[Tex/LaTex] Generate Mandelbrot images using TikZ

fractalstikz-pgf

In my thesis that I'm writing on, I'm using a Mandelbrot generator to test an application I've written. To explain a certain problem discussed in the report an actual generated image need to be included.

Since every figure in the report so far has been generated using TikZ, I'm wondering whether I could also generate the Mandelbrot image using TikZ. But would it possible?

Best Answer

There's a Mandelbrot set shading in the shadings library:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shadings}
\begin{document}
\tikz\shade[shading=Mandelbrot set] (0,0) rectangle (4,4);
\end{document}

Mandelbrot set

Displayed with the Acrobat Reader, as the TeXworks PDF previewer did not show high resolution.

The Mandelbrot set is computed and generated by the PDF renderer. The algorithm is written using PostScript commands, PDF supports a subset of Postscript operators, that's why it should be much faster than computing using higher level pgf or TikZ operators.

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[Tex/LaTex] Shrink figure only when necessary

The adjustbox package can be used to scale (or otherwise adjust) images or any other content, like a tikzpicture in several ways. You need the max size={<width>}{<height>} option in your case, which does exactly what you requested, i.e. only shrink the content if it is larger than the given width and/or height. It always keeps the aspect-ratio.

\usepackage{adjustbox}

% ..

\begin{adjustbox}{max size={.95\textwidth}{.8\textheight}}
  \begin{tikzpicture}
    % ..
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{adjustbox}

This is also possible for images. Here the same key can be used with \adjustimage:

\adjustimage{max size={..}{..}}{<imagefilename>}

which uses \includegraphics internally, but wraps it in a \adjustbox macro.

[Tex/LaTex] export Tikz figures to PDF

You can do this with the TikZ library external. It saves each picture in an external file, which has a proper graphics format. From now on TikZ will read the external file unless you tell it to regenerate the external file.

There are several methods that regenerate the external graphics files. For example, by setting the TikZ key external/force remake at the start of your document, you tell TikZ to regenerate subsequent external pictures. You may set the key as follows: tikzset{external/force remake}. Other methods, including methods that use Makefiles, are explained in Section 32.4.3 of the pgf manual.

The following is shamelessly copied from the TikZ manual.

Note: You have to run LaTeX with shell-escape enabled.

\documentclass{article}
% main document, called main.tex
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{external}
\tikzexternalize % activate!
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
\node {root}
child {node {left}}
child {node {right}
child {node {child}}
child {node {child}}
};
\end{tikzpicture}
A simple image is \tikz \fill (0,0) circle(5pt);.
\end{document}

Best Answer

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[Tex/LaTex] Shrink figure only when necessary

[Tex/LaTex] export Tikz figures to PDF

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