paraview

name	paraview
description	ParaView scientific visualization for volume data and meshes. Use this skill when Claude needs to: (1) Visualize 3D volume data (CT, MRI, scientific simulations), (2) Create isosurfaces, slices, volume renderings, (3) Visualize vector fields with streamlines/glyphs, (4) Generate publication-quality screenshots, (5) Work with VTK, EXODUS, RAW, or other scientific data formats

ParaView Scientific Visualization

API Documentation Version: 5.12.1

This skill's API reference is based on ParaView 5.12.1. If you're using a different version, some functions may not be available or behave differently.

Check version: from paraview.simple import GetParaViewVersion; print(GetParaViewVersion())

Rules

1. Never open a GUI — always use pvpython for headless batch execution
2. Use from paraview.simple import * at the top of every script
3. Always call UpdatePipeline() after loading EXODUS/IOSS files before accessing data information
4. Always call ResetCamera(renderView) before SaveScreenshot to ensure all data is in frame
5. Prerequisites assumed: pvpython available on PATH (or $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin/pvpython)
6. For visual matching tasks, iterate with: screenshot → assess → adjust → re-screenshot
7. After taking a screenshot, use the Read tool to view the image and verify correctness
8. Use pvpython (not python) to run ParaView scripts
9. Optimize color/opacity mapping first; change camera only when well-motivated

---

Workflow Decision Tree

Interactive Visualization (GUI)

Use the Opening ParaView GUI section to launch ParaView with pvserver

Batch Processing (Script Generation)

1. Generate a ParaView Python script following examples
2. Execute with pvpython: $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin/pvpython script.py

---

Opening ParaView GUI

When the user says "Open ParaView GUI" or requests to launch ParaView:

1. Start pvserver first:

   $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin/pvserver --server-port=11111 --multi-clients &
   

2. Launch ParaView GUI with auto-connect:

   $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin/paraview --server-url=cs://localhost:11111 &
   

---

Canonical Script Template

from paraview.simple import *

# ============= Configuration =============
INPUT_FILE = '/path/to/input.vtk'
OUTPUT_FILE = '/path/to/screenshot.png'
IMAGE_SIZE = [1920, 1080]

# ============= Load Data =============
data = LegacyVTKReader(FileNames=[INPUT_FILE])
# data = IOSSReader(FileName=[INPUT_FILE])
# data.UpdatePipeline()  # Required for EXODUS

# ============= Get Data Info =============
bounds = data.GetDataInformation().GetBounds()
center = [(bounds[0]+bounds[1])/2, (bounds[2]+bounds[3])/2, (bounds[4]+bounds[5])/2]

# ============= Create Filters =============
# Add your filters here (Contour, Slice, Clip, StreamTracer, Glyph, etc.)

# ============= Create View =============
renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = IMAGE_SIZE
renderView.Background = [0.1, 0.1, 0.15]

layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

# ============= Display =============
display = Show(data, renderView)
# Configure display properties

# ============= Save Output =============
ResetCamera(renderView)
SaveScreenshot(OUTPUT_FILE, renderView,
               ImageResolution=IMAGE_SIZE,
               OverrideColorPalette='WhiteBackground')

---

Core Operations

Loading Data

from paraview.simple import *

# Auto-detect file type
data = OpenDataFile('path/to/file.vtk')

# VTK Legacy files
data = LegacyVTKReader(FileNames=['path/to/file.vtk'])

# EXODUS files (must UpdatePipeline before accessing bounds)
data = IOSSReader(FileName=['path/to/file.ex2'])
data.UpdatePipeline()

# RAW volume files (parse dimensions from filename like data_256x256x256_uint8.raw)
reader = ImageReader(FileNames=['path/to/file.raw'])
reader.DataExtent = [0, 255, 0, 255, 0, 255]  # dims - 1
reader.DataScalarType = 'unsigned char'  # uint8/uint16/float32
reader.DataByteOrder = 'LittleEndian'
reader.FileDimensionality = 3
reader.NumberOfScalarComponents = 1
reader.UpdatePipeline()

Get Data Information

source = GetActiveSource()

# Get bounds
bounds = source.GetDataInformation().GetBounds()
# Returns: [xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, zmin, zmax]

