---
title: "Tracer"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OMOGRAPH_TRACER.html"
section_path: "MoGraph > Generators > Tracer"
element_id: "OMOGRAPH_TRACER"
command_id: "1018655"
description: "This page covers the Tracer object in Cinema 4D's MoGraph system. It draws splines from the motion paths of objects, particles or vertices — usable like …"
---

# Tracer

> **Note:** **What is it about?**
>
> This page covers the **Tracer object** in **Cinema 4D**'s MoGraph system. It draws splines from the motion paths of objects, particles or vertices — usable like any spline for sweeps and rendering — ideal for light trails, signatures and growth lines.

[Video: 2025-2_MoG_34_.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2025-2_MoG_34_.mp4)

[![Image: halvar.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/halvar.png)](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Scenes/2025-2_MoG_34_.c4d)

The Tracer creates splines internally, which lets Tracers be used in place of splines:

- Generators such as the Sweep object above.
- Spline Effectors, etc.

The Tracer **traces** the movement of particles or object vertices and creates splines from these paths. The Trace Object can also be converted to splines via the **Make Editable** command in the **Object Manager**’s **Object** menu. You can also simply interactively move the object to be **traced** in the editor view to create splines.

# Example (using Standard/Physical Renderer)

The Tracer is well-suited for creating fading tracks for moving objects. This is done as follows:

- Animate several objects you want traced (e.g., clones or particles) and link the corresponding Generator (e.g., Cloner object or Emitter) in the Tracer.
- In the Tracer settings you can set [Handle Cloners](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OMOGRAPH_TRACER-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html.md) to Intermediate Clones or Clones from Clones when used in conjunction with a Cloner object. This will record the path of each clone.
- Set [Limit](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OMOGRAPH_TRACER-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html.md) to From End and define an [Amount](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OMOGRAPH_TRACER-ID_OBJECTPROPERTIES.html.md) value fitting to the scene. This is all you have to do with regard to MoGraph.
- Place the Tracer, including a corresponding profile Spline (e.g., a [Circle](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OSPLINECIRCLE.html.md)), into a [Sweep](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/OSWEEP.html.md). This will generate the trail geometry.
- To make the trail fade away in time, create a material with an active Alpha channel (for the Standard or the Physical Renderer. Find a project file for Redshift below). Load a Gradient shader into [Texture](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/MMATERIAL-ID_MATERIALGROUP_ALPHA.html.md). Set [Type](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/XSLAGRADIENT-ID_SHADERPROPERTIES.html.md) to 2D-V. Reverse the white and black gradient colors to produce a fading out effect (the trail color works best in the Luminance channel; the Color channel can be disabled):

![Image: 030080.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/030080.jpg)\
Particles can produce a fading trail using a Tracer.

[![Image: halvar.png](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/halvar.png)](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Scenes/2025-2_MoG_35_.c4d)

> **Tip:** Tip:Note that the Tracer will only be evaluated correctly if an animation is rendered. Still images can produce faulty results. It is therefore advisable to bake the tracer using the MoGraph Cache Tag.