environment. "

1.3. XY-Pic

"XY-pic is a package for typsetting graphs and diagrams using... [TeX ]... XY-pic works with most of the many formats available, e.g., Plain TeX , LaTeX ,.... "

XY-pic is implemented using standard TeX and Metafont, so is not limited to PostScript output.

See the XY-pic documentation on CTAN for further information; local mirror — user guide: dvi, ps; reference manual: dvi, ps.

1.4. MF-Pic and MK-Pic

The mfpic package is a set of macros for METAFONT and TeX which incorporate Metafont-drawn pictures into a TeX file.

The manual; local mirror: tex, dvi, ps.gz.

1.5. PiCTeX

PiCTeX is a set of macros for drawing diagrams and pictures. The macros are freely available; however the manual is not free — it is available only from Personal TeX Inc, the vendors of PCTeX.

2. Using MetaFont

Zdenek Wagner (wagner@csearn.bitnet --- preferred, wagner@earn.cvut.cs) has written a document, Simple drawings with METAFONT which describes how to make simple drawings with METAFONT and inclusion into LaTeX documents. Its intended for the "slightly advanced", though a knowledge of [the contents of] the METAFONT book is not needed; alternatively access ISD's local copy.

3. Graphics Programming Languages

3.1. MetaPost

"The MetaPost system is based on Knuth's Metafont... MetaPost is a graphics language like Metafont, but with new primitives for integrating text and graphics and for accessing special features of PostScript... "

"While MetaPost could be used as a tool for generating PostScript fonts, the intended application is to generate figure for TeX and troff documents. The figures can be integrated in to a TeX document via... dvips. "

4. GUI Utilities

4.1. xjpdraw

xjpdraw is a GUI graphics editor, the output of which is a combination of LaTeX source code and PostScript.

The users' manual: ps.gz; local mirror: ps.gz.

4.2. xfig

Xfig is a GUI drawing tool which can export to LaTeX source code.

5. Postscript Utilities

PSTricks is a collection of Postscript-based TeX macros that is compatible with most TeX macro packages, including Plain TeX and LaTeX . PSTricks gives you color, graphics, rotation, trees, overlays...

For more details, including the manual, see the PSTricks website; local mirror: Part One ps.gz, Part Two ps.gz, Part Three ps.gz, Part Four ps.gz.