# Scientific Drawing

> Use when: /scientific-drawing, architecture/ERD/math diagram, plot a function. Typst/CeTZ default; TikZ/D2/Asymptote when needed. NOT paid illustration SVGs (/illustration-gen) or Manim (/manim-animations).

- Skill: `markusstrasser/scientific-drawing` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 29 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add markusstrasser/scientific-drawing`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/markusstrasser/scientific-drawing/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Design & Media
- Author: markusstrasser (https://skillmd.com/u/markusstrasser)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/markusstrasser/scientific-drawing

---


# Scientific Drawing

Select tool, write source, compile to PDF/SVG, verify output.

## Tool Selection

```
Need diagram?
├─ Software architecture / ERD / flowchart?
│  └─ D2 (references/d2-guide.md)
├─ Mathematical / abstract algebra?
│  ├─ Need automatic layout from notation?
│  │  └─ Penrose (constraint-based, references/penrose.md)
│  └─ Need precise control?
│     └─ TikZ (references/tikz.md)
├─ 3D visualization?
│  └─ Asymptote (references/asymptote.md)
└─ Everything else (2D plots, diagrams, fast iteration)?
   └─ Typst + CeTZ (default — millisecond compile)
```

**Default to Typst + CeTZ** unless the task specifically needs TikZ packages (circuits, chemistry, Feynman) or D2 (architecture). Typst compiles in milliseconds vs seconds for LaTeX.

For designer-style illustrations (logos, icons, decorative SVGs) where deterministic code is overkill, use the `illustration-gen` skill (Quiver Arrow API, paid).

## Typst + CeTZ (Default)

```typst
#import "@preview/cetz:0.3.4": canvas, draw, plot

#canvas({
  import draw: *
  circle((0, 0), radius: 1, fill: blue.lighten(80%))
  line((0, 0), (2, 1), stroke: red)
  content((1, 0.5), [Hello])
})
```

Compile: `typst compile diagram.typ diagram.pdf` (or `.svg`)

Plotting:
```typst
#canvas({
  plot.plot(size: (8, 6), x-label: [Time], y-label: [Value], {
    plot.add(domain: (0, 2*calc.pi), x => calc.sin(x))
  })
})
```

Useful packages (auto-download on first use):
| Package | Use |
|---------|-----|
| `fletcher` | Arrow/commutative diagrams |
| `alchemist` | Molecular formulas |
| `inknertia` | Feynman, spacetime diagrams |

Gotchas: Math uses `$ ... $` not `\( ... \)`. **Use CeTZ 0.3.4+** — 0.2.2 panics on negative coordinates.

## Compile & Convert

```bash
# Typst (fastest)
typst compile diagram.typ diagram.pdf

# TikZ
pdflatex -interaction=nonstopmode diagram.tex

# Asymptote
asy -f pdf -noV diagram.asy

# D2
d2 input.d2 output.svg

# Penrose
bunx @penrose/roger trio trio.json > output.svg

# PDF to PNG (high res)
convert -density 300 diagram.pdf diagram.png
```

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | Fix |
|---------|-----|
| `typst` not found | `brew install typst` |
| `pdflatex` not found | `brew install --cask mactex-no-gui` |
| `asy` not found | `brew install asymptote` |
| `d2` not found | `brew install d2` |
| TikZ missing package | `tlmgr install <package>` |
| Asymptote opens viewer | `settings.interactiveView=false;` in `~/.asy/config.asy` |
| ImageMagick policy error | Edit `/etc/ImageMagick-7/policy.xml` — allow PDF read |

For detailed tool guides: `references/tikz.md`, `references/d2-guide.md`, `references/asymptote.md`, `references/penrose.md`.
For CI/Docker/batch automation: `references/advanced-workflows.md`. Worked examples per tool: `examples/`.

$ARGUMENTS