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Inset
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Inset

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Inset[obj]

represents an object obj inset in a graphic.

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Inset[obj,pos]

specifies that the inset should be placed at position pos in the graphic.

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Inset[obj,pos,opos]

aligns the inset so that position opos in the object lies at position pos in the enclosing graphic.

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Inset[obj,pos,opos,size]

specifies the size of the inset in the coordinate system of the enclosing graphic.

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Inset[obj,pos,opos,size,dirs]

specifies that the axes of the inset should be oriented in directions dirs.

Details and Options

  • Inset can be used in Graphics and Graphics3D.
  • In interactive manipulation, Inset[obj,…] is by default selected as a single unit. A double‐click is required to select individual elements inside.
  • The object obj can be a graphic, cell expression, string, or any other expression.
  • An object inset in Graphics3D is displayed as a billboard while the 3D graphic is rotated.
  • Positions can be specified by:
  • {x,y}ordinary coordinates in a plot
    Scaled[{x,y},…]scaled coordinates from 0 to 1
    ImageScaled[{x,y},…]scaled coordinates from 0 to 1 across a whole image
    Offset[{dx,dy},…]absolute offset in printer's points
    Center, etc.{Center,Center}, etc.
    {valx,valy,valz}coordinates in a 3D graphic
  • coordinates can be numbers, Automatic, or Left, Center, Right, or Axis.
  • coordinates can be numbers, Automatic, or Top, Center, Bottom, Baseline, or Axis.
  • Axis corresponds to the position of the axis in a plot or the center line in typeset text.
  • Center corresponds to a position centered with respect to the whole image.
  • Inset[obj] is equivalent to Inset[obj,Center].
  • The default for opos is the setting for the AlignmentPoint option of obj, or by default, the center of the bounding box for obj.
  • If size is Automatic, the inset is given at its natural size:
  • graphicdetermined by ImageSize setting
    typeset expressionabsolute size without wrapping
  • A size of {w,Automatic} specifies that a typeset expression should be wrapped at width w.
  • If size is given as {w,h}, then any object obj whose aspect ratio is not fixed will be horizontally or vertically stretched so as to fit exactly in a w×h rectangle.
  • If obj is an object with fixed aspect ratio, then blank space will be left equally on both sides if there is a direction where the object would have to be stretched in order to fit exactly.
  • The setting for the option Background specifies the background to be used for the whole region of the inset.
  • By default, the inset is arranged so that its and directions are oriented with the and directions of the enclosing graphic.
  • Inset[…,dirs] can be used to specify different orientations.
  • Possible choices for dirs are:
  • Automaticdefault orientation
    {xx,xy} direction along {xx,xy}
    {Automatic,{yx,yy}} direction along {yx,yy}
    {{xx,xy},{yx,yy}} and directions along {xx,xy} and {yx,yy}
    Nonenever reorient the contents of the Inset
  • Specifying only the or only the direction in general leads to a rigid rotation of the inset.
  • Specifying both the and directions in general leads to a rotation and shear, in which the original inset rectangle becomes a parallelogram defined by the vector directions given.
  • Only the directions of the vectors {xx,xy} and {yx,yy} are significant; the scale of the inset is determined by {w,h}.
  • With dirs specified as None, the direction of obj is always maintained as horizontal.
  • With dirs specified as {Automatic,None}, the direction is maintained as vertical.
  • If Inset[Graphics3D[…],{x,y}] appears in a 2D graphic, then the projection of the alignment point of the Graphics3D, or by default the center of its 2D bounding box, will be placed at position {x,y} in the 2D graphic.
  • Inset[Graphics3D[…],{x,y,z},{ox,oy}] specifies that position {ox,oy} in the 2D projection of the object should lie at position {x,y,z}.
  • The 2D graphic is always taken to be oriented parallel to the viewing plane for the 3D graphic.
  • The following options can be given for Inset:
  • Alignment Lefthow to align the contents of the inset
    Background Nonethe background to use for the whole region of the inset
    BaseStyle {}the base style to use for the inset
    ContentSelectable Automaticwhether to allow contents to be selected
    FormatType Automaticformat type for text
  • Background->Automatic uses whatever background has been specified for the whole graphic containing the inset.
  • Scaled, ImageScaled, and Offset forms can be used to specify the size.

Examples

open allclose all

Basic Examples  (4)Summary of the most common use cases

Inset a plot into a disk:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-icp3tk
Out[1]=1

Inset an expression in a graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-lkdt6
Out[1]=1

Inset 3D graphics above a 2D plot:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ef9yar
Out[1]=1

Inset a 2D graphic into a 3D graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-f2agt5
Out[1]=1

Scope  (19)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

Positions  (6)

By default, Center is used for the position:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-1bcgg
Out[1]=1

Automatic is equivalent to Center:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cchqh9
Out[2]=2

Specify ordinary coordinates in a graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-tmg5z
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-f03eji
Out[2]=2

Use Scaled coordinates:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-juvsq
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-hw5fvl
Out[2]=2

ImageScaled specifies coordinates in a whole image including padding:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-swuf7
Out[1]=1

