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OrientedArrow

vtk-examples/Python/GeometricObjects/OrientedArrow

Description

This example illustrates how to create and display an arrow that passes through two points.

It demonstrates two different ways to apply the transform:

  1. Use vtkTransformPolyDataFilter to create a new transformed polydata. This method is useful if the transformed polydata is needed later in the pipeline, e.g. vtkGlyph3DFilter.

  2. Apply the transform directly to the actor using vtkProp3D's SetUserMatrix. No new data is produced.

Switch between the two methods by #defining USER_MATRIX or leaving out the #define.

Seealso

Compare this example with OrientedCylinder. The transform is different because the cylinder

height direction is along the y-axis and the arrow height is along the x axis.

Other languages

See (Cxx), (Java), (CSharp)

Question

If you have a question about this example, please use the VTK Discourse Forum

Code

OrientedArrow.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

# noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
import vtkmodules.vtkInteractionStyle
# noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
import vtkmodules.vtkRenderingOpenGL2
from vtkmodules.vtkCommonColor import vtkNamedColors
from vtkmodules.vtkCommonCore import (
    vtkMath,
    vtkMinimalStandardRandomSequence
)
from vtkmodules.vtkCommonMath import vtkMatrix4x4
from vtkmodules.vtkCommonTransforms import vtkTransform
from vtkmodules.vtkFiltersGeneral import vtkTransformPolyDataFilter
from vtkmodules.vtkFiltersSources import (
    vtkArrowSource,
    vtkSphereSource
)
from vtkmodules.vtkRenderingCore import (
    vtkActor,
    vtkPolyDataMapper,
    vtkRenderWindow,
    vtkRenderWindowInteractor,
    vtkRenderer
)

"""
There are two alternative ways to apply the transform.
 1) Use vtkTransformPolyDataFilter to create a new transformed polydata.
    This method is useful if the transformed polydata is needed
      later in the pipeline
    To do this, set USER_MATRIX = True
 2) Apply the transform directly to the actor using vtkProp3D's SetUserMatrix.
    No new data is produced.
    To do this, set USER_MATRIX = False
"""
USER_MATRIX = True


def main():
    colors = vtkNamedColors()

    # Set the background color.
    colors.SetColor('BkgColor', [26, 51, 77, 255])

    # Create an arrow.
    arrowSource = vtkArrowSource()

    # Generate a random start and end point
    startPoint = [0] * 3
    endPoint = [0] * 3
    rng = vtkMinimalStandardRandomSequence()
    rng.SetSeed(8775070)  # For testing.
    for i in range(0, 3):
        rng.Next()
        startPoint[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)
        rng.Next()
        endPoint[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)

    # Compute a basis
    normalizedX = [0] * 3
    normalizedY = [0] * 3
    normalizedZ = [0] * 3

    # The X axis is a vector from start to end
    vtkMath.Subtract(endPoint, startPoint, normalizedX)
    length = vtkMath.Norm(normalizedX)
    vtkMath.Normalize(normalizedX)

    # The Z axis is an arbitrary vector cross X
    arbitrary = [0] * 3
    for i in range(0, 3):
        rng.Next()
        arbitrary[i] = rng.GetRangeValue(-10, 10)
    vtkMath.Cross(normalizedX, arbitrary, normalizedZ)
    vtkMath.Normalize(normalizedZ)

    # The Y axis is Z cross X
    vtkMath.Cross(normalizedZ, normalizedX, normalizedY)
    matrix = vtkMatrix4x4()

    # Create the direction cosine matrix
    matrix.Identity()
    for i in range(0, 3):
        matrix.SetElement(i, 0, normalizedX[i])
        matrix.SetElement(i, 1, normalizedY[i])
        matrix.SetElement(i, 2, normalizedZ[i])

    # Apply the transforms
    transform = vtkTransform()
    transform.Translate(startPoint)
    transform.Concatenate(matrix)
    transform.Scale(length, length, length)

    # Transform the polydata
    transformPD = vtkTransformPolyDataFilter()
    transformPD.SetTransform(transform)
    transformPD.SetInputConnection(arrowSource.GetOutputPort())

    # Create a mapper and actor for the arrow
    mapper = vtkPolyDataMapper()
    actor = vtkActor()
    if USER_MATRIX:
        mapper.SetInputConnection(arrowSource.GetOutputPort())
        actor.SetUserMatrix(transform.GetMatrix())
    else:
        mapper.SetInputConnection(transformPD.GetOutputPort())
    actor.SetMapper(mapper)
    actor.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d('Cyan'))

    # Create spheres for start and end point
    sphereStartSource = vtkSphereSource()
    sphereStartSource.SetCenter(startPoint)
    sphereStartSource.SetRadius(0.8)
    sphereStartMapper = vtkPolyDataMapper()
    sphereStartMapper.SetInputConnection(sphereStartSource.GetOutputPort())
    sphereStart = vtkActor()
    sphereStart.SetMapper(sphereStartMapper)
    sphereStart.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d('Yellow'))

    sphereEndSource = vtkSphereSource()
    sphereEndSource.SetCenter(endPoint)
    sphereEndSource.SetRadius(0.8)
    sphereEndMapper = vtkPolyDataMapper()
    sphereEndMapper.SetInputConnection(sphereEndSource.GetOutputPort())
    sphereEnd = vtkActor()
    sphereEnd.SetMapper(sphereEndMapper)
    sphereEnd.GetProperty().SetColor(colors.GetColor3d('Magenta'))

    # Create a renderer, render window, and interactor
    renderer = vtkRenderer()
    renderWindow = vtkRenderWindow()
    renderWindow.SetWindowName('OrientedArrow')
    renderWindow.AddRenderer(renderer)
    renderWindowInteractor = vtkRenderWindowInteractor()
    renderWindowInteractor.SetRenderWindow(renderWindow)

    # Add the actor to the scene
    renderer.AddActor(actor)
    renderer.AddActor(sphereStart)
    renderer.AddActor(sphereEnd)
    renderer.SetBackground(colors.GetColor3d('BkgColor'))

    # Render and interact
    renderWindow.Render()
    renderWindowInteractor.Start()


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()