# Get array range
pd = source.PointData
min_val, max_val = pd.GetArray('fieldName').GetRange()
# Or by index: pd.GetArray(0).GetRange()

# Calculate center
center = [(bounds[0]+bounds[1])/2, (bounds[2]+bounds[3])/2, (bounds[4]+bounds[5])/2]

Volume Rendering

# Get data range
source = GetActiveSource()
pd = source.PointData
min_val, max_val = pd.GetArray(0).GetRange()

# Color transfer function
lut = GetColorTransferFunction('fieldName')
lut.RGBPoints = [min_val, 0.0, 0.0, 0.75,      # blue at min
                 (min_val + max_val)/2, 0.75, 0.75, 0.75,  # gray at mid
                 max_val, 0.75, 0.0, 0.0]      # red at max

# Opacity transfer function
# Format: [value, opacity, midpoint, sharpness, ...]
pwf = GetOpacityTransferFunction('fieldName')
pwf.Points = [min_val, 0.0, 0.5, 0.0,
              (min_val + max_val)/2, 0.5, 0.5, 0.0,
              max_val, 1.0, 0.5, 0.0]

# Display as volume
display = Show(source, renderView)
display.Representation = 'Volume'
display.ColorArrayName = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']
display.LookupTable = lut
display.ScalarOpacityFunction = pwf

Isosurfaces (Contours)

contour = Contour(Input=source)
contour.ContourBy = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']
contour.Isosurfaces = [0.5]  # Single or multiple isovalues: [0.3, 0.5, 0.7]
contour.PointMergeMethod = 'Uniform Binning'
Show(contour, renderView)

Multiple Contour Lines (sampled range)

import numpy as np

# Linear spacing
contour_values = np.linspace(min_val, max_val, 8).tolist()
# Log spacing (requires min_val > 0)
# contour_values = np.logspace(np.log10(min_val), np.log10(max_val), 8).tolist()

contour = Contour(Input=source)
contour.ContourBy = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']
contour.Isosurfaces = contour_values
display = Show(contour, renderView)
display.Opacity = 0.6

Slices

slice_filter = Slice(Input=source)
slice_filter.SliceType = 'Plane'
slice_filter.SliceType.Origin = [x, y, z]  # or use data center
slice_filter.SliceType.Normal = [0, 0, 1]  # slice normal
Show(slice_filter, renderView)

Clip

clip = Clip(Input=source)
clip.ClipType = 'Plane'
clip.ClipType.Origin = [0.0, 0.0, 0.0]
clip.ClipType.Normal = [1.0, 0.0, 0.0]
clip.InsideOut = False  # Flip which side to keep
Show(clip, renderView)

Threshold

thresh = Threshold(Input=source)
thresh.Scalars = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']
thresh.ThresholdRange = [min_value, max_value]
Show(thresh, renderView)

Streamlines

# Get bounds for seed placement
bounds = source.GetDataInformation().GetBounds()
center = [(bounds[0]+bounds[1])/2, (bounds[2]+bounds[3])/2, (bounds[4]+bounds[5])/2]

# Create stream tracer
tracer = StreamTracer(Input=source, SeedType='Point Cloud')
tracer.Vectors = ['POINTS', 'vectorField']
tracer.IntegrationDirection = 'BOTH'  # 'FORWARD', 'BACKWARD', 'BOTH'
tracer.MaximumStreamlineLength = 50.0
tracer.SeedType.Center = center
tracer.SeedType.NumberOfPoints = 100
tracer.SeedType.Radius = 1.0

# Add tubes for visibility
tube = Tube(Input=tracer)
tube.Radius = 0.1
tubeDisplay = Show(tube, renderView)
ColorBy(tubeDisplay, ('POINTS', 'scalarField'))

Glyphs

# GlyphType options: 'Arrow', 'Cone', 'Sphere', 'Cylinder', 'Line'
glyph = Glyph(Input=source, GlyphType='Arrow')
glyph.OrientationArray = ['POINTS', 'vectorField']
glyph.ScaleArray = ['POINTS', 'vectorField']  # scale by vector magnitude
glyph.ScaleFactor = 0.05
glyph.MaximumNumberOfSamplePoints = 5000     # limit density
glyphDisplay = Show(glyph, renderView)
ColorBy(glyphDisplay, ('POINTS', 'vectorField'))

