[Tex/LaTex] draw a grid in the foreground

tikz-pgf

I'm trying to follow this example on how to draw a background grid so I can easily connect arrows, but it draws the (non-transparent) picture on top of the grid making it hard to use. I want to draw the grid in the foreground, how can I do that?

Best Answer

You can temporarily use opacity=.5 for the node where you insert the picture:

\node [inner sep=0pt,above right,opacity=.5]   %%% <--- here
            {\includegraphics[width=4cm]{example-image}};

When you are done, simply make opacity = 1 or delete it.

Full code:

\documentclass{beamer} %
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{verbatim}

\usetikzlibrary{arrows,shapes,backgrounds}

\begin{document}
% For every picture that defines or uses external nodes, you'll have to
% apply the 'remember picture' style. To avoid some typing, we'll apply
% the style to all pictures.
\tikzstyle{every picture}+=[remember picture]
\tikzstyle{na} = [baseline=-.5ex]

\begin{frame}

\frametitle{Daniell's pile, saline bridge version}

\begin{columns}
    \begin{column}{0.4\paperwidth}
        % define source coordinates
        \begin{itemize}
            \item Anode \tikz[na] \coordinate (s-anode);
            \item Cathode \tikz[na] \coordinate (s-cathode);
            \item Saline bridge \tikz[na] \coordinate (s-bridge);
        \end{itemize}

    \end{column}
    \begin{column}{0.45\paperwidth}
        % Use a background grid to make it easier to find coordinates
        % When the coordinates have been found, remove the
        % 'show background grid' option.
        \tikzstyle{background grid}=[draw, black!50,step=.5cm]
        \begin{tikzpicture}[show background grid]
            % Put the graphic inside a node. This makes it easy to place the
            % graphic and to draw on top of it.
            % The above right option is used to place the lower left corner
            % of the image at the (0,0) coordinate.            
            \node [inner sep=0pt,above right,opacity=.5]
                {\includegraphics[width=4cm]{example-image}};
            % show origin
            \fill (0,0) circle (2pt);
            % define destination coordinates
            \path (0.7,2) coordinate (cathode)
                  (2,1.8) coordinate (bridge)
                  (2.75,2.5) coordinate (anode);
        \end{tikzpicture}
    \end{column}
\end{columns}

% define overlays
% Note the use of the overlay option. This is required when
% you want to access nodes in different pictures.
\begin{tikzpicture}[overlay]
        \path[->,red,thick] (s-anode) edge [bend left] (anode);
        \path[->,blue,thick] (s-cathode) edge [bend left] (cathode);
        \path[->,red,thick] (s-bridge) edge [out=0, in=-90] (bridge);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{frame}

\end{document}

enter image description here

Or using a scope to draw them after including image.

       \begin{tikzpicture}
        \node [inner sep=0pt,above right]
            {\includegraphics[width=4cm]{example-image}};
        \path (0.7,2) coordinate (cathode)
            (2,1.2) coordinate (bridge)
            (2.75,2.5) coordinate (anode);
        \begin{scope}
        \draw (current bounding box.south west)
                    grid [step=0.5cm] (current bounding box.north east);
        \end{scope}
    \end{tikzpicture}

enter image description here

PS: I have used example-image from mwe package. Change it with your picture.

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