Clip a rectangle by the size of another (small) rectangle

clippath-clippingtikz-pgf

I'm trying to make a hole in the 2nd rectangle by the dimension of the 3rd rectangle. It seems that \clip, as it specified in the manual, is clipping all the subsequent drawings. Is there an invert clip command? I'm new to tikz.

Basically, I want the 3rd rectangle to have a white background by removing a portion from the 2nd rectangle. Currently, I used \path[fill=white] to solve the problem.

\documentclass[border=1cm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
%\usepackage{tkz-euclide}
\usetikzlibrary{calc,shapes,decorations,decorations.text, mindmap,shadings,patterns,matrix,arrows.meta,intersections,automata,backgrounds,patterns.meta}


\begin{document}
%\begin{figure}[H]
%\centering

\begin{tikzpicture}[%
  coord/.style = {help lines, color=gray!40, dashed,xstep=0.2cm,ystep=0.2cm},%
  2ndRect/.style = {magenta, pattern=crosshatch, pattern color=magenta},%
  3rdRect/.style = {magenta, pattern=crosshatch dots, pattern color=blue},%
  insideArrow/.style = {black,{latex[scale=2]}-{latex[scale=2]}},%
  simpleArrow/.style = {black,{-latex}},%
  every node/.append style = {font =\bfseries\footnotesize},%
  % scale=.75,
  transform shape
  ]
  %
  % Draw HelpLines just to work faster
  %
   \draw[coord] (-2,-2) grid (20,10);
   \draw[<->,ultra thin] (0,0)--(20,0) node[right]{$x$};
   \draw[<->,ultra thin] (0,0)--(0,5) node[above]{$y$};.
   \foreach \x in {0,0.5,...,19}
     \draw (\x cm,1pt) -- (\x cm,-1pt) node[anchor=north] {$\x$};
   \foreach \y in {0,0.5,...,3}
     \draw (1pt,\y cm) -- (-1pt,\y cm) node[anchor=east] {$\y$};

  %
  % Draw Rectangles
  %
  \draw (2,0.2) rectangle (18,2.4);                       % 1st rectangle
  \draw[2ndRect] (4.5,0.4) rectangle (15.5,2.2);          % 2nd rectangle
  \path[fill=white](6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);          % workaround 4 clipping background
  \draw[3rdRect] (6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);            % 3rd rectangle
  %\clip (6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);          % clipping background
  \node [draw, fill=white] at (7.8,1.3) {S/R1};                              % label
  \node [draw, fill=white]  at (12.3,1.3) {S/R1};                             % label
  \draw[insideArrow] (8.5,1.3) -- (11.6,1.3);             % arrow btwen small rectangles
  \node at (1,1.3) {S4};        % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (1.4,1.3) -- (2.8,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (3.25,1.3) {S3};     % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (3.6,1.3) -- (5.2,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (5.5,1.3) {S2};      % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (5.8,1.3) -- (6.4,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (19,1.3) {R4};       % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (13.6,1.3) -- (14.2,1.3);           % arrow
  \node at (16.75,1.3) {R3};    % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (15,1.3) -- (16.4,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (14.5,1.3) {R2};     % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (17.2,1.3) -- (18.6,1.3);           % arrow
   
\end{tikzpicture}
%\label{fig:tikz}
%\caption{diagrama}
%\end{figure}
\end{document}

Best Answer

You can use the even odd rule to make holes. See section 15.5.2 in pgfmanual

\documentclass[border=1cm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}
%\usepackage{tkz-euclide}
\usetikzlibrary{calc,shapes,decorations,decorations.text, mindmap,shadings,patterns,matrix,arrows.meta,intersections,automata,backgrounds,patterns.meta}


