Group
Here you will find the settings for displaying the cylindrical connections between the points.
Activate this option to create cylindrical geometry between the assigned point positions.
This setting determines the basis on which the radii of the cylinders are calculated:
- Distance: The distances between the assigned positions are evaluated. By default, the radii for the cylinders are then larger for short distances between the positions.
- Vertex Map: A vertex map assigned to the position source can be evaluated here. Its values between 0% and 100% are used to scale the radii on the cylinders.
- Particle Radius: If a Particle Group is used as the source for the positions to be connected, its Radius property can be read out and used for scaling the cylinder radii.
For all modes, note that the resulting radius size can also be influenced via the curve in the lower part of this dialog page.
Here, a particle group was used as a point source. On the left, the distances between the particles are evaluated to scale the radii of the cylinders. In the middle, a vertex map was assigned to the particle group via a sphere field and evaluated to scale the cylinder radii. On the right, the constant particle radii were used.
This setting is available for the Radius Source Distance and defines the base radius of the cylinders. The curve in the lower part of this settings page can be used to adjust the distance-dependent scaling of the cylinders in detail. In this mode, please also note the dependency on the Search Distance value from the Object settings, as this also defines the scale for the settings curve in the lower part of the dialog page.
This setting is only available for Radius Source Vertex Map or Particle Radius. As a cylinder connection is always calculated between two positions that can also have different vertex map values or particle radii, use this setting to specify which of these two values is to be evaluated in each case:
- Largest Point: The vertex map value or the particle radius property of the position with the larger sphere radius is used to scale the cylinder radius.
- Smallest Point:The vertex map value or the particle radius property of the position with the smaller sphere radius is used to scale the cylinder radius.
The vertex map to be evaluated can be assigned here with Radius Source Vertex Map. The name of the vertex map must be used for this. When using the capsule in the Object Manager, the corresponding Vertex Map Tag of the point source geometry can simply be dragged into this field to use its name. The curve in the lower part of this dialog page can also be used to influence the evaluation of the vertex map.
The standard radius for the cylinder connections between the positions can be specified here with Radius Source Vertex Map. The radius actually used is then calculated by multiplying this with the vertex map values and evaluating the setting curve from the lower dialog section of this settings page.
When using Radius Source Particle Radius, the read radius property of a particle group assigned as a position source can be scaled.
These settings can be used to influence the length of the cylinders between the positions.
Various modes are available for calculating the length of the displayed cylinders between the positions:
- Full: The cylinder connections extend over the entire distance between the connected positions.
- Scale: The length of the cylinder connection is influenced by the respective distances between the end positions. The setting curve from the lower part of this settings page also plays a role here. Its curve progression acts as a filter for the different connection distances. With the standard curve running from bottom left to top right, the cylinders become shorter and shorter as the distance to be bridged increases. The position of these possibly shortened connections can be specifically shifted towards the start or end point using the Pivot value.
- Split Scale: A gap can be inserted in the middle of the connections. Only sections at the end points of the connections then remain. The length of the visible sections can be influenced via the setting curve.
Examples of the use of Split mode, in which the visible connections are calculated with a gap to the respective end positions.
Examples of the Split Scale mode, in which connections can be interrupted in the middle by a gap. The scaling of this gap is controlled via the setting curve.
This setting allows the cylinder connection to be shifted between the end points for Length Scale. With a Pivot of 50%, the connection is always exactly centred between the positions to be connected. Smaller or larger values shift the connection in the direction of the start or end point.
Max Count[-2147483648..2147483647]
The connecting lines between the end points are represented by thin cylinders. This setting determines the number of circumferential polygons. The more segments are used, the rounder the cylinders appear, e.g. also in close-ups. However, if the connections have been configured rather thinly, lower values may still be sufficient and help to save memory and calculation time.
The connections are formed from cylinders that have a local axis system. By default, the Y-axis of the cylinders points from the start point in the direction of the end point of a connection. By activating this option, this direction is reversed and the Y-axis of the cylinders points in exactly the opposite direction. This can be used, for example, to align characteristic colour gradients along the connections.
