# TikZImages

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## Graphic Images, TikZImages

This example shows how to create an image/plot using Tikz.

PG problem file Explanation
```DOCUMENT();
"PGstandard.pl",
"MathObjects.pl",
"PGML.pl",
"PGtikz.pl"
);
TEXT(beginproblem());
```

Initialization: It is important to include the PGtikz.pl macro.

```\$graph_image = createTikZImage();
\$graph_image->tikzLibraries("arrows.meta");

# Randomization
\$a = non_zero_random(-6,6);  # horizonatal translation
\$b = random(-4,4);           # vertical translation

\$graph_image->BEGIN_TIKZ
\draw[<->,thick] (-11,0) -- (11,0) node[above left,outer sep=2pt]{\(x\)};
\draw[<->,thick] (0,-11) -- (0,11) node[below right,outer sep=2pt]{\(y\)};
\foreach \x in {-10,-8,...,-2,2,4,...,10} \draw[thin] (\x,5pt) -- (\x,-5pt) node[below]{\(\x\)};
\foreach \y in {-10,-8,...,-2,2,4,...,10} \draw[thin] (5pt,\y) -- (-5pt,\y) node[left]{\(\y\)};
\draw[<->,red] plot[domain={-3.2+\$a}:{3.2+\$a}] (\x,{pow(\x-\$a,2)+\$b});
END_TIKZ

```

Setup:

• The createTikZImage() function creates an image to be built using tikz.
• By default an 'svg' image will be generated, which will generally look better than a 'png image.
• In certain cases the 'svg' creation methods do not give the correct output, and so in those cases a 'png' image may be generated instead by adding \$graph_image->ext('png');.
• The \$graph_image->tikzLibraries("arrows.meta"); will load the arrows.meta Tikz library.
• pg variables \$a and \$b are defined for use in the TikZ code that follows. If the TikZ code references non-existent pg variables the image creation fails silently.
• The actual tikz image is built between \$graph_image->BEGIN_TIKZ and END_TIKZ
```BEGIN_PGML

[@ image(\$graph_image, width => 300, tex_size => 1000) @]*

END_PGML
```

Main Text: This is how to insert the tikz image. Note the width and tex_size parameters can change the size of the image on the web and as hardcopy.

Note that you may want to call \$image = image(\$graph_image, width => 300, tex_size => 1000) above and use [@ \$image @]* here while developing the problem. If the image call occurs inside the BEGIN_PGML/END_PGML section, then you will not get the warnings from failed image generation. You will instead get no image, and no reason as to why.

```ENDDOCUMENT();
```

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