pyvista.Renderer.add_ruler#

Renderer.add_ruler(
pointa,
pointb,
flip_range=False,
number_labels=None,
show_labels=True,
font_size_factor=0.6,
label_size_factor=1.0,
label_format=None,
title='Distance',
number_minor_ticks=0,
tick_length=5,
minor_tick_length=3,
show_ticks=True,
tick_label_offset=2,
label_color=None,
tick_color=None,
scale=1.0,
)[source]#

Add ruler.

The ruler is a 2D object that is not occluded by 3D objects. To avoid issues with perspective, it is recommended to use parallel projection, i.e. Plotter.enable_parallel_projection(), and place the ruler orthogonal to the viewing direction.

The title and labels are placed to the right of ruler moving from pointa to pointb. Use flip_range to flip the 0 location, if needed.

Since the ruler is placed in an overlay on the viewing scene, the camera does not automatically reset to include the ruler in the view.

Parameters:
pointasequence[float]

Starting point for ruler.

pointbsequence[float]

Ending point for ruler.

flip_rangebool, default: False

If True, the distance range goes from pointb to pointa.

number_labelsint, optional

Number of labels to place on ruler. If not supplied, the number will be adjusted for “nice” values.

show_labelsbool, default: True

Whether to show labels.

font_size_factorfloat, default: 0.6

Factor to scale font size overall.

label_size_factorfloat, default: 1.0

Factor to scale label size relative to title size.

label_formatstr, optional

A printf style format for labels, e.g. ‘%E’.

titlestr, default: “Distance”

The title to display.

number_minor_ticksint, default: 0

Number of minor ticks between major ticks.

tick_lengthint, default: 5

Length of ticks in pixels.

minor_tick_lengthint, default: 3

Length of minor ticks in pixels.

show_ticksbool, default: True

Whether to show the ticks.

tick_label_offsetint, default: 2

Offset between tick and label in pixels.

label_colorColorLike, optional

Either a string, rgb list, or hex color string for label and title colors.

Warning

This is either white or black.

tick_colorColorLike, optional

Either a string, rgb list, or hex color string for tick line colors.

scalefloat, default: 1.0

Scale factor for the ruler.

Added in version 0.44.0.

Returns:
vtk.vtkActor

VTK actor of the ruler.

Examples

>>> import pyvista as pv
>>> cone = pv.Cone(height=2.0, radius=0.5)
>>> plotter = pv.Plotter()
>>> _ = plotter.add_mesh(cone)

Measure x direction of cone and place ruler slightly below.

>>> _ = plotter.add_ruler(
...     pointa=[cone.bounds[0], cone.bounds[2] - 0.1, 0.0],
...     pointb=[cone.bounds[1], cone.bounds[2] - 0.1, 0.0],
...     title="X Distance",
... )

Measure y direction of cone and place ruler slightly to left. The title and labels are placed to the right of the ruler when traveling from pointa to pointb.

>>> _ = plotter.add_ruler(
...     pointa=[cone.bounds[0] - 0.1, cone.bounds[3], 0.0],
...     pointb=[cone.bounds[0] - 0.1, cone.bounds[2], 0.0],
...     flip_range=True,
...     title="Y Distance",
... )
>>> plotter.enable_parallel_projection()
>>> plotter.view_xy()
>>> plotter.show()
../../../_images/pyvista-Renderer-add_ruler-1_00_00.png