Spline From Nulls
Updated: 4 Dec 2023
Add a spline to the scene.
Spline From Nulls
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 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 Spline Extruder or the Particle Spline Emitter.
Parameters
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 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 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 Time Normalises the Normalises the spline times between 0 and 1.
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
Control how the spline is visualised in the scene for debugging purposes.
Parameter Details Show Spline Toggle whether the spline is shown.
Inputs
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 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Spline Time Mode | Controls how the spline is evaluated by spline followers.
|
| Normalise Spline Time | Normalises the Normalises the spline times between 0 and 1. |
| 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 |
Control how the spline is visualised in the scene for debugging purposes.
| 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 |