====== Spline Primitive ======

{{ :tools:s-tk:pasted:20190730-125318.png}}

This is a Primitive Type plugin that is attached to a null.

It contains and manages a spline that can be edited using [[layout-tool]].

===== Controls =====
==== Presets ====

This pop-down allows you to store and retrieve splines using our [[tools:presets|]].

==== Closed ====

Determines if the spline is closed (a loop) or open.

==== Information Display ====

Currently only shows the number of knots in the spline.
==== Use Defaults ====
If enabled, the spline will use the defaults defined in the [[prefs]] to display and evaluate the spline.
You can use custom values for this spline by disabling this option and changing the following values.
==== Evaluation Steps ====

The number of cached values per span that are used to compute the orientation along the spline.
If you find the orientation to be "jaggy", increase this value.

These are also used to compute the values required for [[tools:s-tk:displacement-node|]] and [[tools:s-tk:proximity-node|]].

==== Selected Steps ====

This is used when the spline is selected and drawn into a viewport.

The value is number of lines drawn in the layout viewport per span to approximate the shape of the spline. The higher the value, the smoother the viewport representation is.
However, a larger value also takes longer to draw and uses a bit more memory.

==== Deselected Steps ====
This is used when the spline is not selected and drawn into a viewport.

The value is number of lines drawn in the layout viewport per span to approximate the shape of the spline. The higher the value, the smoother the viewport representation is.
However, a larger value also takes longer to draw and uses a bit more memory.

This value can be quite low if you have many splines in your scene and the ones you don't have selected don't have to be as precise.

==== Open Spline Prefs...====

Open the [[prefs]]

==== Shapes ====

As of October 2019, shapes are now supported as well. The controls in the Shapes tab allow you to solo to the shape selected in the list. You can also access the 
Progress envelope via this tab.

Details on editing shapes are available here: [[tools:s-tk:layout-tool#shape_animation|"Spline Edit: Shape Animation"]]