
Adding multiple strokes to a single spline in Cinema 4D can be achieved through various methods. One approach is to utilise the spline used for extrusion as the path for a sweep object, allowing you to sweep a circle along the same path. Alternatively, you can apply different materials to the caps, rounding, and sides of the spline to create distinct strokes. These techniques provide flexibility in designing and customising the appearance of your spline in Cinema 4D.
What You'll Learn
Using the Sweep Object
To use the Sweep Generator, start by creating a 2D shape or profile and a path, which is a curve that defines the direction and trajectory of the sweep. The Spline Pen and Sketch tools are ideal for creating complex and flowing shapes for the path of the sweep object. The path can be either an open or closed spline.
The second part of a sweep object is the shape that will extend or sweep along the path, and this must be a closed spline. You can use the Rectangle spline tool or the Circle spline tool to create this shape, and adjust its size as needed.
Once you have your 2D shape and path, you can drag them into the Sweep Generator, which can be found in the Create panel under Subdivision Surface. The Sweep object's attributes can then be edited in the Attribute Manager. For example, if you're having issues with sharp corners, turning off the Constant Cross Section switch can help.
Other attributes you can adjust include End Scale, which determines the size of the contour at the end of the path; End Rotation, which defines the rotation about the Z-axis; Start Growth and End Growth, which allow you to adjust the Sweep object from either end of the spline.
Additionally, you can animate the sweep object by keyframing its attributes. Any attribute with a diamond next to it can be animated, including the properties of generators like Sweep.
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Using the Caps, Sides, and Rounding
Cinema 4D's Caps and Bevels feature offers a lot of flexibility and control when it comes to creating and editing 3D objects. Here's a guide on how to use the Caps, Sides, and Rounding features effectively:
Caps
The Caps feature in Cinema 4D allows you to add caps to the ends of extruded splines, giving them the appearance of closed meshes. In previous versions of Cinema 4D, adding caps to both ends of an extrusion required separate steps for the start and end caps. However, in the latest version, the caps are fused together and mirrored by default, allowing you to control both ends simultaneously. This enhancement saves time and ensures consistency in your designs. Additionally, if you need to adjust the caps separately, you can do so by checking the "Separate Bevel Controls" checkbox.
Sides
The Sides feature in Cinema 4D gives you control over the sides of your extruded objects. You can adjust the shape depth and the number of segments to create concave or convex bevels. Increasing the number of segments results in a smoother appearance. The Curve Bevel option allows you to set points and control the bevel profile using bezier handles, enabling you to create unique and complex bevel shapes. The Step Bevel option lets you create a stair-stepped bevel with as many steps as you like, and the Round Bevel option gives you a simple, rounded bevel.
Rounding
The Rounding feature in Cinema 4D allows you to smooth out the edges of your objects and add thickness to them. By increasing the number of segments and adjusting the size, you can create smooth, rounded edges. Additionally, the Bevel Outside option can be used to thicken the entire object. When using the Sweep tool, the Rounding feature can be a huge timesaver, eliminating the need to guess the radius of the start and end points. The Rounding feature is also available for other generator objects, such as lofts and waves, providing consistent results across different tools.
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Direction of the Extrude
The Direction drop-down menu in the Extrude Object Parameters allows you to determine the direction of the extrusion relative to the object itself. Here are the options:
- Auto: This is the default option. Cinema 4D will create an extrude perpendicular to the plane in which the spline lies.
- X, Y, Z: The direction of the spline will be determined by the axis chosen.
- Custom: This option allows you to use the movement setting to define the directional vector. The movement specifies the direction and length of the extrusion relative to the orientation of the Extrude Object itself. This is why it is recommended to ensure any spline you wish to extrude is oriented to one of the three main planes (XY, XZ, or ZY).
Once you have achieved the desired extrusion, you can control the rotation of the newly formed object from the Coordinates tab of the Extrude Object. The three movement boxes correspond to the XYZ directions relative to the Extrude object, regardless of the spline's orientation.
Additional Tips for Extruding in Cinema 4D
- Extruding is a fast way to transform 2D vector artwork into 3D geometry and is essential for polygon modelling.
- The Extrude Object is a generator that works on any kind of spline in Cinema 4D. It requires a child object to operate on, in this case, a spline.
- Remember that extruding always creates new geometry out of existing splines or polygons.
- When importing vector art, it often comes in as multiple separate splines. Using one extrude object for all of them is more efficient and quicker.
- Closed splines will extrude with caps enabled by default, giving the appearance of closed meshes.
- Enabling fillet caps is recommended by seasoned 3D artists as even a small fillet can enhance the realism and appeal of your object by catching highlights and defining its form.
- Remember that fillets expand the radius of your spline, which can create problems with acute angles in the spline. Reducing the bevel size may help with this issue.
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Length of the Extrude
The length of the extrude can be defined in the Offset field. The Offset field allows you to define the absolute length of the movement of the extrusion. Negative values will cause the movement to take place in the opposite direction. The Offset Variation field allows you to vary the length of the extrusion. This option is not available if Preserve Groups is enabled. The value you enter is subtracted from 100% to give the start of the variation range.
To extrude the edges interactively, drag the mouse (this changes the Offset value, i.e., the length of the extrusion). With the mouse button still held down, you can Shift+drag to change the direction of the extrusion. If, at this point, you still keep the mouse button held down and release the Shift key and drag, you will change the Offset once more. So, by holding down or releasing the Shift key while you drag, you can change between adjusting the extrusion length and the extrusion direction.
The Subdivision field defines the number of subdivisions along the extrusion axis. The Isoparm Subdivision field defines the number of isoparms used to display the Extrude object when the isoparm display mode is active.
The length of the extrusion can also be defined by the direction of the extrusion. The direction of the extrusion can be set to Auto, X, Y, Z, or Custom. In Auto mode, Cinema 4D will create an extrude perpendicular to the plane in which the spline lies. In X, Y, or Z mode, the direction of the spline will be determined by the axis chosen. In Custom mode, the movement setting is used to define the directional vector.
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Subdivision Controls
The Extrude Object is a generator that works on any kind of spline in Cinema4D. The effect of the Extrude Object is only apparent once you give it a child object to operate on, in this case, a spline. Once you have the spline extruded to your liking, you can control the rotation of the newly formed object from the Coordinates tab of the Extrude Object. The three movement boxes correspond to the XYZ directions relative to the Extrude Object, regardless of the spline's orientation.
Here, you can define the length of the extrude. Subdivision Controls offer an efficient way to create multiple loops along the extrusion edge, which can be evenly spaced according to the total length of the extrusion. This is particularly useful when working with hierarchical objects, where you have many disconnected splines, and you want to apply the same extrusion settings to all of them.
Additionally, using Xpresso in Cinema4D, you can create simple in-scene slider controls and switches to adjust the number of subdivisions used in an object. This level of control allows for more responsive C4D Dynamics when working with simulations.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use the Sweep Object function to add multiple strokes to a spline in Cinema 4D. First, create a spline, then use the Sweep Object function to sweep a circle on it. This will give you the appearance of multiple strokes on a single spline.
You can create a spline by importing vector files as splines and geometry using the Vector Import tool.
Once you have your spline, you can adjust the settings of the Sweep Object function in the menu. You can change the direction of the extrusion, the length of the extrude, and the number of loops created.
Yes, you can add strokes in After Effects as well. There are a number of ways to create strokes on a layer with an alpha channel in After Effects.