uniform colors WIP

kushalkolar · kushalkolar · commit fe749ce3587b · 2026-01-14T01:35:17.000-05:00
diff --git a/examples/gridplot/multigraphic_gridplot.py b/examples/gridplot/multigraphic_gridplot.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def make_circle(center, radius: float, n_points: int = 75) -> np.ndarray:
 gaussian_cloud2 = np.random.multivariate_normal(mean, covariance, n_points)
 
 # add the scatter graphics to the figure
-figure["scatter"].add_scatter(data=gaussian_cloud, sizes=2, cmap="jet")
+figure["scatter"].add_scatter(data=gaussian_cloud, sizes=2, cmap="jet", uniform_color=False)
 figure["scatter"].add_scatter(data=gaussian_cloud2, colors="r", sizes=2)
 
 figure.show()
diff --git a/examples/line/line.py b/examples/line/line.py
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
 sine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sine_data, thickness=5, colors="magenta")
 
 # you can also use colormaps for lines!
-cosine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=cosine_data, thickness=12, cmap="autumn")
+cosine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=cosine_data, thickness=12, cmap="autumn", uniform_color=False)
 
 # or a list of colors for each datapoint
 colors = ["r"] * 25 + ["purple"] * 25 + ["y"] * 25 + ["b"] * 25
-sinc = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sinc_data, thickness=5, colors=colors)
+sinc = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sinc_data, thickness=5, colors=colors, uniform_color=False)
 
 figure[0, 0].axes.grids.xy.visible = True
 figure.show()
diff --git a/examples/line/line_cmap.py b/examples/line/line_cmap.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@
     data=sine_data,
     thickness=10,
     cmap="plasma",
-    cmap_transform=sine_data[:, 1]
+    cmap_transform=sine_data[:, 1],
+    uniform_color=False,
 )
 
 # qualitative colormaps, useful for cluster labels or other types of categorical labels
@@ -36,7 +37,8 @@
     data=cosine_data,
     thickness=10,
     cmap="tab10",
-    cmap_transform=labels
+    cmap_transform=labels,
+    uniform_color=False,
 )
 
 figure.show()
diff --git a/examples/line/line_cmap_more.py b/examples/line/line_cmap_more.py
@@ -26,21 +26,43 @@
 line0 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10)
 
 # set colormap along line datapoints, use an offset to place it above the previous line
-line1 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10, cmap="jet", offset=(0, 2, 0))
+line1 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10, cmap="jet", uniform_color=False, offset=(0, 2, 0))
 
 # set colormap by mapping data using a transform
 # here we map the color using the y-values of the sine data
 # i.e., the color is a function of sine(x)
-line2 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10, cmap="jet", cmap_transform=sine[:, 1], offset=(0, 4, 0))
+line2 = figure[0, 0].add_line(
+    sine,
+    thickness=10,
+    cmap="jet",
+    cmap_transform=sine[:, 1],
+    uniform_color=False,
+    offset=(0, 4, 0),
+)
 
 # make a line and change the cmap afterward, here we are using the cosine instead fot the transform
-line3 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10, cmap="jet", cmap_transform=cosine[:, 1], offset=(0, 6, 0))
+line3 = figure[0, 0].add_line(
+    sine,
+    thickness=10,
+    cmap="jet",
+    cmap_transform=cosine[:, 1],
+    uniform_color=False,
+    offset=(0, 6, 0)
+)
+
 # change the cmap
 line3.cmap = "bwr"
 
 # use quantitative colormaps with categorical cmap_transforms
 labels = [0] * 25 + [1] * 5 + [2] * 50 + [3] * 20
-line4 = figure[0, 0].add_line(sine, thickness=10, cmap="tab10", cmap_transform=labels, offset=(0, 8, 0))
+line4 = figure[0, 0].add_line(
+    sine,
+    thickness=10,
+    cmap="tab10",
+    cmap_transform=labels,
+    uniform_color=False,
+    offset=(0, 8, 0),
+)
 
 # some text labels
 for i in range(5):
diff --git a/examples/line/line_colorslice.py b/examples/line/line_colorslice.py
@@ -30,14 +30,16 @@
 sine = figure[0, 0].add_line(
     data=sine_data,
     thickness=5,
-    colors="magenta"
+    colors="magenta",
+    uniform_color=False,  # initialize with same color across vertices, but we will change the per-vertex colors later
 )
 
