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Mathematica > Visualization and Graphics > Symbolic Graphics Language > Graphics Directives > Arrowheads >

Arrowheads

Arrowheads[spec]
is a graphics directive specifying that arrows that follow should have arrowheads with sizes, positions, and forms specified by spec.
  • With the default Arrowheads[Automatic], a single arrowhead is placed at the head of each arrow.
  • Arrowheads[s] specifies that arrowheads should have a length that is a fraction s of the total width of the graphic. The default is 0.04. »
  • The symbolic values Tiny, Small, Medium, and Large can be used for s. With these values, the size of the arrowhead is independent of the total width of the graphic. »
  • Arrowheads specifies that arrows should include several arrowhead elements.
  • Each arrowhead element can be specified as follows:
sdefault arrowhead with scaled size s
{Automatic,pos}default arrowhead at position pos
{s,pos}scaled default arrowhead at position pos
{s,pos,g}arrowhead drawn as graphic g
{s,pos,{g,}}shaft foreshortened by
  • The position pos runs from 0 to 1 from the tail to the head of the arrow.
  • The graphic g is placed so that the origin {0,0} of its coordinates lies at position pos along each arrow.
  • The graphic g is oriented so that its positive axis is aligned with the direction of the shaft at position pos.
  • The graphic g is scaled so that one unit of its coordinates corresponds to a fraction s of the width of the whole graphic in which the arrow is being drawn.
  • With the specification , the shaft of the arrow is foreshortened by in the coordinate system of g. This can prevent a thick shaft from "poking through" arrowheads at the head or tail of the arrow. »
  • In 3D, the default option setting Appearance makes arrowheads always be rendered in the plane of the screen. Appearance makes them be rendered in 3D, and projected into the plane of the screen.
A 2D arrow:
A 3D arrow:
A full 3D arrow primitive using tubes:
A 2D arrow:
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A 3D arrow:
In[1]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[1]=
 
A full 3D arrow primitive using tubes:
In[1]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[1]=
Arrowheads with scaled sizes:
Arrowheads with scaled sizes in 3D:
Arrowheads with scaled sizes for tubes in 3D:
Symbolic values to specify predefined absolute sizes of arrowheads:
Symbolic values in 3D:
With tubed arrows:
Double-headed arrow:
Uniformly spaced arrowheads with specific sizes:
Specify arrowhead size and position:
Specify size and position in 3D:
With tubed arrows:
Multiple arrowheads with specific sizes and positions:
In 3D:
With tubed arrows:
Reverse arrowheads by assigning negative size:
In 3D:
With tubed arrows:
Multiple disconnected arrows:
Multiple disconnected arrows with different arrowheads:
Graphics can be used as an arrowhead:
Graphics3D can also be used as an arrowhead for 3D arrow:
Foreshorten the shaft:
In 3D:
With tubed arrows:
A billboard tree using a projected arrowhead:
Moving arrowheads:
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