# \[Tutorial\] Streamlines on a 2D slice using only "Stream Tracer" filter

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/tutorial-streamlines-on-a-2d-slice-using-only-stream-tracer-filter/17435
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [February 7, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/tutorial-streamlines-on-a-2d-slice-using-only-stream-tracer-filter/17435 "2026-02-07T09:58:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Il\_Briga](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/il_briga/32/14763_2.png) [@Il\_Briga](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Il_Briga)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/tutorial-streamlines-on-a-2d-slice-using-only-stream-tracer-filter/17435/1 "2026-02-07T09:58:12Z")

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Hello folks,

Since i have spent more than 3 weeks (my bad) trying to figure out how to generate 2D streamlines from a 3D volume, using **only Streamtracer filter** , i provide here a very brief guide which should be compatible with all the Paraview versions.

1. From the 3D volume do your slice (e.g. **normal to Y axis** ).
2. Define the velocity on the **slice plane** using the calculator filter (e.g. U\_average\_plane = U\_average\_X \* iHat+U\_average\_Z \* kHat ; where iHat unit vector for the X axis, kHat unit vector for the Z axis).
3. Use now the _“Stream Tracer”_ filter, with _Vectors = U\_average\_plane_ and _Seed Type = Line_.
4. Optional: use the _“Glyph”_ filter to add arrows (i.e. directions) to the streamlines.

Note: instead of U\_average\_i use the actual nomenclature of your velocity field. The seeder line, of course, must lay extacly on the slice plane.

 ![Example](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/3X/d/3/d3aa3bd1dba2743158d7f57b085661ec07bb05d8.png)

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### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 10:04am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/tutorial-streamlines-on-a-2d-slice-using-only-stream-tracer-filter/17435/2 "2026-02-09T10:04:13Z")

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Or use the “SurfaceStreamlines” advanced option ?