\begin{document}
%\begin{figure}[H]
%\centering

\begin{tikzpicture}[%
  coord/.style = {help lines, color=gray!40, dashed,xstep=0.2cm,ystep=0.2cm},%
  2ndRect/.style = {magenta, pattern=crosshatch, pattern color=magenta},%
  3rdRect/.style = {magenta, pattern=crosshatch dots, pattern color=blue},%
  insideArrow/.style = {black,{latex[scale=2]}-{latex[scale=2]}},%
  simpleArrow/.style = {black,{-latex}},%
  every node/.append style = {font =\bfseries\footnotesize},%
  % scale=.75,
  transform shape
  ]
  %
  % Draw HelpLines just to work faster
  %
   \draw[coord] (-2,-2) grid (20,10);
   \draw[<->,ultra thin] (0,0)--(20,0) node[right]{$x$};
   \draw[<->,ultra thin] (0,0)--(0,5) node[above]{$y$};.
   \foreach \x in {0,0.5,...,19}
     \draw (\x cm,1pt) -- (\x cm,-1pt) node[anchor=north] {$\x$};
   \foreach \y in {0,0.5,...,3}
     \draw (1pt,\y cm) -- (-1pt,\y cm) node[anchor=east] {$\y$};

  %
  % Draw Rectangles
  %
  \draw (2,0.2) rectangle (18,2.4);                       % 1st rectangle
  \draw[2ndRect, even odd rule] (4.5,0.4) rectangle (15.5,2.2) (6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);          % 2nd rectangle
%  \path[fill=white](6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);          % workaround 4 clipping background
  \draw[3rdRect, even odd rule] (6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2) (7.3,1.05) rectangle node[midway, black]{S/R1} (8.3,1.55) (11.8,1.05) rectangle node[midway, black]{S/R1} (12.8,1.55);            % 3rd rectangle
  %\clip (6.5,0.6) rectangle (13.5,2);          % clipping background
%  \node [draw, opacity=0.5] at (7.8,1.3) {S/R1};                              % label
%  \node [draw, opacity=.5]  at (12.3,1.3) {S/R1};                             % label
  \draw[insideArrow] (8.5,1.3) -- (11.6,1.3);             % arrow btwen small rectangles
  \node at (1,1.3) {S4};        % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (1.4,1.3) -- (2.8,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (3.25,1.3) {S3};     % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (3.6,1.3) -- (5.2,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (5.5,1.3) {S2};      % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (5.8,1.3) -- (6.4,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (19,1.3) {R4};       % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (13.6,1.3) -- (14.2,1.3);           % arrow
  \node at (16.75,1.3) {R3};    % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (15,1.3) -- (16.4,1.3);             % arrow
  \node at (14.5,1.3) {R2};     % label
  \draw[simpleArrow] (17.2,1.3) -- (18.6,1.3);           % arrow
   
\end{tikzpicture}
%\label{fig:tikz}
%\caption{diagrama}
%\end{figure}
\end{document}

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Tikz clip shapes with another (built in) shape

Normally \node does not accept the clip option for its path use. Well it does but since the node shape drawing is scoped it doesn't affect the rest of the picture. That's why path picture in Qrrbrbirlbel's answer is possible. But the lower level PGF version survives for the rest of the picture. It's a little bit more laborous but essentially the same idea.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes.geometric}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}

  \begin{scope}
    %\pgfset{shape aspect=0.5} Uncomment this and remove minimum size for this option
    \pgfset{minimum size=3cm,inner sep=2mm}
    \pgfnode{diamond}{center}{}{nodename}{\pgfusepath{stroke,clip}}
    \fill[black] (-1cm,-1cm) rectangle (1cm, 1cm);
  \end{scope}

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

There is a problem here about the bounding box. The actual bounding box is computed by the size of the rectangle if too large even if it is clipped. So one should do another trick after everything is drawn outside the scope, say with an additional node via [use as bounding box].

update (altermundus)

\fbox{\begin{tikzpicture}
    \begin{scope}
        [local bounding box=bb]  \node  [draw,shape=diamond,minimum size=3cm,inner sep=2mm]{};  
    \end{scope}
      \pgfset{minimum size=3cm,inner sep=2mm}
      \pgfnode{diamond}{center}{}{nodename}{\pgfusepath{stroke,clip}}
      \fill[black] (-3cm,-1cm) rectangle (3cm, 1cm);
      \pgfresetboundingbox
       \useasboundingbox (bb.south west) rectangle  (bb.north east);
  \end{tikzpicture}}

enter image description here

EDIT: Regarding the position of the clipping node...