 # you can also use colormaps for lines!
 cosine = figure[0, 0].add_line(
     data=cosine_data,
     thickness=12,
     cmap="autumn",
+    uniform_color=False,
     offset=(0, 3, 0)  # places the graphic at a y-axis offset of 3, offsets don't affect data
 )
 
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@
     data=sinc_data,
     thickness=5,
     colors=colors,
+    uniform_color=False,
     offset=(0, 6, 0)
 )
 
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@
     data=zeros_data,
     thickness=8,
     colors="w",
+    uniform_color=False,  # initialize with same color across vertices, but we will change the per-vertex colors later
     offset=(0, 10, 0)
 )
 
diff --git a/examples/line/line_dataslice.py b/examples/line/line_dataslice.py
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
 sine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sine_data, thickness=5, colors="magenta")
 
 # you can also use colormaps for lines!
-cosine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=cosine_data, thickness=12, cmap="autumn")
+cosine = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=cosine_data, thickness=12, cmap="autumn", uniform_color=False)
 
 # or a list of colors for each datapoint
 colors = ["r"] * 25 + ["purple"] * 25 + ["y"] * 25 + ["b"] * 25
-sinc = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sinc_data, thickness=5, colors=colors)
+sinc = figure[0, 0].add_line(data=sinc_data, thickness=5, colors=colors, uniform_color=False)
 
 figure.show()
 
diff --git a/examples/line_collection/line_collection_slicing.py b/examples/line_collection/line_collection_slicing.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     multi_data,
     thickness=[2, 10, 2, 5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 9, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4],
     separation=4,
+    uniform_color=False,
     metadatas=list(range(15)),  # some metadata
     names=list("abcdefghijklmno"),  # unique name for each line
 )
diff --git a/examples/scatter/scatter.py b/examples/scatter/scatter.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 colors = ["yellow"] * n_points + ["cyan"] * n_points + ["magenta"] * n_points
 
 # use an alpha value since this will be a lot of points
-figure[0, 0].add_scatter(data=cloud, sizes=3, colors=colors, alpha=0.6)
+figure[0, 0].add_scatter(data=cloud, sizes=3, colors=colors, uniform_color=False, alpha=0.6)
 
 figure.show()
 
diff --git a/examples/scatter/scatter_cmap.py b/examples/scatter/scatter_cmap.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 colors = ["yellow"] * n_points + ["cyan"] * n_points + ["magenta"] * n_points
 
 # use an alpha value since this will be a lot of points
-figure[0, 0].add_scatter(data=cloud, sizes=3, colors=colors, alpha=0.6)
+figure[0, 0].add_scatter(data=cloud, sizes=3, colors=colors, uniform_color=False, alpha=0.6)
 
 figure.show()
 
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/_positions_base.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/_positions_base.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         data: Any,
         colors: str | np.ndarray | tuple[float] | list[float] | list[str] = "w",
-        uniform_color: bool = False,
+        uniform_color: bool = True,
         cmap: str | VertexCmap = None,
         cmap_transform: np.ndarray = None,
         size_space: str = "screen",
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def __init__(
         if cmap is not None:
             # if a cmap is specified it overrides colors argument
             if uniform_color:
-                raise TypeError("Cannot use cmap if uniform_color=True")
+                raise TypeError("Cannot use `cmap` if `uniform_color=True`, pass `uniform_color=False` to use `cmap`.")
 