Here, the cylinders have been assigned a material with a linear color gradient. This clearly shows how the option leads to a reversal of the axis direction at the cylinder connections. The blue-colored end of the color gradient can therefore be seen at the start point of the connection and at the respective end point of the connections in the other case.
Activating this option ensures that the cylinder connections are shortened so that they do not protrude into the spheres. This is particularly helpful for the Full and Split Scale Length modes, where the connections can otherwise extend to the respective end points.
On the left the option is switched off, on the right it has been activated. The cylindrical connections thus end directly at the radius of the spheres, which are displayed transparently here.
The effect of this setting curve as a filter for the generation of the connecting lines has already been described in the description of the Length parameter. Otherwise, the operation of the curve corresponds largely to the Spline control element, which you can also find in other places in Cinema 4D. Click on the following category to read a detailed description of all available settings.
Click here to see a description of the Spline control.
In general, you can remember that existing points on the curve can simply be grabbed and moved with the mouse when operating spline control elements. You will also find input fields below the spline for exact positioning if you click on the small arrow to the left of the function graph. The exact Y-position of a point can also be entered directly in the function graph by double-clicking on the point.
In the area below the function graph, you can control the Interpolation for each selected spline point, e.g., to work with tangents or hard interpolated points.
New points can be created by Ctrl-clicking or Cmd-clicking on the curve. Existing points can be selected by clicking on them and then deleted again by pressing the Del key.
You can also select several spline points at the same time by:
- Dragging a rectangle selection with the left mouse button held down (the keys described in the next point also work here)
- Adding several points to a selection one after the other by holding down the Shift key. Items that have already been selected can also be deselected again with Ctrl/Cmd clicks.
Common curves can be called up directly by right-clicking on the graph and then navigating to the Spline Presets submenu in the context menu. You will also find a Load Preset... button under the spline curve to load previously saved spline curves directly. You can also save your own curves at any time via Save Preset....
In general, you will also find many other helpful functions in the right-click context menu, e.g., for duplicating and mirroring a spline or for activating standard interpolations for individual points (submenu: Point Types).
Each spline point that is using Spline Interpolation offers tangents that can be used to influence the course of the curve in the immediate vicinity of the point. Tangents always start at the spline point and have a handle at the end that can be grabbed and moved with the mouse.
Moving the tangent end points is supported by the following keys:
- Shift: The moving half of the tangent can be changed independently of the opposite side (i.e., the tangent can be broken). If you want to undo the 'break', deactivate the Break Tangent option below.
- Ctrl/Cmd: The tangents can only be changed in length, but not in angle. You will also find a Lock Angle option below the graph.
You can find options for each of these functions below, which you can use to set this permanently for each spline point. These options can then be used, for example, to lock an existing angle between broken tangents(Keep Visual Angle) or you can only edit the angle of a tangent, but no longer its length(Lock Length).
Some keyboard shortcuts also work, such as 0 (to set the Y component of the tangents to 0) or L (to set the X component of the tangents to 0).
The curve can also be moved as a whole using the mouse. To do this, simply grab the curve directly with the mouse between the spline points. For this to work, the Move Curves option must be active, which you can access by right-clicking on the function graph in its context menu.
If the option for Min/Max Lines is also active in the context menu just mentioned, the lowest and highest Y value of the curve is displayed with a horizontal dashed line. These dashed lines can then also be moved vertically with the mouse in order to scale the amplitude of the curve as a whole.
Within the graphical spline display, the hotkeys '1' (Move) and '2' (Scale) or the middle mouse button can be used to zoom in on specific areas. If you find the function graph display too small, you can use the button for Show in Separate Window below to open a window that can be scaled as required, where you can then fine-tune the curve to your heart's content.
Let's now take a detailed look at all the parameters of the Function Graph element:
The coordinates of a selected spline point are displayed here. You can also edit this position directly here.
This locks the respective coordinate component to prevent unwanted changes to it. These options can be set separately for each spline point.
Here you specify the type of interpolation (curve shape) to the next point for selected points:
- Spline: The shape of the curve can be customized using tangents. The tangent always appears on the right-hand side of the selected point and on the left-hand side of the neighboring point to the right, e.g., if the first point of a spline is using Linear Interpolation and the second point is using a Spline interpolation, you will only find a right-hand tangent at the second point and a left-hand tangent at the third point.
