Spline

Add a spline to the scene.

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, with the position of each Null 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, and the z scale controls the magnitude of the spline. 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, or connected to Spline Deformers to deform 3D objects using splines, and numerous other uses.

This node outputs a spline which can be input into other nodes which use splines to generate new effects, such as the Extruded Spline or the Particle Spline Emitter.

Parameters

Transform

These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.

Parameter	Details
Position X	Move along the local x-axis.
Position Y	Move along the local y-axis.
Position Z	Move along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading	Rotate around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch	Rotate around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank	Rotate around the local z-axis.
Scale X	Scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y	Scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z	Scale along the local z-axis.

Inherit Transform Channels

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited from the parent node. By default, all transforms will be inherited.

Parameter	Details
Position X	Toggle inheritance of the X Position from the parent.
Position Y	Toggle inheritance of the Y Position from the parent.
Position Z	Toggle inheritance of the Z Position from the parent.
Rotation Heading	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Heading from the parent.
Rotation Pitch	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Pitch from the parent.
Rotation Bank	Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Bank from the parent.
Scale X	Toggle inheritance of the X Scale from the parent.
Scale Y	Toggle inheritance of the Y Scale from the parent.
Scale Z	Toggle inheritance of the Z Scale from the parent.
World Position Only	Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time	Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.

Attributes

These properties control the core behaviours of the node.

Parameter	Details
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.
Auto-Generate Tangents	Generates Tangents for a smoother curve to your spline.
Auto-Generate Tangents - Use Null Scales	Use the scale values from the Null nodes to generate tangents.
Smoothness	The smoothness of the Tangent.

Visualisation

Control how the spline is visualised in the scene for debugging purposes.

Parameter	Details
Show Spline	Toggle whether the spline is shown.

Inputs

Name	Description	Typical Input
Spline Nodes	The control point nodes for the spline. A transform array can also be connected to control the spline generation.	Null
Colour Source	Use a ramp node to generate colours along the spline.	Colour Ramp
Transform Modifiers	Apply the transforms of another node to this node.	Null
Target Node	Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input.	Null
Local Transform Override	Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent.	Null