Animate Spline Growth over Time based on Spline-Segments/Points
-
I want to animate 187 splines which all have 24 points (sometimes also overlapping at the same place) and which all have different lengths of segments — over time. For example, every 24 frames, all 187 splines should grow about one segment and then pause for another 24 frames before getting animated again. Does anyone know how I can achieve this?
-
Hi log-story,
Here is a simple start; perhaps that works already for you. The key is that some Spline functions are based on the Points and not their distance among all points.
Your definition of the Splines was 24 points. This will only work if there are no intermediate points. Think of Interpolation Points> Adaptive.
For simplicity, I have created a few Splines and Merged them into one.
Example (Shorter timing than 24 frames, but that is not limitation)
CV4_2025_drs_25_ANsp_01.c4dPlease note the Animation uses no interpolation between Keys, just "Step"; at least, that is what I got from your text.
All the best
-
Hello Dr. Sassi,
Thank you for your quick response. I believe I need to clarify my project in more detail to provide better context:
I am working on creating an animated world map that visualizes the life journeys of 187 artists, covering the period from 1919 to 1943. Each artist is represented by an individual spline, which contains 24 points corresponding to significant life stations — such as places of birth, travel, and death.
The core of the animation involves showing the artists' movements from one life station to the next. Whenever an artist relocates, I want to animate the corresponding segment of their spline, visually representing the journey between those two points. These animations should occur simultaneously for all 187 artist splines, progressing collectively from station to station at regular intervals. In instances where an artist remains in the same location, the spline points naturally overlap.
I have successfully automated the creation of each spline through a Python script, and they are correctly organized within the Object Manager. However, I have now encountered a technical challenge:
The standard animation workflow allows movement along the spline based on percentage values (from 0% to 100%), rather than by discrete segments between specific points. Given that the distances between each set of life stations vary for every artist, manually calculating the correct percentage values for consistent point-to-point animation becomes impractical.
What I am seeking is a more efficient, precise method to animate the transition from one spline point (life station) to the next, ideally segment by segment, without the need for manual percentage adjustments.
Best, Jan
-
Hi Jan,
Since my animation does exactly that, with fewer spline/times, since it is an example, you just try to avoid setting 25 (24+1) keyframes? I read from your description that all the changes of the 187 artists are moving forward in sync, correct? This is meant as a question to understand it better. Segments are unclear in your description; from one point to the next is not considered a segment. Is that where we get stuck?
Perhaps integrate it in your Python script via frame. BTW, this is a Python-free forum, as we have a developer forum for that. Any code shared here will be deleted, as I can't check if someone changed the code later on and provided male ware like it was found in assets for a different software lately.
If you can generate all Splines in their final length, with 25 points (O-24): Current State To Object, and then use it in the file below instead of Spline_187.
This file has zero keyframes. 187 segments, each 25 points
cv4_2025_drs_25_ANsp_11.c4dIn case you need to keep 187 single Spline:
cv4_2025_drs_25_ANsp_21.c4dSince I have Friday time off until Jul 7th, perhaps check in one Thursday for Ask The Trainer and explore with Noseman how to do that with Scene Nodes.
Questions can be submitted here:
https://www.maxon.net/en/thanks-for-joining-our-livestream?utm_source=livestream&utm_medium=livestream&utm_campaign=askthetrainer
The Show is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOM8RFoLJE8I will be around to answer a few questions, but I surely need time to recharge. Maxon has work ethics, and I'm not supposed to ignore those.
Tip:
https://cineversity.maxon.net/en/series/cinema-4d-scene-nodes?tutorial=01-cinema-4d-scene-nodes-overview-of-nodes-objects-custom-uiMy best wishes
