Edit Mode
Edit the hair curves itself: every header menu, tool, sidebar tab and context menu of Edit Mode.
: every menu, tool, sidebar tab and context menu of this mode, on one page. Use the panels on the right to jump between the regions.
Header
Control Points menu
Edit mode – Control Points menu
Extrude Curve
Extrudes the selected hair curve points, and moves it.
Curves menu
Edit mode - Curves menu
Transform Submenu
To Sphere
Shapes a selection of objects into the shape of a sphere. The calculation happens with the object origins.
In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.
Usage
Select the objects, activate the tool, then drag the mouse in the 3D viewport. In the header you will read the current factor then. Which tells you how close you are towards the sphere shape.
Last Operator To Sphere
Factor
The factor to transform the selection into a shape form.
Proportional editing
Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Proportional Falloff | Adjust the falloff methods. |
| Proportional Size | See and adjust the falloff radius. |
| Connected | The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. |
| Projected(2D) | The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Shear
Shear shears the selection.
In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.
Last Operator Shear
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Offset | Adjust an offset. |
| Axis | Defines one axis of the imaginary shear axis plane. |
Axis Ortho
Defines the other axis of the imaginary shear axis plane.
Orientation
Choose the orientation for the shear action.
Proportional editing
Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Proportional Falloff | Adjust the falloff methods. |
| Proportional Size | See and adjust the falloff radius. |
| Connected | The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. |
| Projected(2D) | The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Bend
Bends the selection.
In Object mode this tools requires to have more than one object selected.
Push/Pull
It pushes or pulls the object positions relative to the center of the selection.
In Object mode this tool requires to have more than one object selected.
Last Operator Push/Pull
Distance
Adjust the strength of influence of the tool.
Mirror Editing
Enables mirror editing.
Proportional editing
Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Proportional Falloff | Adjust the falloff methods. |
| Proportional Size | See and adjust the falloff radius. |
| Connected | The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. |
| Projected(2D) | The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Warp
Warps a mesh selection between two defined points. This also works with curves.
Last operator Warp
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Warp Angle | The strength of the warp effect. |
| Offset Angle | An offset angle to bend side wards. |
Min
The start point.
Max
The end point.
Radius
Scales the selected geometry of a curve along its normals. Transform orientation and Pivot point gets ignored.
A positive value pushes the vertices outwards. A negative value pushes the vertices inwards.
The curve needs to have geometry !
Last Operator Transform
Values
The transform values.
Axis
The transform axis.
Orientation
Choose the orientation.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mirror Editing | Enable Mirror Editing. |
| Proportional editing | Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings. · Proportional Falloff: Adjust the falloff methods. · Proportional Size: See and adjust the falloff radius. · Connected: The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. · Projected(2D): The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Mirror submenu
Mirror mirrors the selected geometry along the defined axis.
Interactive Mirror
Mirror by hotkeys. You activate the tool, type in x for x global for example, or x x for x local. And the selection gets mirrored
X Global, Y Global etc.
Mirrors the selection around the chosen axis.
Last Operator Mirror
The Last Operator Mirror panel gives you tools to adjust the mirror action.
Orientation
Orientation is a drop-down box . Choose the type of orientation for the mirroring action.
Constraint Axis
Constraint Axis gives you again the possibility to define the mirror axis. You can choose more than one axis here.
Snap submenu
Snap
Choose several methods to snap one element to another. The menu items should be self explaining.
Last operator Snap Selection to Cursor
Some snap operations shows a last operation panel, some not.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Offset | If the selection should snap as a whole, or if each individual element of the selection should snap. |
| Rotation | If the selection should be rotated to match the cursor. |
Set Attribute
Set the position attribute of the selected elements. The values can be adjusted in the popup.
Delete
Deletes the selected hair curves.
Operators
Duplicate
Duplicates the current selection. This can be a single control point or a whole curve.
The copy sticks to the mouse until you release it. A Right click while moving will reset the position of the duplicate. The duplicated part will be part of the same object.
When you drag the duplicate around you will see the position values in the header.
Last Operator Duplicate
Move X , Y , Z
Orientation
Choose the orientation.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mirror Editing | Enable Mirror Editing. |
| Proportional editing | Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings. · Proportional Falloff: Adjust the falloff methods. · Proportional Size: See and adjust the falloff radius. · Connected: The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. · Projected(2D): The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Set Spline Type
With set Spline Type, you can set the type of the curve.
- Catmul Rom is an interpolated spline system for smooth curves.
- Poly is a straight line between the control points.
- Bezier has curve handlers.
- A NURBS curve has a control cage.
