[Matplotlib-users] help needed in plotting curved elements

[Sameer R. <re...@gm...>]

We are working on plotting mesh (in hermes2d:
http://hpfem.math.unr.edu/projects/hermes2d-new/) We created a python
function to plot mesh but initially without curves. Later we also tried to
work on curved elements but we are having some problems.
In the hermes2d examples curves are defined as [4, 7, 45] where 4,7
are vertices indices, and 45 is center angle.

But in matplotlib we do not see any function to plot curve with these data,
we have to convert them into something more useful to those functions
available in matplotlib. For ex:

1) matplot.path porvides a way to plot curve with three points
http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/path_api.html#module-matplotlib.path

 p1 -> starting Point
 p2 -> control point
 p3 -> end point

 iI we want to go this way we do have p1 & p3 but have to calclate p2
(control point)

2) matplot.patch.arc provides a way to plot an arc

http://matplotlib.sourceforge.net/api/artist_api.html#module-matplotlib.patches

 but it needs
 -> center of circle
 -> start angle
 -> end angle
 -> radius of circle
   we have to calculate all these with data available to us

We didn't find other ways of plotting curves using matplotlib...and in our
view method 1 is the best way for us because currently we have implemented
matplotlib.path to draw mesh without curves, and it will be easy to  fill
color this way.

We tried the method 1 but the result was a garbled mesh. I would appreciate
if anybody could guide us how we can use the matplotlib functions to draw
curved elements if we are given information as described above.
Thanks