Notch Reference Manual

Spline

Method

This node defines a spline in 3D space from a number of control points. Control points are specified by linking Null nodes to the Spline Nodes input. The position of each Null is used as the position of the control point; the rotation of the Null is used to control the tangent direction of the spline at the control point. The ordering of the control points is defined by the vertical ordering of the nodes.

Splines may also be imported from 3D packages as part of Imported 3D Scenes.

Splines may be used in conjunction with Spline Followers to allow geometry or transforms to follow the path of a spline. Splines may also be used with Particle Spline Emitters to emit particles from splines, Spline Deformers to deform 3D objects using splines, and numerous other uses.

Transform

Name Description
Position X Move its position along the x-axis in local space.
Position Y Move its position along the y-axis in local space.
Position Z Move its position along the z-axis in local space.
Rotation Heading Rotate the object about the x-axis.
Rotation Pitch Rotate the object about the y-axis.
Rotation Bank Rotate the object about the z-axis.
Scale X Scale along the x-axis.
Scale Y Scale along the y-axis.
Scale Z Scale along the z-axis.

Inherit Transform Channels

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited. By default, all are on.

Attributes

Name Description
Spline Time Mode Controls how the spline is evaluated by spline followers.
  • Knots, followers take the same amount of time to move between each control point on the spline.
  • Length, the time followers take to move between each control point is normalised by the distance along the spline, so the follower will appear to move at a constant rate.
Normalise Spline Times Normalises the spline times between 0 and 1.
Looping Control whether the spline animation loops.

Visualisation

Name Description
Show Spline Toggle whether the spline is shown.

Inputs

Name Description Typical Node Input
Spline Nodes The control point nodes for the spline. Null
Colour Source Use a ramp node to generate colours along the spline. Colour Ramp
Transform Modifier Links all transform properties to the input node. Null
Target Node Always faces the x-axis towards the inputs anchor point. Null
Local Transform Override Override the transformation values of the node, relative to its parent. Null

Outputs

This node outputs a spline which can be used to as an input into other nodes which use splines to generate new effects.