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes.callouts,shapes.geometric}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\draw[top color= black!50] (-2,-2) rectangle (5,4);
\begin{scope}   
    \pgfset{minimum width=5cm,minimum height=3cm}
    \pgfsetlinewidth{1mm}
    \pgftransformshift{\pgfpoint{1.5cm}{1.5cm}}
    \pgfnode{cloud callout}{center}{}{nodename}{\pgfusepath{stroke,clip}}
    %Cleaning up the mess we caused
    \pgftransformreset
    \pgfsetlinewidth{0.4pt} 
    \pgfset{minimum width=1pt,minimum height=1pt}
    % Back to drawing
    \fill[white] (-2cm,-2cm) rectangle (5cm,4cm);
    \fill[red] (0cm,0cm) rectangle (1.5cm, 1.5cm);
    \fill[yellow] (2cm,2cm) circle (1cm);
    \node[fill=blue,rotate=90,isosceles triangle,draw,minimum height=1.5cm] at (2.5cm,1cm) {};
\end{scope}
\node[align=center,draw,anchor=north west] (a) at (nodename.pointer) {Geometric\\Thinker};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

[Tex/LaTex] clip in TikZ leaves a faint outline of clip region even after filling with white!

You say "I would like to clip the region which is inside the middle circle, but outside the other two". Using answers from this question, and this one, you can do it by using a reverseclip like this :

\documentclass[border=1cm]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}

\tikzset{
  reverseclip/.style={insert path={(-99cm,-99cm) rectangle (99cm,99cm)}}
}
\begin{document}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[x=1mm,y=1mm,scale=5]

    %before the clip
    \fill[blue!30] (-10,-10) rectangle (10,10);

    \coordinate (A) at (-6.928,0);
    \coordinate (B) at (0,0);
    \coordinate (C) at (6.928,0);

    % clip
    \begin{pgfinterruptboundingbox}
      \clip (B) circle (6.0);
      \clip[reverseclip] (A) circle (6);
      \clip[reverseclip] (C) circle (6);
    \end{pgfinterruptboundingbox}

    % after the clip
    \fill [orange] (-10,-10) rectangle (10,10);

  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

enter image description here

But if what you want is to understand why you see the outline of the middle circle, then my answer will not helps you.

UPDATE: Here are original next to reversclipped figures:

\documentclass[border=7mm,varwidth]{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz}

\tikzset{
  reverseclip/.style={insert path={(-99cm,-99cm) rectangle (99cm,99cm)}}
}
\begin{document}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[x=1mm,y=1mm,scale=5]
    \coordinate (A) at (-6.928,0);
    \coordinate (B) at (0,0);
    \coordinate (C) at (6.928,0);
    \clip (B) circle (6.0);
    \draw[ultra thick] (B) circle (6.0);
    \filldraw [fill=white,draw=black,thick] (A) circle (6);
    \filldraw [fill=white,draw=black,thick] (C) circle (6);
  \end{tikzpicture}
  \hspace{-4cm}
  \begin{tikzpicture}[x=1mm,y=1mm,scale=5]
    \coordinate (A) at (-6.928,0);
    \coordinate (B) at (0,0);
    \coordinate (C) at (6.928,0);

    % clip
    \begin{pgfinterruptboundingbox}
      \clip (B) circle (6.0);
      \clip[reverseclip] (A) circle (6);
      \clip[reverseclip] (C) circle (6);
    \end{pgfinterruptboundingbox}

    % after the clip
    \draw[ultra thick] (B) circle (6.0);
    \filldraw [fill=white,draw=black,thick] (A) circle (6);
    \filldraw [fill=white,draw=black,thick] (C) circle (6);
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

in Chrome :

enter image description here

and converted with ghostscript (same as Sumatra view) :

enter image description here

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Tikz clip shapes with another (built in) shape

[Tex/LaTex] clip in TikZ leaves a faint outline of clip region even after filling with white!

Related Question