Spline
Updated: 4 Dec 2024
This node defines a spline in 3D space from a number of control points.
Spline
Method #
This node defines a spline in 3D space from a number of control points.
Adding spline control points #
Control points may be added by:
Using a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl-F5) #
Clicking on ‘Add New spline point’ button on the properties pane #
Double clicking in-between two existing spline points, along the spline to add a new point at the intersection point #
Adding points will inherit the direction from the previous point tangent so will appear offset (in the new point case) from the previous point along the tangent vector.
Spline point selection #
You can select a spline point in either perspective or orthogonal camera views by LMB clicking on the spline point. The spline point will be highlighted, with a tangent control displayed which then can be manipulated by scaling the tangent or rotating along the heading and pitch axis.
Spline point Tangent Scaling, rotation and point translation #
To scale the tangent, press CTRL then LMB click on the point with the tangent to be scaled. Alternatively, press CTRL but use the mouse scroll wheel to change the scale of the tangent.
To Rotate the tangent direction, LMB click the tangent end point and drag in the viewport to manipulate the heading and pitch of the tangent direction.
To Translate a spline point, LMB click and drag a point to translate in the viewport’s image/projection plane. Alternatively, press TAB to activate a Translation gizmo which can be dragged to get world space positioning of the spline point
Note: spline tangent manipulation is only enabled when the ‘Auto-Generate Tangents’ property is not enabled.
Removal of spline points #
Points can be be removed from the spline by first selecting the point with LMB click in viewport and using the backspace key.
Spline Import #
Splines may also be imported from 3D packages as part of a 3D Scene node.
Spline Node Interactivity #
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.
Parameters
Parameter Details Position X The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale Toggle inheritance of the 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.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Looping Control whether the spline animation loops.
Tangents Control how the spline tangents are generated for the spline
Tangent Smoothness Controls the auto-smoothing of the tangents, and how much smoothing is applied
Add Spline Null To End Adds a null to the end of the spline, adding a new point to edit.
Add Spline Null To Start Adds a null to the start of the spline, adding a new point to edit.
Point Creation Controls where the newly added points are added in the scenes.
Add Points Distance distance from the first or last point the new point is added
Delete Last Null deletes the last tangent in the spline
Delete First Null deletes the first tangent in the spline
Delete Selected Null deletes the currently selected tangent
Delete All Nulls deletes all the tangents on the spline
Normalise Spline Time Normalises the spline times between 0 and 1.
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.
Parameter Details Show Spline Toggle whether the spline is shown.
Inputs
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the 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. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Looping | Control whether the spline animation loops. |
| Tangents | Control how the spline tangents are generated for the spline |
| Tangent Smoothness | Controls the auto-smoothing of the tangents, and how much smoothing is applied |
| Add Spline Null To End | Adds a null to the end of the spline, adding a new point to edit. |
| Add Spline Null To Start | Adds a null to the start of the spline, adding a new point to edit. |
| Point Creation | Controls where the newly added points are added in the scenes. |
| Add Points Distance | distance from the first or last point the new point is added |
| Delete Last Null | deletes the last tangent in the spline |
| Delete First Null | deletes the first tangent in the spline |
| Delete Selected Null | deletes the currently selected tangent |
| Delete All Nulls | deletes all the tangents on the spline |
| Normalise Spline Time | Normalises the spline times between 0 and 1. |
| Spline Time Mode | Controls how the spline is evaluated by spline followers.
|
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Show Spline | Toggle whether the spline is shown. |
| 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 |