Create tube geometry on a scaled spline without scaling geometry?

[background-permit]

I am following a tutorial with these "stitches". (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKCubwuvQ4). However, they use a blend for the different stages of the spline (clones set to blend). However, the middle spline is scaled to show some movement. When I blend them together and add redshift through the cylinder shape on the spline, but the geometry scales too. I don't want that. I just want it to use the spline shape to be a perfect circle but not scale it to be oblong. It works in his tutorial, but I can't replicate it. Did I miss something? I did add a circle spline in a separate document and added the redshift stage then scaled the spline, and it does the same issue. I've attached the file for review: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k8v4hodfd3rwu5d/spline%20scale%20issu.c4d?dl=0

[background-permit]

Here is the error of the strectehd spline geo

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi background-permit,

Thanks for using DropBox.

Please have a look here:
CV4_2023_drs_23_MGns_02.c4d

I would suggest using this approach. The "Scale to Edge" used the object's overall size that needs to be "mapped" on the edge in question. A constant adjustment of the "virtual bounding" box will happen if one blend among different sizes.
This means the way to work with that is to produce our own Bounding Box, which is typically a cube. Child objects of the cube can be created in any way as long they do not go beyond the boundary of the cube. A blend is easy if these splines, for example, have the same interpolation method and point amount.

No scaling and no adjustments of problems are prevented with this method. Interactive adjustment of one or the other clone shapes is possible, not fixing problems after that.

The RS Object will produce nice results; see the image.

All the best

[background-permit]

First off, I appreciate your input. Thank you. But I'm kind of lost here since you did a new project, so all the items are not 1 to 1. I'm trying to apply it to my project but I think I'm still a bit lost in translating it to my project...let me see if I got this down...
1). Take the nulls off, and parent each spline to a box scaled to the spline or larger. Then make all 3 the same, as Cinema reads the most external item as the scale, so by using a box, it balances it out, right?
2) I "think" what you mean is the "object" to clone onto in Cloner should have the outside spline to be made into an edge selection, right, and feed that into the selection tab?

Here is my attempt: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dnr46j0f238tgpu/Sassi%20test%20attempt.c4d?dl=0
Where did I go wrong?

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi background-permit,

What I see is that you try to mix two approaches.

I will not comment on the tutorial. I can show you only how I would do it.

Here is a little reduced version.
CV4_2023_drs_23_MGns_11.c4d

What I have seen very often over the past nearly two decades of mentoring artists, instead of focusing on the core function of something, things get thrown into the mix just because it feels like progress.
So, if you like to learn from a source, ask yourself, do I get the logic about something? If a lot of fixing is involved, with no further explanation about why or concerning the parameters used. Just toss it.

The Cubes' idea is to have a fixed "Frame" for all blend states. Inside that frame, the Spline animation happens. Start with that cube, and change the dimensions to see what affects what when placed on an edge. Explore that. Giving you a file makes very little sense if there is no detailed exploration. If the idea of the cube becomes clear, it should have clicked how the splines can work inside. Where the first vertice/point of the splines have to be and in which direction they grow. Do that first with a single cube and one Spline used.

Again, doing too much at once blocks the view of the inner workings and how they build up.

When this is clear, copy the cube with the Child-spline. Now change the Spline, but only in the new copy, and use the blend/modify functionality.

When this is clear, use more. In no time, you will have a solid understanding of the "Inner Logic" of the setup, which will allow you to create more of those and perhaps way more advanced.

Doing it all at once initially will overwhelm everyone, leading to little certainty. We are not in it to know some tricks; we all want to master them, I presume. Perhaps give it a try.

Enjoy.

[background-permit]

@Dr-Sassi Thank you! I'm still not 100% understanding it, but I'm pulling it apart and rebuilding and learning as I go. Thank you for being so helpful.

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi background-permit,

It is very similar to the Spline Wrap's Bounding Box, if the Bounding Box is set to fixed. Sometimes a self-adjusting bounding box has an advantage, sometimes not.

What I am trying to share below is an example of changing Splines while the Edge Scale is active.

On the left, it is stable; only the moving point of the spline changes. Note that both times the Spline is the same! Only one point is moving.

On the right, it is unstable, as one single point moving changes the whole outcome.

This is an example of getting stable adjustments using this method that I have used in the past with success, and which is kind of a copycat of the Bounding Box, as mentioned above.

The Cube, while being larger than the Spline (child), will provide an easy adjustment of a single point for your setup without changing all other points. So the setup is stable and has less trouble getting adjusted.

All the best

CV4_2023_drs_23_MGns_21.c4d

[background-permit]

@Dr-Sassi So, I think I have this pretty sorted. I recreated your setup, and it seems to be working.
My next question is, how can I get motion blur out of this? I know I've had this issue with loading obj sequences, but I can't seem to get MB to work here. I know it's a tag or something... can you point me in the right direction? Thanks again; you've been a big help.

[Dr. Sassi]

Hi background-permit,

Please have a look here
CV4_2023_drs_23_RSmb_01.c4d

and here
CV4_2023_drs_23_RSmb_11.c4d

For demo reasons, I have used exaggerated Motion Blur values. Use frame three for test render in both examples.

I have shared two versions, as I think the thread here will be more complete, exploring PLA animated Splines as well as MoGraph Blend clone-driven results.

I hope you find the solution to your targets in one or the others.

Cheers

[background-permit]

@Dr-Sassi, you are a gentleman and a scholar! Thanks for your help.

[Dr. Sassi]

You're are too kind, background-permit.

Let me know if you need something else.

My best wishes for your project