---
title: "Cinema 4D Curves & Splines"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/html/Cinema%2B4D%2BCurves%2BAnd%2BSplines.html"
section_path: "Mesh Topics > Cinema 4D Curves & Splines"
description: "Redshift supports the rendering of Cinema 4D Splines and Curves with a number of different parameters for shape and size. These setups can be rendered as …"
---

# Cinema 4D Curves & Splines

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# Cinema 4D Curves & Splines

## Cinema 4D Curves & Splines

Redshift supports the rendering of Cinema 4D Splines and Curves with a number of different parameters for shape and size. These setups can be rendered as Hair Strands or Polygon based curves at render time. There are a number of different ways to shade these setups using an RS Material, which can also be combined with different attributes used to drive its parameters. You can render out different setups that generate these Curves including; regular spline objects, MoSpline, xpTrails and Tracers.

![Image: Cover_image.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cover_image.png)

*Tracer Object, Rendered with the Curve: Cylinders*

## Basic workflow

To render our Curves or Splines in Redshift we add a *Redshift Object Tag* to the object that is generating these (for example Spline object, MoSpline,Tracer etc.). Redshift will detect our curves and display the *Curve* tab for adjusting the different parameters. These are described below:

![Image: Redshift_Object_Tag_1.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Redshift_Object_Tag_1.png)

*Redshift Object Tag*

## Redshift Object Tag parameters

**Mode**

There are 6 different curve mode options shown below.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: hair-strands.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/hair-strands.png) | ![Image: Boxes.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Boxes.png) | ![Image: Cylinders.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cylinders.png) |
| *Hair Strands* | *Boxes* | *Cylinders* |
|  |  |  |
| ![Image: Capsules.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Capsules.png) | ![Image: Cones.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cones.png) | ![Image: Stripes.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Stripes.png) |
| *Capsules* | *Cones* | *Stripes* |

> **Note:** Click on the individual boxes for a close look!

**Strand VS Polygon based curves**

With *Boxes*, *Cylinders*, *Capsules*, *Cones*, and *Stripes* Redshift is generating procedural meshes at scene conversion as Polygon-based Curves. *Hair Stands* are curves rendered using a special ribbon-like core primitive, optimized for a high volume of thin strands. These are ideally suited for hair-like objects. *Strands* are more memory efficient, and best used for far away shots, or when using high counts of individual splines and curves, such as hair, cloth fibers, and any type of fine detail. While *Polygon-based Curves* get the benefits of mesh based geometry but avoid a lot of the processing overhead that ordinary meshes would create.

**Thickness**

The thickness parameter is the overall width of each Curve.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: Thick-5.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thick-5.png) | ![Image: Thick1.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thick1.png) | ![Image: Thick3.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Thick3.png) |
| *Thickness .5* | *Thickness 1* | *Thickness 3* |

**Scale**

The Scale parameter allows you to vary the width of your curves with a custom spline graph. From 0 - 1 (Left to Right; X-Axis) will control the Start to End of your curve. From 0 - 1 (Bottom to Top;Y Axis) will control the width of your curve, with 1 being equalt to your *Thickness* parameter value, down to a value of 0 thickness. This is very useful for tapering ends of curves and controlling the width throughout your curve.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: Cylinders-8.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cylinders-8.png) | ![Image: Cylinders-4.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cylinders-4.png) | ![Image: Cylinders-0.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cylinders-0.png) |
| ![Image: Scale8.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Scale8.png) | ![Image: Scale4.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Scale4.png) | ![Image: Scale0.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Scale0.png) |

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Scale_Curve.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Scale_Curve.mp4)

*Demonstrating Scale Graph*

**Resample**

When the *Resample Curve* option is checked we can adjust the resampling steps for the curve. Higher step counts can be better for up close shots, while for long distance shots a lower sample rate can help imporove render times. This Resample Curve option can also be extremely useful in some scenarios where deformation blur cannot be generated reliably when certain types of curve animation is used.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| ![Image: Resample32.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Resample32.jpg) | ![Image: Resample64.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Resample64.jpg) |
| *Resample 32* | *Resample 64* |
| ![Image: Resample128.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Resample128.jpg) | ![Image: Resample256.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Resample256.jpg) |
| *Resample 128* | *Resample 256* |

**Subdivision Type**

*Subdivision Type* allows us to subdivide our trails if needed, there is a Fixed & Adaptive mode. Examples of each are shown down below.

**Fixed**

*Fixed* allows us to use a value from 0-8 in the Max Subdivisions slider to determine how many times your trail will be subdivided.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: Steps10subFixed0.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Steps10subFixed0.jpg) | ![Image: Steps10subFixed2.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Steps10subFixed2.jpg) | ![Image: Steps10subFixed6.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Steps10subFixed6.jpg) |
| *Steps: 10 Max Subdivisions: 0* | *Steps: 10 Max Subdivisions: 2* | *Steps: 10 Max Subdivisions: 6* |

**Adaptive**

Adaptive mode will give the most optimized result in terms of geometry.

![Image: Adaptive.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Adaptive.jpg)

*Adaptive*

## Shading Curves

### Hair Strand-specific Shader Nodes

These are nodes that should be used in conjunction with the Curve Mode *Hair Strands*, described here.

**Hair Position**

The *Hair Position* node will create a 0 to 1 value for each point on along the curve. This can be connected to a ramp node source set to Alt Source mode, to remap the colors as shown below.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Hair Position.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Hair%20Position.mp4)

*Hair Position node*

**Hair Random Color**

The *Hair Random Color* node is used for randomizing the color per hair strand. Its parameters are described down below.

**Color**

The *Color* parameter will be the overall shade of your strands.

**Hue Amount**

The *Hue Amount* will determine how strong each strand's Hue color will change with a value from 0-1. A value of 1 will effectively change every strand to a completely different color.