Use Offset coordinates:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-joaeae
Out[1]=1

Symbolic positions can be specified:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-uh4ps
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-erio5d
Out[2]=2

Alignments  (4)

By default, Center is used for the alignment position:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-b6xrvm
Out[1]=1

Automatic is equivalent to Center:

In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-i147g
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gnz65x
Out[3]=3

Specify an alignment position within the inset, using symbolic positions:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-c1msl2
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-8q5w6
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-j7001r
Out[3]=3
In[4]:=4
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fe6y68
Out[4]=4

Specify an alignment position using the inset graphics coordinates:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-hllps
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-h3ramn
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-jsbzyu
Out[3]=3
In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ip8bhf
Out[4]=4
In[5]:=5
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-q7vgz
Out[5]=5

Set the axis as an alignment position:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-h5cs53
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-graqvb
Out[2]=2

Sizes  (6)

If the size is not given, or is Automatic, the image size of the inset graphic is used:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ca1ev5
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-t8w7r
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fukff7
Out[3]=3

For typeset expressions, absolute font size is used:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gfnq4b
Out[1]=1

Specify the width of the inset by the units of the enclosing graphic:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ktz9k
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cmkru5
Out[2]=2

Given both width and height sizes, the inset graphic will be stretched, if the aspect ratio is not fixed:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-bazcbd
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-btte5s
Out[2]=2

{w,Automatic} specifies the width at which a typeset expression should be wrapped:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-derx99
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-p8kefy
Out[2]=2

In 3D graphics, image size is specified in absolute values:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gr5bdr
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ptjm2
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-02bja
Out[3]=3

Scaled can also be used to specify the image size:

In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fdp2gl
Out[4]=4

Directions  (3)

Specify the direction with which the axis of the inset should be aligned:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-l5t9sc
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cvwbsv
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-sqzls
Out[3]=3
In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-iuhvlm
Out[4]=4
In[5]:=5
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-d1y4z8
Out[5]=5

Specify the direction with which the axis of the inset should be aligned:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-b1ezac
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gx6ez9
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cjblr5
Out[3]=3
In[4]:=4
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-bef4c9
Out[4]=4
In[5]:=5
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-6ov1d
Out[5]=5

Specify the directions for the and axes separately:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-iy0bp3
In[2]:=2
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ha1j26
Out[2]=2
In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cs1tlp
Out[3]=3

Generalizations & Extensions  (3)Generalized and extended use cases

Flip in the direction:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-jwqvp3
Out[1]=1

Flip in the direction:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-b24o5s
Out[1]=1

Inset a control:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-d9a7le
Out[1]=1

Options  (7)Common values & functionality for each option

Alignment  (1)

Determine how to align the contents of the inset:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-37lpx
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-egkau0
Out[2]=2

Background  (1)

Specify the background color:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-c7jqi8
Out[1]=1

BaseStyle  (2)

Set the base style:

In[1]:=1
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https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-milu1
Out[1]=1

Use a named style:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-hder2o
Out[1]=1

ContentSelectable  (1)

Determine whether to allow the contents to be selected:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cg269j
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-cdv3t2
Out[2]=2

FormatType  (2)

By default, expressions are displayed using TraditionalForm:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-clvyw6
Out[1]=1

Display expressions using StandardForm:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-d0fh0a
Out[1]=1

Applications  (3)Sample problems that can be solved with this function

Multiple function plot with a legend:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fasj3h
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-ent10h
Out[2]=2

Select countries:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-mrosdd

Set up an annotation function using Inset:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fummq0

Display the map with the annotations:

In[3]:=3
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fdi9zh
Out[3]=3

Define a stock plot with a legend:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-c4zk56

Draw stock price changes of a few automakers:

In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-8uyes
Out[2]=2

Properties & Relations  (2)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions

The symbolic positions are relative to ImageScaled coordinates:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gb3ech
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-nmlb3c
Out[2]=2

For typeset expressions, Text offers functionality similar to Inset:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-flrwby
Out[1]=1
In[2]:=2
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-gxkn1l
Out[2]=2

Neat Examples  (1)Surprising or curious use cases

Random collage of text:

In[1]:=1
✖
https://wolfram.com/xid/0y8ej7-fxny85
Out[1]=1
Wolfram Research (2007), Inset, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html (updated 2014).
✖
Wolfram Research (2007), Inset, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html (updated 2014).

Text

Wolfram Research (2007), Inset, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html (updated 2014).

✖
Wolfram Research (2007), Inset, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html (updated 2014).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2007. "Inset." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2014. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html.

✖
Wolfram Language. 2007. "Inset." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2014. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2007). Inset. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html

✖
Wolfram Language. (2007). Inset. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_inset, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Inset}", year="2014", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html}", note=[Accessed: 25-March-2025 ]}

✖
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_inset, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Inset}", year="2014", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html}", note=[Accessed: 25-March-2025 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_inset, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Inset}, year={2014}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html}, note=[Accessed: 25-March-2025 ]}

✖
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_inset, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Inset}, year={2014}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Inset.html}, note=[Accessed: 25-March-2025 ]}