- Cubic: Results in a harmonic curve through the spline points without overshoots. No tangents are used.
- Linear: A linear point always shows a straight connecting line to the following point, regardless of the interpolation used there.
If you right-click in the function graph, you can also choose common curve transitions for selected points in the context menu that opens under Point Types.
The tangent end points can be set numerically here.
For each spline point that uses Spline Interpolation, the following four options can be used to lock individual properties of the tangents;
The left and right tangents can be processed independently of their counterparts.
The angle between the left and right tangent remains constant when working on one tangent (if possible), i.e., the other tangent moves with it.
Tangents can only be changed in their length.
Tangents can only be rotated around their origin and remain unchanged in length.
The function graph is opened in a separate, freely scalable window. You can scale it up to screen size and then fine-tune the curve.
Spline presets can be saved for later use.
Spline curves can be saved and loaded with these two commands.
Click on Load Preset... to open a small selection window where you can load the corresponding preset by simply double-clicking (see image above).
When the Save Preset... command is executed, a small dialog opens in which the desired name of the spline preset and other information can be entered. This means that your current spline curve can be permanently saved and reloaded at any time wherever comparable Function Curve controls are used in Cinema 4D. All presets are managed via the Asset Browser.
General details regarding the Preset System in Cinema 4D can be found there.
However, function curves can also be exchanged between different objects and dialogs without the use of saved presets. To do this, right-click on the term Spline (to the left of the curve) and select Copy in the context menu that pops up. You can then right-click on another Function Curve element and select Paste to transfer the spline curve.
Context menu
Right-click on the function graph to open a context menu with the following entries:
If you have zoomed to a specific point, this command will show the complete spline curve including points.
All selected curve points are displayed in maximum size.
Spline points snap onto the grid points.
Minimum and maximum values along the Y axis of the curve are displayed as horizontal, dashed lines. These dashed lines can also be moved vertically with the mouse in order to influence the amplitude of the curve without having to move all points separately.
If you click exactly on the spline curve, you can move the entire curve by holding down the mouse button (if this option is activated; otherwise only if all points are selected).
If this option is activated, the curve (if it is moved horizontally as a whole) can be moved out over the ends of the function graph on the left and right. Points that leave the graph appear again on the opposite side.
Imagine the first and last points overlapping to form a single point. The activated option then ensures an unbroken pair of tangents, i.e., the two tangents lie exactly opposite each other on a straight line. This is often necessary for functions where the beginning and end merge.
If this option is activated, the spline start and end points are always at the same height.
This sets the X or Y component of the tangent to zero. You then have a vertical or horizontal tangent. The shortcuts 0 (for the Y-portion of the tangents at the selected point) and L (for the X-portion of the tangents at the selected point) have the same effect.
This resets an existing curve to a linearly increasing curve with a start and end point.
Selects all points on the spline curve.
You can select a number of predefined spline shapes here, which are then generated by creating several spline points. The previously displayed spline is replaced.
For Custom see 
Formula.... Spline shapes can be created here according to a formula to be entered.
Here you can select a number of common tangent constellations for the selected points.
This can be used to move selected points either to the upper edge (Set to Maximum) or to the lower edge (Set to Minimum) of the graph. Warning! If no point is selected on the curve, the entire spline curve is moved to the upper or lower edge of the graph. Any existing tangents at the shifted points are automatically aligned horizontally, or the Y component of these tangents is set to 0.
These commands mirror the existing curve on a straight line that runs through Y=0.5 (Flip Horizontal) or X=0.5(Flip Vertical) (i.e., a straight line in the middle of the graph in each case). These commands also work with a selection of spline points and can therefore also be used to mirror a curve section.
If no point is selected, use this to compress the entire curve horizontally to half its width and copy this shortened curve to the second half. This results in a doubling of the curve. However, this command can also be executed for a point selection and is then limited to the selected curve section.
This command works like Double, except that the curve to be copied is first mirrored horizontally. Here too, only a specific section of the curve can be mirrored symmetrically by selecting points beforehand.
The function graph is opened in a separate, freely scalable window. You can scale this to screen size and then fine-tune the curve.