Warp By Vector

warp = WarpByVector(Input=source)
warp.Vectors = ['POINTS', 'displacementField']
warp.ScaleFactor = 1.0
Show(warp, renderView)

Calculator (Derived Field)

# Create a new field from an expression
calc = Calculator(Input=source)
calc.ResultArrayName = 'velocity_mag'
calc.Function = 'sqrt(velocity_X^2 + velocity_Y^2 + velocity_Z^2)'
calc.AttributeType = 'Point Data'  # or 'Cell Data'
Show(calc, renderView)

Transform (Translate / Rotate / Scale)

t = Transform(Input=source)
t.Transform = 'Transform'
t.Transform.Translate = [dx, dy, dz]
t.Transform.Rotate = [rx, ry, rz]   # degrees
t.Transform.Scale = [sx, sy, sz]
Show(t, renderView)

Gradient & Field Analysis

# Gradient (scalar or vector field)
grad = GradientOfUnstructuredDataSet(Input=source)
grad.SelectInputScalars = ['POINTS', 'pressure']
grad.ComputeVorticity = True    # only meaningful for vector input
grad.ComputeDivergence = True   # only meaningful for vector input
grad.ComputeQCriterion = True   # Q-criterion for vortex identification
Show(grad, renderView)

# Connectivity (label connected regions)
conn = ConnectivityFilter(Input=source)
Show(conn, renderView)

Delaunay Triangulation (Points to Surface)

# alpha=0 → convex hull; alpha>0 → only tetrahedra within alpha radius
delaunay = Delaunay3D(Input=points)
delaunay.Alpha = 0.0
delaunay.Offset = 2.0
delaunay.Tolerance = 0.001
display = Show(delaunay, renderView)
display.SetRepresentationType('Wireframe')   # Wireframe shows mesh structure clearly

Plot Over Line (Line Probe)

plot = PlotOverLine(Input=source)
plot.Point1 = [x1, y1, z1]
plot.Point2 = [x2, y2, z2]
plot.Resolution = 100

# Display in a separate XY chart view
chartView = CreateView('XYChartView')
Show(plot, chartView, 'XYChartRepresentation')
AssignViewToLayout(view=chartView)

---

Render View Setup

# Create view
renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = [1920, 1080]
renderView.Background = [0.1, 0.1, 0.15]  # RGB background

# Create layout
layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

# Camera for isometric view
renderView.CameraPosition = [3.86, 3.86, 3.86]
renderView.CameraViewUp = [-0.408, 0.816, -0.408]

# Camera for +X direction view
renderView.CameraPosition = [center[0] - 1.5*max_dim, center[1], center[2]]
renderView.CameraFocalPoint = center
renderView.CameraViewUp = [0.0, 0.0, 1.0]

# Reset camera to fit all data
ResetCamera(renderView)

# Save screenshot
SaveScreenshot('output.png', renderView, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080],
               OverrideColorPalette='WhiteBackground')

---

Display Properties

display = GetDisplayProperties(source, renderView)

# Representation types
display.SetRepresentationType('Surface')
# Options: 'Surface', 'Surface With Edges', 'Wireframe', 'Points', 'Volume', 'Outline'

# Color by array
ColorBy(display, ('POINTS', 'fieldName'))  # or ('CELLS', 'fieldName')
display.RescaleTransferFunctionToDataRange(True)

# Solid color
ColorBy(display, None)
display.DiffuseColor = [1.0, 0.0, 0.0]  # RGB

# Opacity
display.Opacity = 0.5  # 0.0 to 1.0

# Visibility
display.Visibility = 1  # 1=visible, 0=hidden

---

Color Map Presets

from paraview.simple import ApplyPreset

lut = GetColorTransferFunction('fieldName')
ApplyPreset(lut, 'Cool to Warm', True)

# Available presets:
# 'Blue-Red', 'Cool to Warm', 'Viridis', 'Plasma', 'Magma', 
# 'Inferno', 'Rainbow', 'Grayscale'

---

Scalar Bar (Color Legend)

lut = GetColorTransferFunction('fieldName')
colorBar = GetScalarBar(lut, renderView)
colorBar.Title = 'Field Name'
colorBar.ComponentTitle = ''
colorBar.Visibility = 1
colorBar.ScalarBarLength = 0.3