             if isinstance(cmap, str):
                 # make colors from cmap
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def __init__(
                     if not isinstance(colors, str):  # not a single color
                         if not len(colors) in [3, 4]:  # not an RGB(A) array
                             raise TypeError(
-                                "must pass a single color if using `uniform_colors=True`"
+                                "Must pass `uniform_colors=False` if using multiple colors"
                             )
                     self._colors = UniformColor(colors)
                     self._cmap = None
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/features/_positions.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/features/_positions.py
@@ -65,13 +65,27 @@ def set_value(
     ):
         """set the entire array, create new buffer if necessary"""
         if isinstance(value, (np.ndarray, list, tuple)):
+            # TODO: Refactor this triage so it's more elegant
+
+            # first make sure it's not representing one color
+            skip = False
+            if isinstance(value, np.ndarray):
+                if (value.shape in ((3,), (4,))) and (np.issubdtype(value.dtype, np.floating) or np.issubdtype(value.dtype, np.integer)):
+                    # represents one color
+                    skip = True
+            elif isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
+                if len(value) in (3, 4) and all([isinstance(v, (float, int)) for v in value]):
+                    # represents one color
+                    skip = True
+
             # check if the number of elements matches current buffer size
-            if self.buffer.data.shape[0] != len(value):
+            if not skip and self.buffer.data.shape[0] != len(value):
                 # parse the new colors
                 new_colors = parse_colors(value, len(value))
 
                 # destroy old buffer
-                self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
+                if self._buffer._wgpu_object is not None:
+                    self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
 
                 # create new buffer
                 self._buffer = pygfx.Buffer(new_colors)
@@ -310,7 +324,8 @@ def set_value(self, graphic, value):
                     bdata[:] = value[:]
 
                 # destroy old buffer
-                self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
+                if self._buffer._wgpu_object is not None:
+                    self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
 
                 # create the new buffer
                 self._buffer = pygfx.Buffer(bdata)
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/features/_scatter.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/features/_scatter.py
@@ -210,7 +210,8 @@ def set_value(self, graphic, value):
                 )
 
                 # destroy old buffer
-                self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
+                if self._buffer._wgpu_object is not None:
+                    self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
 
                 # set new buffer
                 self._buffer = pygfx.Buffer(markers_int_array)
@@ -482,7 +483,8 @@ def set_value(self, graphic, value):
                 data = np.empty(shape=(len(value),), dtype=np.float32)
 
                 # destroy old buffer
-                self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
+                if self._buffer._wgpu_object is not None:
+                    self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
 
                 # set new buffer
                 self._buffer = pygfx.Buffer(data)
@@ -577,7 +579,8 @@ def set_value(self, graphic, value):
                 data = np.empty(shape=(len(value),), dtype=np.float32)
 
                 # destroy old buffer
-                self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
+                if self._buffer._wgpu_object is not None:
+                    self._buffer._wgpu_object.destroy()
 
                 # set new buffer
                 self._buffer = pygfx.Buffer(data)
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/line.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/line.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def __init__(
         data: Any,
         thickness: float = 2.0,
         colors: str | np.ndarray | Sequence = "w",
-        uniform_color: bool = False,
+        uniform_color: bool = True,
         cmap: str = None,
         cmap_transform: np.ndarray | Sequence = None,
         size_space: str = "screen",
@@ -60,9 +60,10 @@ def __init__(
             specify colors as a single human-readable string, a single RGBA array,
             or a Sequence (array, tuple, or list) of strings or RGBA arrays
 
-        uniform_color: bool, default ``False``
-            if True, uses a uniform buffer for the line color,
-            basically saves GPU VRAM when the entire line has a single color
+        uniform_color: bool, default ``True``
+            if ``True``, uses a uniform buffer for the line color,
+            basically saves GPU VRAM when the entire line has a single color.
+            If ``False``, you can set per-vertex colors.
 
         cmap: str, optional
             Apply a colormap to the line instead of assigning colors manually, this
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/line_collection.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/line_collection.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def __init__(
         data: np.ndarray | List[np.ndarray],
         thickness: float | Sequence[float] = 2.0,
         colors: str | Sequence[str] | np.ndarray | Sequence[np.ndarray] = "w",
-        uniform_colors: bool = False,
+        uniform_color: bool = True,
         cmap: Sequence[str] | str = None,
         cmap_transform: np.ndarray | List = None,
         name: str = None,
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ def __init__(
                 data=d,
                 thickness=_s,
                 colors=_c,
-                uniform_color=uniform_colors,
+                uniform_color=uniform_color,
                 cmap=_cmap,
                 name=_name,
                 metadata=_m,
diff --git a/fastplotlib/graphics/scatter.py b/fastplotlib/graphics/scatter.py
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         data: Any,
         colors: str | np.ndarray | Sequence[float] | Sequence[str] = "w",
-        uniform_color: bool = False,
+        uniform_color: bool = True,
         cmap: str = None,
         cmap_transform: np.ndarray = None,
         mode: Literal["markers", "simple", "gaussian", "image"] = "markers",
         markers: str | np.ndarray | Sequence[str] = "o",
-        uniform_marker: bool = False,
+        uniform_marker: bool = True,
         custom_sdf: str = None,
         edge_colors: str | np.ndarray | pygfx.Color | Sequence[float] = "black",
         uniform_edge_color: bool = True,
@@ -71,14 +71,15 @@ def __init__(
             specify colors as a single human-readable string, a single RGBA array,
             or a Sequence (array, tuple, or list) of strings or RGBA arrays
 
