Sketching a picture of unicorns

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Draw a unicorn in TikZ

I’m currently reading Sparks of Artificial General Intelligence: Early experiments with GPT-4. This paper by Microsoft employees experiments with the capabilities of GPT-4, a successor of ChatGPT. One task is to draw a unicorn with tikz.ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ They claim:

GPT-4 produces impressive outputs that are [. ] at least comparable (if not superior) to what a human would do.

Who wants to prove them wrong? edit: Please don’t include PNG / JPG / other pixel image formats. MS-SPO is the only one allowed to do that (as a grandfathering-rule) – kudos for finding the loophole in this question and for thinking outside of the box edit: We now have 200 fun questions!

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145 5 5 bronze badges
asked Mar 31 at 14:42
Martin Thoma Martin Thoma
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Do you consider vector formats to be an image format?
Apr 1 at 18:47
@Qrrbrbirlbel I’ve edited to “pixel image” – vector images are fine 🙂
Apr 1 at 21:14

Yes, this is a really fun question! seeing all those packages with predefined unicorns made me laugh.

Apr 16 at 9:58

I got some bad and no good results from ChatGPT. Some might find them funny (does this qualify them because of the “fun” tag?) but I guess no one cares for them. –

Apr 16 at 12:18

18 Answers 18

Sorted by: Reset to default

documentclass usepackage usepackage pgfspectrashade[v](380,780) begin begin[shading=myShadeC] duck[body=pink] shade[shading angle=45] duckpathlonghair; duck[invisible,body=pink,unicorn=magenta!60!violet] end end

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answered Mar 31 at 14:55
samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
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I love it And it’s already way better than any of the GPT-4 examples
Mar 31 at 14:59
@MartinThoma 🙂
Mar 31 at 15:00

You do realise this code is already being used to train ChatGPT to generate unicorns, and based on the “is already way better” comment, in a few days all of the internet will be baffled by how all of the sudden all unicorns began showing duck-y traits in their physical appearance

Mar 31 at 15:03
@PhelypeOleinik . that’s part of the plan for duck world domination 🙂
Mar 31 at 15:04

@MS-SPO Well, in our specific example of drawing a unicorn in TikZ. any kind of intelligence, whether human, artificial, alien, or supernatural, would need human input just to know what “unicorn” and “TikZ” are, no?

Apr 1 at 17:28

Well, a little late for the party but, ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you my unicorn, Clavileño, my faithful companion for all these years:

documentclass[tikz,border=2mm] usetikzlibrary colorlet colorlet colorlet tikzset , xy/.style=, xz/.style=, yz/.style=, pics/runner/.style=< code=>, pics/leg/.style= < code=fill[xz=0,black] (i,1.5) circle (0.2mm); >>, pics/body/.style=< code=>, pics/ear/.style=< code=>, > begin begin[line cap=round,line join=round,isometric view,rotate around z=180] % runners pic at (0,-0.8,0) ; foreachi in  < draw[xy=rh,fill=brownxy] (i,0.8) rectangle++ (-0.3,-1.6); draw[yz=i,fill=brownyz] (0.8,rh) rectangle++ (-1.6,-0.2); >pic at (0,1,0) ; node[xz=1,anchor=south,yshift=.5mm,xscale=-1,fill=none,text=yellow] at (0,0) ; foreachi in fill[xz=1,fill=black] (i,rh-0.1) circle (0.2mm); % legs pic at (1.3,-0.4,rh) ; pic at (-1 ,-0.4,rh) ; % body coordinates pic[fill=none,draw=none] (back) at (0,-0.4,0) ; pic[fill=none,draw=none] (front) at (0, 0.4,0) ; % tail path (front-K) -- (back-K) coordinate[pos=0.5] (aux); draw[xz,xscale=-1,shift=,fill=brownxz] (0,-0.2) to[out=10,in=180] (0.5,0) to[out=0,in=140] (1,-2) to[out=200,in=270] (0.3,-0.8) arc(0:90:0.3) -- cycle; % saddle draw[xy=0,fill=brownxy] (back-K) ++ (2,0) -- (back-K) -- (front-K) -| cycle; path (front-K) ++ (0.5,0,0) coordinate (aux1) --++ (0.1,0,0) coordinate (aux2); path[yz=0] (aux2) arc (0:135:0.4) coordinate (aux3); draw[fill=gray!70!black] (aux2) ; draw (aux2) --++ (0,-0.8,0); draw[yz=0,fill=gray] (aux1) arc (0:135:0.4) -- (aux3) arc (135:0:0.4) -- cycle; % body and ears path[xz=0,fill=none] (front-G) arc (30:135:0.5) coordinate (aux1); path[xz=0,fill=none] (front-F) arc (390:315:0.3) coordinate (aux2); path (back-B) -- (back-C) coordinate[pos=1.1] (aux3); pic[fill=brown!30!orange] at (2.2,-0.4,4.4) ; draw[fill=brown] (front-B) --++ (0,-0.8,0) -- (aux3) --++ (0,0.8,0) -- cycle; draw[fill=brown!70!red] (aux1) --++ (0,-0.8,0) -- cycle; pic[fill=brownxz] at (0,0.4,0) ; pic[fill=brown!30!orange] at (2.2,0.4,4.4) ; pic[draw=none,fill=black!60!brown,scale=0.6] at (2.15,0.4,4.25) ; % more legs pic at (1.3,0.8,rh) ; pic at (-1,0.8 ,rh) ; % handle path[xz=0.4,draw=red] (1.4,3.5) coordinate (aux1) ++ (135:0.1) coordinate (aux2) arc (135:-45:0.1) coordinate (aux3); path (aux3) --++ (0,0.4,0) coordinate (aux4); path (aux1) --++ (0,0.4,0) coordinate (aux5); draw[fill=gray,xz=0.4] (aux1) circle (0.15); draw[fill=gray!50!black,xz=0] (aux2) arc (135:-45:.1) -- (aux4) arc (-45:135:0.1) -- cycle; draw[xz=0,fill=gray] (aux5) circle (0.1); % unicorn path (front-F) -- (back-G) coordinate[pos=0.5] (aux); draw[shift=,rotate around y=60,fill=yellow] (4:0.1) arc (4:190:0.1) -- (0,0,1) -- cycle; end end

