RealFlow can read splines that have been saved in SVG format (“Scalable Vector Graphics”) - a XML-based file format. Furthermore, splines can also be drawn inside RealFlow directly. SVG splines are exported from popular illustration and image-processing applications. The spline-based tools and nodes are located here:
Spline shelf
In order to make a spline editable (this also applies to → “ESpline", → “DSpline”, and Dyverso → "Spline" nodes), select the node and click on
- Spline node > Node Params > Options > EDIT
- or the pencil icon in the icon bar.
- A yellow frame appears around the viewport (see first image above)
By default, the spline's intermediate points are added by RealFlow automatically with “Adaptive” method. To change this go to:
Spline node > Node Params > Options > Intermediate points type > Uniform
With this option you will get an even distribution of subdivision points, and their number is controlled with “@ points”. The more points, the smoother the curve. In “Adaptive” mode, the number of intermediate points is controlled with “@ angle”. Smaller values create more subdivision. With higher settings, the spline becomes more and more edgy.
The mentioned intermediate points are made visible with
Spline node > Node Params > Display > Show intermediate points
This panel provides many more options for enabling or disabling a spline's viewport elements:
Green: original spline | Orange: hull curve | Yellow: control point indices
Control points can only be moved, but not scaled or rotated. To reposition a point, press W and click on a control point or a tangent handle. You will see an axes cross:
- Drag one of the axis to perform a locked motion along the X, Y, or Z direction.
- Drag one of the small coloured rectangles for a free motion.
- When a tangent handle is positioned both tangents are affect. If you want to move the tangents individually please select the associated control point, and choose Spline node > Node Params > Options > CP handle smoothness > Broken
- Multi-selections of control points and tangent handles are possible with Shift-click.
- Spline nodes can only be deleted when the “EDIT” mode is off.