**Saturation Amount**

The *Saturation Amount* will determine the saturation value for each strand with a value from 0-1. A value of 1 will effectively desaturate some of your strands to the point they have no color and are white.

**Value Amount**

The *Value Amount* will determine the brightness & darkness value for each strand with a value from 0-1.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Hair Random Color.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Hair%20Random%20Color.mp4)

*Hair Random Color*

### Polygon Curve-specific Vertex Attributes

These are Curve Vertex Attributes that should be used in conjunction with the Curve modes: *Boxes*, *Cylinders*, *Capsules*, *Cones*, and *Strips* described here.

**RSCurvePosition**

The *RSCurvePosition*attribute will create a 0 to 1 value for each point on along the curve. This can be connected to a Ramp node set to Alt Source mode, to remap the colors, much like the Hair Position node for Hair Strands.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_RSCurvePosition.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_RSCurvePosition.mp4)

*RSCurvePosition*

**RSCurveIDNorm**

The *RSCurveIDNorm* attribute will create a 0 to 1 grayscale value for each strand. This can be connected to a Ramp node set to Alt Source mode to remap the colors.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDNorm.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDNorm.mp4)

*RSCurveIDNorm*

**RSCurveIDColor**

The *RSCurveIDColor* attribute will create a random color value for each strand. This can be connected to a Ramp node set to Alt Source mode to remap the colors.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDColor.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDColor.mp4)

*RSCurveIDColor*

**RSCurveIDColorAlpha**

The *RSCurveIDColorAlpha* attribute will create a random color value for each strand, as well as a random value for each strand in the Alpha Channel.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDColorAphpa.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_RSCurveIDColorAphpa.mp4)

*RSCurveIDColorAlpha*

## Motion Blur

You can enable Motion Blur on our curves by going to the motion blur settings and checking the box. We are also going to enable deformation blur. You can view the specific motion blur section here.

![Image: Redshift_RenderSettings_MotionBlur.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Redshift_RenderSettings_MotionBlur.png)

*Motion Blur Settings*

> **Note:** If you are having trouble rendering Deformation Blur with your Curves, you can enable Resample Curve in the Redshift Object tag's Curve tab. More information here.

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ![Image: No_motion_blur.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/No_motion_blur.png) | ![Image: 5_motion_blur.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/5_motion_blur.png) | ![Image: 20_motion_blur.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/20_motion_blur.png) |
| *No Motion Blur* | *Motion Blur enabled Frame Duration:5* | *Motion Blur enabled Frame Duration:20* |

## Examples: Tracer

Let's see how to render and shade Tracer curves.

First we need to add a *Redshift Object* tag and adjust the *Curve Mode* to *Hair Strands*. Then we adjust the scale and thickness parameter.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Tracers.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Tracers.mp4)

Redshift Object Tag

Next we are going to shade our Hair Strands. First we are going to use a Hair Random Color node and adjust the parameters to vary the color per strand. Also we will add a Color Correct node to change our hue with ease.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Tracers_Shade.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Tracers_Shade.mp4)

*Shading Hair Strands*

> **Note:** If you need more information on particle-based splines such as tracers and xpTrails check [here](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/html/Cinema%2B4D%2BParticles.html.md).

## Examples: MoSpline

Let's see how to render and shade MoSpline curves.

To start off we need to add a *Redshift Object* tag and adjust the *Curve Mode* to *Boxes*. Then we adjust the scale and thickness parameter.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_MoSpline_setup.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_MoSpline_setup.mp4)

*Redshift Object Tag*

Next we are going to shade our MoSpline setup, first we are going to bring in a Vertex Attribute and use the *RSCurvePosition,* described here. Then we will remap this with a Ramp node.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_MoSpline_Shade.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_MoSpline_Shade.mp4)

*Vertex Attribute Remapped*

## Examples: Simple Splines

Lets look at how to render and shade Basic splines.

First we need to add a *Redshift Object* tag to all of our letter splines and set the *Curve Mode* to *Strips*.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Letter_Splines.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Letter_Splines.mp4)

*Redshift Object Tag*

Next we are going to use a Vertex Attribute and set it to *RSCurveIDColor* described here. Then connect it to the emission parameter of our RS Material.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_Shade_Splines.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_Shade_Splines.mp4)

*Shade Simple Splines*

## Examples: Microfibers

We can scatter splines on our blanket object and render them as curves to give the appearance of actual hairs on our blanket.

![Image: Cover_image_Microfibers.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Cover_image_Microfibers.jpg)

*Suede Blanket*

First we are going to create our splines that will be scattered on the blanket, these will resemble our hairs.

![Image: Splines.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Splines.png)

*Simple Splines*

Next we are going to optimize our scene bit, I'm duplicating my geometry and only scattering on the parts that are seen by the camera as shown below.

![Image: optimize.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/optimize.png)

*Optimized Geo*

Now we will scatter our splines over the new *Optimized_Geo* with a cloner object and use a random effector to randomize the direction our hairs are pointing.

![Image: Scatter.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Scatter.png)

*Scattered Splines*

> **Note:** Try lowering the cloner count if you have low amount of RAM available.

Now let's add a basic blue material to our splines and add a Redshift Object Tag and set it to Hair Strands. Because these hairs are relatively small and far away from the camera the Hair Strand mode will work perfectly.

![Image: Hair Strands.png](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Hair%20Strands.png)

*Redshfit Object Tag*

We can now render our setup and see we are getting that hair effect on our blanket and compare it with and without the effect.

[Video: C4DCurveSpline_End_Fibers.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/r3d/cinema/en-us/Content/Resources/Multimedia/C4DCurveSpline_End_Fibers.mp4)

*Add details with RS Curves*