Prefs - Curves
Enable tooltips while dragging control points
When this option is active, RealFlow shows the exact position data of a key. The first value indicates the current time, the second one the value of the appropriate attribute. With “Horizontal and Vertical Snap Radius” you can easily drag the control point to the desired position.
Break tangent by default
This option will always break a control point’s tangents. Breaking tangents allows the manipulation of the in and out tangent handles individually. You can then edit the curve before or after a key without affecting its opposite handle. Tangents are only available for certain key types.
Add expression to the spline by default
By default, expressions and curves are treated and displayed separately. With this option, RealFlow will always combine expressions with an already existing animation curve. This action can also be performed directly in the "Curve Editor" with the “+” button.
Horizontal Snap Radius
Snapping helps you to exactly position keys in the "Curve Editor’s" graph window regarding time and value. Without snapping it is always difficult to drag a control point to a value like 1.000 or 25.000. This setting manages snapping for the time axis. “Vertical Snap Radius” works exactly the same way as its horizontal counterpart, but controls the snapping radius for the value axis.
Default Node Type
There are four different node types that determine how the tangents of a key are treated:
- “Tcb node” is the default mode. It is similar to "Bezier", but the curve’s shape is not controlled with tangents, but rather with fields, like tension or bias.
- “Bezier node” uses adjustable tangents to control the shape and smoothness of the curve.
- “Linear node” simply draws lines between the control points. The result is a zig-zag curve without smooth or curved parts.
- “Stepped Node” specifies a stepped tangent to create a curve whose outer tangent is a flat curve. The curve segment is flat (horizontal) and the value changes at the key without gradation.