Dilate and erode splines

command-association

Inside the volume builder there is a very useful tool called erode and dilate.
is there any way i can achieve the same effect on a spline? can i dilate/erode a spline?

Thanks!

Dr. Sassi

Hi command-association,

Yes, please have a look here.
CV4_2023_drs_23_MOvs_01.c4d

There are several parameters to get the most out of the spline:
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2023/en-us/Default.htm#html/OVOLUMEBUILDER-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html#ID_VOLUMEBUILDER_HALF_BAND_SPLINE

• Spline Voxel Range
• Radius
• Density
• Scale Along

All the best

command-association

I am sorry Dr Sassi i didnt explain myself very well!

This is what i want to achieve: https://youtube.com/shorts/IW1MkrRX0T8?feature=share

i used after effects to do this video (path + offeset).

I would like to be able to do the same with c4d splines but i dont know how.

thanks!

noseman

@command-association
I'm afraid we do not have that functionality in C4D.
This would be a great idea to submit to Maxon.

One thing to note, is that the Control Point count of the Offset spline can NOT be the same as the original one. You can try it in Adobe illustrator with a Spline and Offset and then "Expand" that offset Spline. You will see the number of control points is different.

command-association

@noseman hi noseman, thanks for the reply! i was thinking that may be there is a way to do it with scene nodes...unfortunately maxon is very moderate with info about scene nodes, so i have no idea how to use it!

noseman

Scene Nodes has the technology to do that ONLY if you know the Bezier Curve Math required (an algorithm equivalent to what Illustrator does). I personally don't know that math and we don't have a node that can offset the Spline and avoid overlaps.

Dr. Sassi

Hi command-association,

If you have a specific shape, the only way I see currently is to use the PoseMorph, which would require a manual process. While all the target shapes forces having already the support in the initial spline in terms of points and such.

If you have a sketch, I will take a look at it.

All the best

command-association

thanks a lot everyone, i found an old post on cg society were noseman suggest the posemorph tag tecnique. but i am too lazy for that
i was curious to know if there was a parametric way to do it. but i dont know scene nodes or math. spline offset looks like one of those things that can be used in a lot of different ways to achieve interesting results in motion graphics.

for my specific case the best option i found is fit to circle capsule. with fit to circle i can expland my spline without intersections between points. its not ideal but it does the job in my animation.

Dr. Sassi

Thanks for the reply, command association.

Your question was general, and with that, it is often complicated to find a one-size-fits-all solution, s we all have our ideas of where it would stop working.

If you have a specific case, then please share that as a sketch or as a file.

My typical MO is that I love seeing the Project file or a sketch.
I do not like to answer questions or reply from memory. Over the past 17 years, running the Q&A forum here has proven to be the best way. This thread shows that not having specific data is wasting your time. Sorry about this.
I love to find creative solutions if there is no default option.
One question, why it has to be a Spline? What is the target? The more details you share, the better I can explore this.

Cheers

CINEVERSITY

Dilate and erode splines