Update: Here you can see him galloping without fear.

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answered Apr 1 at 11:52
Juan Castaño Juan Castaño
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Great 🙂 Take that too, AI … 😉
Apr 1 at 12:21
A unicorn whose mother is a a wooden horse.
Apr 2 at 12:55
How do you get the movement/animation, both in code and as post here?
Apr 2 at 14:14

@MS-SPO, I use the animate package and wrap all the picture inside a scope[rotate around y=i] with i between -5 and 5 degrees. This will create a pdf with the frames, that then I convert to gif with ImageMagick (there are many options online too).

Apr 3 at 5:50
Thank you @JuanCastaño 🙂
Apr 3 at 8:26

Clearly use of tikz is sign of mere automation.

Discerning artists use latex picture mode for planes or donkeys or unicorns which are horned donkeys

setlength usepackage begin begin(4974,3714)(0,-10) drawline(2037,1362)(1962,12)(2112,1362) drawline(1887,2412)(4437,2412)(4437,1437) (1887,1437)(837,2262)(462,1812) (12,2187)(687,3012)(837,3687) (837,3087)(1812,2412) drawline(1887,1437)(1512,12)(1962,1437) put(687,2637)> drawline(4362,1437)(4287,162)(4287,1437) drawline(4137,1437)(3987,162)(3987,1437) drawline(4437,2412)(4962,1587) drawline(580,2900)(-200,3300)(660,3010) end end

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answered Mar 31 at 16:29
David Carlisle David Carlisle
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That’s the kind of unicorn I drew as a child after I got my first “Geodreieck”
Mar 31 at 18:00
“horned donkeys” made me lol
Mar 31 at 22:16

documentclass usepackage usepackage begin begin node >; end end

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answered Mar 31 at 19:39
samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
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Nice package 🙂
Mar 31 at 19:42
@MS-SPO Indeed! @ Skillmon did a great job with it!
Mar 31 at 19:46

Merger of MS-SPO’s nice idea and an older answer of mine:

documentclass[border=10Mm] usepackage pgfplotsset % Original Image: Hszone/Wirestock Creators / stock.adobe.com % https://stock.adobe.com/de/images/unicorn-pixel-art-vector/501392488 begin .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 end pgfplotstableread begin begin pgfplotstablegetcolsof pgfmathsetmacro pgfplotstablegetrowsof pgfmathsetmacro foreach i in  < foreach j in < pgfplotstablegetelemof pgfmathsetmacro fill[black!pixelvalue] (j,-i) rectangle +(1,1); > > end end

documentclass[border=10Mm] usepackage usepackage pgfplotsset % Original Image: Hszone/Wirestock Creators / stock.adobe.com % https://stock.adobe.com/de/images/unicorn-pixel-art-vector/501392488 begin .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 end pgfplotstableread begin begin[x=0.33cm, y=0.33cm] pgfplotstablegetcolsof pgfmathsetmacro pgfplotstablegetrowsof pgfmathsetmacro foreach i in  < foreach j in < pgfplotstablegetelemof pgfmathsetmacro ifdimpixelvalue pt>0ptrelax node[scale=pixelvalue] at (j,-i) >; fi > > end end

documentclass[border=10Mm] usepackage usepackage pgfplotsset % Original Image: Hszone/Wirestock Creators / stock.adobe.com % https://stock.adobe.com/de/images/unicorn-pixel-art-vector/501392488 begin .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .2 .2 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 0 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 .5 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .5 0 .5 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .5 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .8 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 .6 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .4 .4 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 .8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .6 .6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 end pgfplotstableread begin begin[x=0.33cm, y=0.33cm] pgfplotstablegetcolsof pgfmathsetmacro pgfplotstablegetrowsof pgfmathsetmacro foreach i in  < foreach j in < pgfplotstablegetelemof pgfmathsetmacro pgfmathsetmacro <(i == 11 && j == 7 ? 1 : 0)>ifdimpixelvalue pt>0ptrelax ifnumpixelmirror=1relax node[xscale=-pixelvalue, yscale=pixelvalue] at (j,-i) >; else node[scale=pixelvalue] at (j,-i) >; fi fi > > end end