Difference between revisions of "Spline Tool"

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[[Category:Tools]]
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{{Title|Spline Tool}}
 
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[[Image:Bline_icon.png|64px]]
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{{Category|Tools}}
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{{l|Image:Bline_icon.png|64px}} <span style="font-size:150%">'''ALT-B'''</span>
  
 
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
  
[[BLine|Blines]] are the most used object in any normal animation done with Synfig. The Bline tool allows create them.  
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{{l|Spline|Splines}} are the most used objects in any normal animation done with Synfig, and the Spline Tool allows you to create them.
  
 
==Usage==
 
==Usage==
  
Once you press the Bline tool button you enter in a create Bline mode. To leave that mode just select other tool from the toolbox.
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Select the {{Literal|Spline Tool}} in the {{l|Category:Toolbox}} or use keyboard the shortcut {{shortcut|Alt|b}} to enable it. To leave that mode just select another {{l|Category:Tools|tool}} from the {{l|Toolbox|toolbox}}.
Use this tool is easy:
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* Single click creates new vertices. Tangent value is then set to (0,0) and the vertex becomes a sharp corner.
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===It is easy to use this tool===
* Click and drag creates new vertices and allow modify the tangent value at that vertex. Extending the tangent allows make smooth corners.
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* Each new vertex is attached to the previous by a Beizer spline defined by the vertices position and its tangents.
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* The BLine is created sequentially. One vertex follow other.
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* You always are carrying a Beizer arc to show you how would be the next Beizer spline you create. That's true if the Bline is open. If you close the Bline (see below) then you don't carry on that beizer spline.
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* Anyway meanwhile adding vertices you can tweak the just new created vertices just by clicking on ducks and dragging them.
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* You can also make right click on a vertex duck or a tangent duck and it will provide a context menu:
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** For tangent ducks: "Split tangents" or "Merge tangents" it allows you manage both tangents independently. You would have notice that both tangent from a vertex are linked by default. If you split the tangents you can merge them again using the context menu again.
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** For vertex ducks: "Bloop Bline" or "UnLoop Bline" (depending on if it is already looped or not). This allows close or open the bline. "Delete vertex" this allow you delete the vertex if it doesn't satisfy you.
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* You can right click also in the middle of a just created beizer curve. I would show you a context menu with the following entry: "Insert vertex" Allows insert a vertex (and set its tangents intelligently according to the neighbour vertices values) where you made the click.
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Once you are happy with the vertices and the tangents positions you can create the Bline based layers depending on the options you have set. See below.  
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* Each single click creates a new {{Literal|Vertex}}. Its {{Literal|Tangent}} values are set to (0,0) and the {{Literal|Vertex}} becomes a sharp corner.
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* Click and drag creates a new {{Literal|Vertex}} and allows the modification of the {{Literal|Tangent}} value at that {{Literal|Vertex}}. Extending the {{Literal|Tangent}} smooths the corners.
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* Each new {{Literal|Vertex}} is attached to the previous by a {{Literal|Bézier Spline}} defined by the vertices' position and tangents.
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* The {{Literal|Spline}} is created sequentially, one {{Literal|Vertex}} follows the previous one.
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* The end point of the previous {{Literal|Spline}} arc guides the next arc created until you close it. The next created {{Literal|Spline}} will be independent of the previously created one.
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* You can tweak the newly created Vertices by clicking on their {{l|Handle|handles}} and dragging them.
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* You can also right click on a {{Literal|Vertex}} handle or a {{Literal|Tangent}} handle and it will provide a context menu:
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** For {{Literal|Tangent}} handles: {{Literal|Split Tangent's Angle}} and {{Literal|Split Tangent's Radius}} will split the {{Literal|Tangent}} so that you can independently modify the arch of an end point of a Bézier curve. On the opposite, {{Literal|Merge Tangent's Angle}} and {{Literal|Merge Tangent's Radius}} will merge the independent {{Literal|Tangents}} so that you can align the arches of the end points of two connecting Bézier curves.
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** For {{Literal|Vertex}} handles: {{Literal|Loop Spline}} or {{Literal|Unloop Spline}} (depending if already looped or not) allows you to close or open the {{Literal|Spline}}. {{Literal|Delete Vertex}} allows you to delete the {{Literal|Vertex}}.
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* You can also right click in the middle of a Bézier curve. {{Literal|Insert Vertex}} allows the insertion of a {{Literal|Vertex}} (and sets its Tangents intelligently according to the neighboring Vertices) where you clicked.
  