-        uniform_color: bool, default False
-            if True, uses a uniform buffer for the scatter point colors. Useful if you need to
-            save GPU VRAM when all points have the same color.
+        uniform_color: bool, default ``True``
+            if ``True``, uses a uniform buffer for the scatter point colors. Useful if you need to
+            save GPU VRAM when all points have the same color. If ``False``, you can set per-vertex colors.
 
         cmap: str, optional
             apply a colormap to the scatter instead of assigning colors manually, this
-            overrides any argument passed to "colors".  For supported colormaps see the
-            ``cmap`` library catalogue: https://cmap-docs.readthedocs.io/en/stable/catalog/
+            overrides any argument passed to "colors".
+            For supported colormaps see the ``cmap`` library catalogue:
+            https://cmap-docs.readthedocs.io/en/stable/catalog/
 
         cmap_transform: 1D array-like or list of numerical values, optional
             if provided, these values are used to map the colors from the cmap
@@ -102,9 +103,10 @@ def __init__(
             * Emojis: "❤️♠️♣️♦️💎💍✳️📍".
             * A string containing the value "custom". In this case, WGSL code defined by ``custom_sdf`` will be used.
 
-        uniform_marker: bool, default False
-            Use the same marker for all points. Only valid when `mode` is "markers". Useful if you need to use
-            the same marker for all points and want to save GPU RAM.
+        uniform_marker: bool, default ``True``
+            If ``True``, use the same marker for all points. Only valid when `mode` is "markers".
+            Useful if you need to use the same marker for all points and want to save GPU RAM. If ``False``, you can
+            set per-vertex markers.
 
         custom_sdf: str = None,
             The SDF code for the marker shape when the marker is set to custom.
@@ -124,8 +126,9 @@ def __init__(
         edge_colors: str | np.ndarray | pygfx.Color | Sequence[float], default "black"
             edge color of the markers, used when `mode` is "markers"
 
-        uniform_edge_color: bool, default True
-            Set the same edge color for all markers. Useful for saving GPU RAM.
+        uniform_edge_color: bool, default ``True``
+            Set the same edge color for all markers. Useful for saving GPU RAM. Set to ``False`` for per-vertex edge
+            colors
 
         edge_width: float = 1.0,
             Width of the marker edges. used when `mode` is "markers".
@@ -146,9 +149,9 @@ def __init__(
         sizes: float or iterable of float, optional, default 1.0
             sizes of the scatter points
 
-        uniform_size: bool, default False
-            if True, uses a uniform buffer for the scatter point sizes. Useful if you need to
-            save GPU VRAM when all points have the same size.
+        uniform_size: bool, default ``False``
+            if ``True``, uses a uniform buffer for the scatter point sizes. Useful if you need to
+            save GPU VRAM when all points have the same size. Set to ``False`` if you need per-vertex sizes.
 
         size_space: str, default "screen"
             coordinate space in which the size is expressed, one of ("screen", "world", "model")
diff --git a/fastplotlib/layouts/_graphic_methods_mixin.py b/fastplotlib/layouts/_graphic_methods_mixin.py

Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@`
`26`	`26`	`multi_data,`
`27`	`27`	`thickness=[2, 10, 2, 5, 5, 5, 8, 8, 8, 9, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4],`
`28`	`28`	`separation=4,`
	`29`	`+ uniform_color=False,`
`29`	`30`	`metadatas=list(range(15)), # some metadata`
`30`	`31`	`names=list("abcdefghijklmno"), # unique name for each line`
`31`	`32`	`)`