Asymmetric cloud shape in TikZ

Question

I have this little cloud shape that I want to use in my system diagram figures.

\usetikzlibrary{shapes}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\node [cloud, draw,cloud puffs=10,cloud puff arc=120, aspect=2, inner ysep=1em] {};
\end{tikzpicture}

It looks like this:

The problem, though, is that the cloud is too symmetrical. I want one side to be 'shorter'. Something like this (minus the arrow, text and drop shadow, of course):

Can't find anything in the manual or online. Any hints?

Answer 1

I had to use a cloud shape in one of my figures in an university lecture, and I came up with this solution:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[magyar]{babel}

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning, shapes}

\usepackage[active,tightpage]{preview}
\PreviewEnvironment{tikzpicture}


\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}[font=\large\sffamily]

\node[cloud, cloud puffs=15.7, cloud ignores aspect, minimum width=5cm, minimum height=2cm, align=center, draw] (cloud) at (0cm, 0cm) {Cloud};

\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

The key is to use the cloud ignores aspect keyword, and control width and height with minimum width and minimum height keywords. Asymmetry can be achieved specifying a float number for cloud puffs.

Not perfect, but this is what I use now.

Answer 2

It's not a very good answer but I don't have enough time to do a new shape and you can find a lot of examples to do a new shape (batman or other shapes) from this answer.

I made manually a cloud and I place the text inside. You can make a macro to draw the cloud and to place the text at the same time.

You can use the node (cloud) to place arrows etc.

What you can do:

• new shape: asym cloud
• or a macro to draw the cloud and to place the text

\documentclass[11pt]{scrartcl}
\usepackage{tikz}
\newcommand{\asymcloud}[2][.1]{%
\begin{scope}[#2]
\pgftransformscale{#1}%    
\pgfpathmoveto{\pgfpoint{261 pt}{115 pt}} 
  \pgfpathcurveto{\pgfqpoint{70 pt}{107 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{137 pt}{291 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{260 pt}{273 pt}} 
  \pgfpathcurveto{\pgfqpoint{78 pt}{382 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{381 pt}{445 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{412 pt}{410 pt}}
  \pgfpathcurveto{\pgfqpoint{577 pt}{587 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{698 pt}{488 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{685 pt}{366 pt}}
  \pgfpathcurveto{\pgfqpoint{840 pt}{192 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{610 pt}{157 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{610 pt}{157 pt}}
  \pgfpathcurveto{\pgfqpoint{531 pt}{39 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{298 pt}{51 pt}}
                 {\pgfqpoint{261 pt}{115 pt}}
\pgfusepath{fill,stroke}         
\end{scope}}    
\begin{document}
 \begin{tikzpicture}
 \draw (0,0) rectangle (15,10) ;
 \node (cloud) at (8,7) {\tikz \asymcloud{fill=gray!20,thick};};
 \node at (4,6) {\tikz[cm={-1,0,0,1,(0,0)}]\asymcloud[.15]{fill=gray!20,thick};}; 
 \node at (8,7) {Net};
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}