Math Rendering

Math Rendering

Math (MathTex/Tex) can be rendered in one of two modes, chosen by a module flag in real_time_manim/vulkan_bind.py:

# real-time-manim / real_time_manim / vulkan_bind.py
_USE_NATIVE_MATHTEX = False   # default: use real LaTeX

Mode	_USE_NATIVE_MATHTEX	Fidelity	Requirements	Speed
LaTeX mode	False (default)	Full: fractions, matrices, integrals, accents, \mathbb, …	MiKTeX or TeX Live installed	Slower (compile on first use, then cached)
Native Unicode mode	True	Limited: flat Unicode text, manual super/sub-scripts	none	Fast

LaTeX mode (default)

Manim compiles each formula TeX → DVI → SVG and real-time-manim rasterizes the SVG. Output is cached so unchanged formulas are compiled only once — see the util helpers and Getting Started for warming the cache before a batch run.

# Normal usage — nothing to configure:
tex = MathTex(r"e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0")

Native Unicode mode (no LaTeX toolchain)

Set _USE_NATIVE_MATHTEX = True to bypass LaTeX entirely. LaTeX commands are translated to Unicode glyphs and rendered through Text + TrueType fonts, with super/subscripts placed manually. It works without TeX installed but does not produce true math layout — complex constructs render literally.

from real_time_manim.vulkan_bind import _USE_NATIVE_MATHTEX
_USE_NATIVE_MATHTEX = True   # fast, Unicode-only fallback

Unicode mapping coverage

The translator ships mappings for common LaTeX shorthands, including:

• Greek letters (α, β, γ, δ, …)
• Binary operators (±, ×, ÷, ⊕, …)
• Relations (≤, ≥, ≠, ≈, …)
• Arrows (←, →, ↔, ⇒, …)
• Set theory (∪, ∩, ∈, ∅, …)
• Hebrew letters (ℵ, ℶ, ℸ)
• Delimiters and structural commands

Note on the default: real LaTeX rendering is kept on by default precisely because the older Unicode fallback rendered many constructs (\frac, \sqrt, \mathbb, matrices, accents) as literal text rather than proper math glyphs. Flip the flag only when you are happy trading fidelity for a TeX-less, faster pipeline.

LaTeX cache (recommended for MathTex scenes)

Repeatedly recompiling the same formula wastes time. Use the util helpers:

from real_time_manim.util import restore_tex_cache, save_tex_cache

restore_tex_cache("tex_cache")   # copy cached SVGs into media/Tex before rendering
# ... render your MathTex scenes ...
save_tex_cache("tex_cache")      # store any newly compiled SVGs for next time

restore_tex_cache/save_tex_cache default to .svg assets under <cwd>/media/Tex, and accept media_dir, tex_subdir, only_ext, overwrite and dry_run to point elsewhere or be selective. The recorders already clear the transient media/ folder after a run; they do not touch your persistent tex_cache, which lives on between runs.