Last Operator Set Spline Type
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Type | Type is a drop-down box . Choose the spline type |
| Handles | Use Handles when converting Bezier curves into polygons. |
Set Attribute
Set values of the attibute for selected elements. The selected geometry will be set to the chosen vector 3 value.
Last Operator Set Attribute
Position
The vector 3 values.
Toggle Cyclic
Toggle Cyclic closes or opens the curve.
Last Operator Toggle Cyclic
Direction
Direction is a drop-down box . Choose the direction in which the curve gets closed.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Separate | Separates the selection into a new object. |
| Delete | Deletes the selected hair geomety. |
Segments menu
Edit Mode - Segments Menu
The Segments menu exists for Curve and Surface object types. They are both curve types, but of different kind.
The added objects in edit mode becomes part of the current object geometry.
Subdivide
Subdivides the selected curve geometry, and adds more control points.
Last Operator Subdivide
Number of Cuts
Number of subdivision cuts.
Switch Direction
Just for Bezier Curve object type. Surface Nurbs curves doesn't have a direction. Switches the direction in which the curve is pointing.
Tool Shelf
Tools
Tool Shelf - Hair Curve - Edit Mode
With a hair curve object in edit mode you will find some tools to edit the curve geometry in the tool shelf.
Tweak, Select, Transform, 3D Cursor Measure and Annotate tools
The tweak, select, transform, 3d cursor, measure and annotate tools at the end of the list are explained in the chapter 7.1.1 Editors - 3D View - Tool Shelf - Object Mode. We won't cover this tools again here.
Draw
Allows you to draw a curve into the viewport.
Tool Settings
Type
Set the draw method for the curve. Poly draws a simple polygon shape. Bezier creates a Bezier curve type with handlers.
With type Bezier you will get more options.
Method
The curve fitting method for a Bezier curve.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Refit | Incrementally refit the curve. |
| Split | Split the curve until it fits. |
Tolerance
Allow deviation for a smoother but less precise line.
Detect Corners
Detect corners and use non aligned angles.
Corner Angle
Corners above this angle are considered as corners.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Taper Start / End | Taper factor for the radius of each curve point. |
| Radius Min/Max | Minimum or maximum radius when the pressure is applied. |
| Use Pressure | Use tablet pressure to draw the curve. |
Depth
The method of projecting depth. Cursor or surface.
Cursor
Cursor has no further settings.
Surface
Project onto selected
Projects the strokes only onto selected objects.
Absolute Offset
Apply a fixed offset, and don't scale by the radius.
Only First
Use the start of the stroke for the depth.
Plane
The plane for the projected strokes.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Normal to Surface | Draw in a plane perpendicular to the surface. |
| Tangent to Surface | Draw in the surface plane. |
| View | Draw in a plane that is aligned to the viewport. |
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Curve 2D | Draw the curve as 2d. |
| As Nurbs | Draw the curve as nurbs. |
Last Operator Draw Curve
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Error | Adjust the error distance threshold in object units |
| Fit Method | The curve fitting method. Choose between Refit and Split. |
| Corner Angle | Corners above this angle are considered as corners. |
| Cyclic | With curve type Bezier the curve gets closed. Has no effect at curve type Poly. |
Curve Pen
Extrudes start and end point of the spline to where you click with the mouse.
Tool Settings
Close Spline
Make the spline cyclic.
Extrude Handle Type
Type of the extrude handler.
Radius
Bezier curves have a radius. This is displayed by the black lines that points away from the curve. The radius tool allows you to resize this radius.
Header Value
When you resize the curve radius then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current scale factor. This factor always starts with 1.
Tool Settings
Drag
When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Active Tool | When you click off the widget then the click still does the same than clicking at the widget. It performs the active tool. |
| Tweak, Select Box, Circle and Lasso | When you choose this options then you will set the off click to the different select methods. Whereas tweak works more than a move tool then. Tweak is the default. |
Last Operator Transform
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Values X Y Z W | The axis to increase the radius. Just X has an effect with the curve radius. |
| Axis | The axis to use. This has no effect with a curve object. |
Orientation
Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mirror Editing | Enable mirror editing. |
| Proportional editing | Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings. · Proportional Falloff: Adjust the falloff methods. · Proportional Size: See and adjust the falloff radius. · Connected: The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. · Projected(2D): The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Tilt
With this tool you can tilt the curve. It is the mean tilt value in the Transform panel of the Sidebar.
Header Value
When you rotate the curve with the tilt tool, then you will see a value in the header. It tells you the current rotation relative to the starting rotation. This value always starts with 0.