---

Complete Example Scripts

Volume Rendering

from paraview.simple import *

# Load data
data = LegacyVTKReader(FileNames=['/path/to/volume.vtk'])

# Get range
source = GetActiveSource()
pd = source.PointData
min_val, max_val = pd.GetArray(0).GetRange()

# Transfer functions
lut = GetColorTransferFunction('var0')
lut.RGBPoints = [min_val, 0.0, 0.0, 0.75,
                 (min_val + max_val)/2, 0.75, 0.75, 0.75,
                 max_val, 0.75, 0.0, 0.0]

pwf = GetOpacityTransferFunction('var0')
pwf.Points = [min_val, 0.0, 0.5, 0.0,
              (min_val + max_val)/2, 0.5, 0.5, 0.0,
              max_val, 1.0, 0.5, 0.0]

# Create view
renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = [1920, 1080]
renderView.CameraPosition = [3.86, 3.86, 3.86]
renderView.CameraViewUp = [-0.408, 0.816, -0.408]

layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

# Display as volume
display = Show(data, renderView)
display.Representation = 'Volume'
display.ColorArrayName = ['POINTS', 'var0']
display.LookupTable = lut
display.ScalarOpacityFunction = pwf

ResetCamera(renderView)
SaveScreenshot('/path/to/dvr.png', renderView, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080])

Streamlines with Tubes

from paraview.simple import *

# Load data
data = IOSSReader(FileName=['/path/to/disk.ex2'])
data.UpdatePipeline()

# Get bounds
bounds = data.GetDataInformation().GetBounds()
center = [(bounds[0]+bounds[1])/2, (bounds[2]+bounds[3])/2, (bounds[4]+bounds[5])/2]
max_dim = max(bounds[1]-bounds[0], bounds[3]-bounds[2], bounds[5]-bounds[4])

# Create stream tracer
tracer = StreamTracer(Input=data, SeedType='Point Cloud')
tracer.Vectors = ['POINTS', 'V']
tracer.MaximumStreamlineLength = 20.0
tracer.SeedType.Center = center
tracer.SeedType.Radius = 2.0

# Add glyphs
glyph = Glyph(Input=tracer, GlyphType='Cone')
glyph.OrientationArray = ['POINTS', 'V']
glyph.ScaleArray = ['POINTS', 'V']
glyph.ScaleFactor = 0.06

# Add tubes
tube = Tube(Input=tracer)
tube.Radius = 0.075

# Create view
renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = [1920, 1080]
renderView.CameraPosition = [center[0] - 1.5*max_dim, center[1], center[2]]
renderView.CameraFocalPoint = center
renderView.CameraViewUp = [0.0, 0.0, 1.0]

layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

# Display
tubeDisplay = Show(tube, renderView)
glyphDisplay = Show(glyph, renderView)
ColorBy(tubeDisplay, ('POINTS', 'Temp'))
ColorBy(glyphDisplay, ('POINTS', 'Temp'))
tubeDisplay.RescaleTransferFunctionToDataRange(True)
glyphDisplay.RescaleTransferFunctionToDataRange(True)

ResetCamera(renderView)
SaveScreenshot('/path/to/streamlines.png', renderView, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080])

RAW Volume File

from paraview.simple import *

# Parse dimensions from filename: tooth_103x94x161_uint8.raw
raw_file = '/path/to/tooth_103x94x161_uint8.raw'

reader = ImageReader(FileNames=[raw_file])
reader.DataScalarType = 'unsigned char'
reader.DataByteOrder = 'LittleEndian'
reader.DataExtent = [0, 102, 0, 93, 0, 160]  # dimensions - 1
reader.FileDimensionality = 3
reader.NumberOfScalarComponents = 1
reader.UpdatePipeline()

# Continue with visualization...

Color Map from JSON File

from paraview.simple import *

data = LegacyVTKReader(FileNames=['/path/to/volume.vtk'])

renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = [1920, 1080]
layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

display = Show(data, renderView)
display.Representation = 'Volume'
display.ColorArrayName = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']

