Inputs
Connect the spline geometry for which an outline curve is to be calculated here.
The outline curve generally consists of two parts. Imagine, for example, a Circle spline as the geometry for which an outline is to be calculated. This creates a smaller circle inside and a larger circle outside the output spline.
These inner and outer components of Spline outline can be output simultaneously with All or you can define which component you want to receive with Inside or Outside.
This is used to define the position of the resulting outline curve relative to the original spline curve. At 0%, the outline lies in equal parts inside and outside the original spline curve. Negative values shift the outline inwards relative to the original spline, positive values outwards (see also the following image).
Here, a circle was used as the starting spline (marked in red in each case). A negative value was used for Align on the left and a positive value on the right. Align 0% is used in the middle, whereby the output spline is centered between the inside and outsid eoutline curves.
Here you select the maximum distance between the inside and outside contour curves. In order to use an irregular Thickness calculation, a Thickness Map can also be assigned.
The name of a vertex map that is to be evaluated on the original spline can be assigned here. The percentage values within this vertex map are multiplied by the Thickness value and thus enable the thickness to be varied individually along the outline of the starting spline.
These options are only relevant if the output spline is not closed, i.e., there is no connection between the first and last spline point. The effect of the cover surfaces can be seen in the following image.
On the left you can see some arcs that are used as output splines. The images on the right show the different cover surface modes with which the thickened ends can be calculated as open, linearly connected or rounded.
This can be used to configure individual connection types for open splines for the gap between the inside and outside outline curves (see also the figure above). The option selected for Start refers to the ends of the outlines that lie at the starting point of the starting spline. End configures the connection of the outline curves at the end point of the output spline.
This setting defines on which plane the outline is created. The following options are available:
- Auto: The plane is ascertained automatically. This works particularly well when the output spline lies completely in a 2D plane. The outline is then also created in this plane.
- XY (High: Z+): The assigned spline is evaluated within the XY plane.
- ZY (High: X+): The assigned spline is evaluated within the ZY plane.
- XZ (High: Y+): The assigned spline is evaluated within the XZ plane.