Tool Settings
Drag
When you click at the widget of the active tool, then you perform the tool action. Adjust what should happen when you click outside of the widget, in the empty area.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Active Tool | When you click off the widget then the click still does the same than clicking at the widget. It performs the active tool. |
| Tweak, Select Box, Circle and Lasso | When you choose this options then you will set the off click to the different select methods. Whereas tweak works more than a move tool then. Tweak is the default. |
Last Operator Transform
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Angle | This value tells you the current rotation relative to the starting rotation. This value always starts with 0. |
| Mirror Editing | Enable mirror editing. |
| Proportional editing | Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings. · Proportional Falloff: Adjust the falloff methods. · Proportional Size: See and adjust the falloff radius. · Connected: The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. · Projected(2D): The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Context Menus
Curves context menu
Detailed table of collection
Edit Mode - Curves Context Menu
Call this menu with double right click in the 3D viewport. You need to be in Edit mode with a armature object.
Subdivide
Subdivides the selected curve geometry, and adds more control points.
Last Operator Subdivide
Number of Cuts
Number of subdivision cuts.
Extrude Curve
Extrudes the selected curve point(s).
Last operator Extrude Curve and Move
Mode
A drop-down box where you can choose between different extrude modes.
Default is Translation. Most other methods has no effect.
Move X , Y , Z
The position of the extruded point(s).
Orientation
Adjust the orientation of the extrusion. It usually starts with Normal.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mirror Editing | Enable Mirror Editing. |
| Proportional editing | Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings. · Proportional Falloff: Adjust the falloff methods. · Proportional Size: See and adjust the falloff radius. · Connected: The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. · Projected(2D): The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Mirror sub menu
Mirrors the selection.
Interactive Mirror
Mirrors the selection.
Usage:
Activate the tool. In the header you will now see further instructions. Which is: type in the axis at which you want to mirror. Interactive mirroring starts in Global space. You can change the orientation in the last operator.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| X Y Z Global | Mirrors along the global axis. |
| X Y Z Local | Mirrors along the object axis. |
Last Operator Mirror
Orientation
Choose the orientation in which the transform should happen.
Proportional editing
Enables proportional editing. Activating proportional editing reveals further settings.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Proportional Falloff | Adjust the falloff methods. |
| Proportional Size | See and adjust the falloff radius. |
| Connected | The proportional falloff gets calculated for connected parts only. |
| Projected(2D) | The proportional falloff gets calculated in the screen space. Depth doesn't play a role. When it's in the radius, then it gets calculated. |
Snap sub menu
Selection to Cursor
Snaps the currently selected object(s) to the cursor location.
Selection to Cursor(Keep Offset)
Snaps the currently selected object(s) to the cursor location, but keeps the offset of the selected objects to each other. Means the center of the current selection goes to cursor position. Not every individual object.
Last operator Snap Selection to Cursor
Offset
Keep the offset of the selected objects to each other.
Rotation
Rotate to match the cursor.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Selection to Active | Snaps the currently selected object(s) to the active object. |
| Selection to Grid | Snaps the currently selected object(s) to the nearest grid point. |
| Cursor to Selected | Moves the cursor to the center of the selected object(s). |
| Cursor to World Origin | Moves the cursor to the world origin. |
| Cursor to Active | Moves the cursor to the center of the active object. |
| Cursor to Grid | Moves the cursor to the nearest grid point. |
Set Spline Type
With set Spline Type you can set the type of the curve.
Poly is a straight line between the control points. Bezier has curve handlers. A nurbs curve has a control cage.
Last Operator Set Spline Type
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Type | Type is a drop-down box choose the spline type |
| Handles | Use Handles when converting Bezier curves into polygons. |
Set Handle Type
Handles defines the type of handle for the knots of the curve. You have the choice between Auto, Vector, Align and Free. And the Last Operator gives you a fifth possibility to toggle between Free and Align.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Auto | Auto aligns the handles automatically. |
| Vector | Set Handle type to Vector. |
| Align | Set Handle type to Align. |
Free
Set Handle type to Free.
Toggle Free/Aligned
Toggle Free/Aligned.
Last Operator Set Handle Type
Type
Type is a drop-down box where you can set the handle type. You have the choice between Auto, Vector, Align, Free. And the fifth possibility toggles between Free and Align.
Toggle Cyclic
Toggle Cyclic closes or opens the curve.
Last Operator Toggle Cyclic
Direction
Direction is a drop-down box choose the direction in which the curve gets closed.
Switch Direction
Just for Bezier Curve object type. Surface Nurbs curves doesn't have a direction. Switches the direction in which the curve is pointing.
| Entry | What it does |
|---|---|
| Separate | Separates the selected control points, and creates a new curve object out of it. You need to select two control points to select the segment between it. |
| Delete | Removes the selected control points or curves. |
| Split | Split selected points into a new object. |