# Load a color map exported from ParaView GUI (.json)
# JSON format: [{"RGBPoints": [v0,r0,g0,b0, v1,r1,g1,b1, ...], "Points": [v,a,0.5,0, ...]}]
import json
with open('/path/to/colormap.json') as f:
    cm = json.load(f)[0]

lut = GetColorTransferFunction('fieldName')
lut.RGBPoints = cm['RGBPoints']      # flat list: [val, R, G, B, val, R, G, B, ...]

if 'Points' in cm:                    # optional opacity
    pwf = GetOpacityTransferFunction('fieldName')
    pwf.Points = cm['Points']         # flat list: [val, alpha, midpoint, sharpness, ...]
    display.ScalarOpacityFunction = pwf

display.LookupTable = lut
ResetCamera(renderView)
SaveScreenshot('/path/to/output.png', renderView, ImageResolution=[1920, 1080])

Export Data

from paraview.simple import *

data = LegacyVTKReader(FileNames=['/path/to/input.vtk'])

# Apply a contour filter to get a surface
contour = Contour(Input=data)
contour.ContourBy = ['POINTS', 'fieldName']
contour.Isosurfaces = [0.5]

# Export as STL (surface mesh)
SaveData('/path/to/output.stl', proxy=contour)

# Export as CSV (point data)
SaveData('/path/to/output.csv', proxy=data)

# Export as VTK binary (full data with arrays)
SaveData('/path/to/output.vtk', proxy=data, DataMode='Binary')

# Export as OBJ / PLY (surface mesh formats)
# SaveData('/path/to/output.obj', proxy=contour)
# SaveData('/path/to/output.ply', proxy=contour)

Save Animation (Time Series)

from paraview.simple import *

# Load a time-varying dataset (e.g., PVD file pointing to a series)
data = OpenDataFile('/path/to/timeseries.pvd')

renderView = CreateView('RenderView')
renderView.ViewSize = [1920, 1080]
layout = CreateLayout(name='Layout')
layout.AssignView(0, renderView)

display = Show(data, renderView)
ColorBy(display, ('POINTS', 'fieldName'))
display.RescaleTransferFunctionToDataRange(True)
ResetCamera(renderView)

# Save animation as image sequence (animation0000.png, animation0001.png, ...)
scene = GetAnimationScene()
scene.PlayMode = 'Snap To TimeSteps'
SaveAnimation('/path/to/animation.png', renderView,
              ImageResolution=[1920, 1080],
              FrameRate=24)

---

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
PARAVIEW_HOME not set	export PARAVIEW_HOME=/path/to/ParaView
pvpython not found	Add $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin to PATH or use full path
pvserver not found	Check PARAVIEW_HOME path is correct
Port already in use	Use --port to specify different port
Connection failed	Check firewall, try checking PARAVIEW_HOME status
"No active source"	Load data first before applying filters
Transfer function not working	Check field name matches array name exactly
Blank/empty screenshot	Call ResetCamera(renderView) before SaveScreenshot
Wrong bounds/range	Call UpdatePipeline() after loading data (required for EXODUS)
ModuleNotFoundError: paraview	Run with pvpython, not plain python
Threshold field not found	Use ['POINTS', name] or ['CELLS', name] to match array location
GradientOfUnstructuredDataSet fails	Only works on unstructured grids; use Gradient for structured data
WarpByVector produces no output	Check vector field has 3 components; verify field name
PlotOverLine view blank	Create an XYChartView and assign it via AssignViewToLayout
SaveAnimation — no timesteps	Data must have multiple time steps; single-timestep data cannot be animated
SaveData to STL/OBJ fails	Input must be a surface (PolyData); apply Contour or ExtractSurface first

---

Task Execution

When given $ARGUMENTS:

1. Parse the task from the arguments
2. Write a self-contained Python script following the template above
3. Execute it with pvpython script.py (or $PARAVIEW_HOME/bin/pvpython script.py)
4. Read the output image with the Read tool to verify correctness
5. If the result needs adjustment, iterate (max 5 rounds)
6. Report the result to the user

---

Resources

• references/api-reference-5.12.1.md - Complete Python API reference (v5.12.1)
• references/operations.md - Common operations quick reference
• references/examples.md - Complete example scripts