Spline Tool

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Tool bline icon.png ALT-B


Introduction

Splines are the most used object in any normal animation done with Synfig, and the Spline Tool allows you to create them.

Usage

The "Spline Tool" button (AltB) puts you in a create Spline mode. To leave that mode just select another tool from the toolbox.

It is easy to use this tool

  • Single click creates new vertices. "Tangent" value is set to (0,0) and the vertex becomes a sharp corner.
  • Click and drag creates new vertices and allows the modification of the tangent value at that vertex. Extending the tangent smooths the corners.
  • Each new vertex is attached to the previous by a "Bézier spline" defined by the vertices's position and it's tangents.
  • The Spline is created sequentially; One vertex follows another.
  • The end point of the previous Spline arc guides the next arc created until you close it. The next created Spline will be independent of the previously created Spline.
  • You can tweak the newly created vertices by clicking on handles and dragging them.
  • You can also right click on a vertex handle or a tangent handle and it will provide a context menu:
  • You can also right click in the middle of a bézier curve. Command:Insert vertex allows insertion of a vertex (and set its tangents intelligently according to the neighboring vertices' values) where you clicked.

To finish the Spline

  1. Select other tool.
  2. Or click on the gear button Gear icon.png of the Tool Options Panel.

To clear out the working Spline, press the Esc button.

Options

This tool has the following options:

Image:Tool_Options_0.63.06.png

  • Spline Layer name. The name of the Spline that you will create is set by the text input box. In this case it is "NewSpline007". This input text will parse the end of the string if any integer number is found, increasing that number for the next time you create other Spline. If not number is found it adds a three digit number for the next Spline created.
  • Advanced Outline check box. If checked it creates an Advanced Outline Layer.
  • Outline check box. If checked it creates an Outline Layer.
  • Fill check box. If checked it creates a Region Layer.
  • Plant check box. If checked it creates a Plant Layer.
  • Gradient check box. If checked it creates a Curved Gradient.
  • Link Offsets check box. If enabled it links the Offset Parameter for the Plant, Region or Outline if two of them (or all them) are checked.
  • Auto Export check box. If checked it automatically exports the Vertices parameter (that's a Spline type parameter)
  • Feather numerical input field. There you set the feather parameter of the Region Layer or Outline Layer created.

Other sources of information

See this video tutorial to see it in action.

Read Creating Shapes which talks a little about the Spline tool.

Read Spline Speed which explains about variations in the Amount parameter of Splines.


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