To create the layers you can do one of those things:
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===To finish the Spline===
# Select other tool.
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# Select another tool in the {{l|Category:Toolbox}}.
# Click on the gear button of the Tool Options panel.
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# Or click on the gear button [[File:Gear icon.png]] of the {{l|Tool Options Panel}}.
  
If you want to start it over and forget the current edited Bline you can press the "clean" button (a brush) instead of delete vertex by vertex. See the image below.
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To clear out the working Spline, press the {{Shortcut|Esc}} button.
  
 
==Options==
 
==Options==
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<!-- Use of Template:SplineToolOptions -->
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{{SplineToolOptions}}
  
This tool has the following options:
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==Other sources of information==
  
[[Image:Tool_Options.png]]
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See this {{l|Video Tutorials|video tutorial}} to see it in action.
  
* BLine layer name. The name of the Bline that you will create is set by the text input box. In this case it is "Bline141". 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 Bline. If not number is found it adds a a three digit number for the next Bline created.
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Read {{l|Doc:Creating Shapes}} which talks a little about the Spline tool.
* Outline check box. If checked it creates an [[Outline Layer]].
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* Fill check box. If checked it creates a [[Region Layer]].
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* Plant check box. If checked it creates a [[Plant Layer]].
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* Gradient check box. If checked it creates a [[Curve Gradient Layer|Curved Gradient]].
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* 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.
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* Auto Export check box. If checked it automatically export the [[Vertices Parameter| Vertices parameter]] (that's a [[BLine|BLine]] type parameter)
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* Feather numerical input field. There you set the [[Feather Parameter|feather paramter]] of the Region Layer or Outline Layer created.
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==Other sources of information==
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See this [[Video Tutorials|video tutorial]] to see it in action.
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Read {{l|Dev:Spline_Bline}} about tangent internals computation.
  
Read [[Creating Shapes]] which talks a little about the BLine tool.
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Read {{l|Dev:Bline_Speed}} which explains about variations in the Amount parameter of Splines.

Latest revision as of 19:23, 1 April 2020

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Tool bline icon.png ALT-B

Introduction

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

Usage

Select the "Spline Tool" in the Toolbox Panel or use keyboard the shortcut AltB to enable it. To leave that mode just select another tool from the toolbox.

It is easy to use this tool

  • Each single click creates a new "Vertex". Its "Tangent" values are set to (0,0) and the "Vertex" becomes a sharp corner.
  • Click and drag creates a new "Vertex" 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' position and tangents.
  • The "Spline" is created sequentially, one "Vertex" follows the previous one.
  • 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 one.
  • You can tweak the newly created Vertices by clicking on their handles and dragging them.
  • You can also right click on a "Vertex" handle or a "Tangent" handle and it will provide a context menu:
    • For "Tangent" handles: "Split Tangent's Angle" and "Split Tangent's Radius" will split the "Tangent" so that you can independently modify the arch of an end point of a Bézier curve. On the opposite, "Merge Tangent's Angle" and "Merge Tangent's Radius" will merge the independent "Tangents" so that you can align the arches of the end points of two connecting Bézier curves.
    • For "Vertex" handles: "Loop Spline" or "Unloop Spline" (depending if already looped or not) allows you to close or open the "Spline". "Delete Vertex" allows you to delete the "Vertex".
  • You can also right click in the middle of a Bézier curve. "Insert Vertex" allows the insertion of a "Vertex" (and sets its Tangents intelligently according to the neighboring Vertices) where you clicked.

To finish the Spline

  1. Select another tool in the Toolbox Panel.
  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

Spline Tool Options.png

This tool has the following options:

  • Name: Sets the name of the Spline that you will create, in this case "Spline070". If the ending part of the string contains an integer number, this input text box will parse it and increase that number for the next created Spline. Otherwise, it will add a three digit number while creating the next one.
  • Layer Type: Sets whether to create Region, Outline, Advanced Outline, Plant and/or Curve Gradient Layers.
  • Blend Method: Sets the blending method used to composite on the layers below.
  • Opacity: Sets the Amount for new layers. Defaults to 1.00 (Completely opaque).
  • Brush Size: Sets the size of the line for Outline Layer and/or Advanced Outline Layer.
  • Feather: Sets the feather parameter of the Region or Outline Layer created.
  • Link Origin: If checked, links the Origin for the Plant, Region or Outline if two of them (or all them) are checked.
  • Auto Export: If checked, exports automatically the Vertices parameter (that's a Spline type parameter)


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 Dev:Spline_Bline about tangent internals computation.

Read Dev:Bline_Speed which explains about variations in the Amount parameter of Splines.


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