# Coloring arrows in \xymatrix

Is there a way to color certain (but not all) arrows using \xymatrix? I wish the following ignorant attempt would work!!

\usepackage{xypic,color}
\begin{document}
$\xymatrix { X\ar[r]\color{red}{\ar[d]} & Y\\ Z }$
\end{document}


Specify the color option to the xy package. Then you could apply a color style by @[color].

For example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{color}
\usepackage[color,matrix,arrow]{xy}
\begin{document}
$\xymatrix { X\ar[r] \ar@[red][d] & Y\\ Z }$
\end{document}


Note: load xy, not xypic which produces at least a warning. To be able to provide options specifically for each package, write one \usepackage for each package. Perhaps use the enhanced package xcolor instead of color.

• The output isn't yielding color at all. (My preliminary glance was mistaken, apparently.) I'm working within the a0poster class, but I've tried to run this as an article with the same results. Dec 13 '10 at 21:02
• @Kristen: Do you mean you did not get color with my example or with your code? Dec 13 '10 at 21:05
• I'm not getting color with your code. Dec 13 '10 at 21:29
• Hm, I did ... I used pdfTeX. And you? Specifying the driver could help. In the case of pdfTeX: \usepackage[color,matrix,arrow,pdf]{xy}. And, especially if xy complains about an unknown option: update xy-pic to 3.8 or above. I'm using xy 3.8.4. Dec 13 '10 at 21:33
• @Ana I got the message and can take a look, but earliest in 8 hours (traveling). If you like, you can post it as a separate question, otherwise I'll be here again later today. Aug 5 at 8:11