Convert to Geometry

Reference

Mode:

Object Mode

Menu:

Object ‣ Convert ‣ Path, Bézier Curve, Polygon Curve

In the 3D Viewport, sketches on the active layer can be converted to geometry, based on the current view settings, by transforming the points recorded when drawing (which make up the strokes) into 3D space. Currently, all points will be used, so it may be necessary to simplify or subdivide parts of the created geometry for standard use. Sketches can currently be converted into curves in Object Mode.

Options

Type

The type of object to convert to.

• Path

  Create NURBS 3D curves of order 2 (i.e. behaving like polylines).

  Bézier Curve

  Create Bézier curves, with free “aligned” handles (i.e. also behaving like polylines).

  Polygon Curve

  Bézier curve with straight line segments (auto handles).

Note

Converting to Mesh

If you want to convert your sketch to a mesh, simply choose NURBS first, and then convert the created curve to a mesh.

Bevel Depth

The Bevel Depth to use for the converted curve object.

Bevel Resolution

The Bevel Resolution to use for the converted curve object.

Normalize Weight

Will scale weights value so that they fit into the (0.0 to 1.0) range.

Radius Factor

Multiplier for the points’ radii (set from the stroke’s width).

Link Strokes

Will create a single spline, i.e. curve element, from all strokes in active Grease Pencil layer. This is especially useful if you want to use the curve as a path. All the strokes are linked in the curve by “zero weights/radii” sections.

Timing

Grease Pencil stores “dynamic” data, i.e. how fast strokes are drawn. When converting to curve, this data can be used to create an Evaluate Time F-Curve (in other words, a path animation), that can be used e.g. to control another object’s position along that curve (Follow Path constraint, or, through a driver, Curve modifier). So this allows you to reproduce your drawing movements.

Link Strokes has to be enabled for all timing options.

Timing Mode

This control lets you choose how timing data is used.

• No Timing

  Just create the curve, without any animation data (hence all following options will be hidden).

  Linear

  The path animation will be a linear one.

  Original

  The path animation will reflect to original timing, including for the “gaps” (i.e. time between strokes drawing).

  Custom Gaps

  The path animation will reflect to original timing, but the “gaps” will get custom values. This is especially useful if you want to shorten large pauses between some strokes.

Frame Range

The “length” of the created path animation, in frames. In other words, the highest value of Evaluation Time.

Start Frame

The starting frame of the path animation.

Realtime

When enabled, the path animation will last exactly the same duration it has taken you to draw the strokes.

End Frame

When Realtime is disabled, this defines the end frame of the path animation. This means that the drawing timing will be adjusted to fit into the specified range.

Gap Duration

Custom Gaps only. The average duration (in frames) of each gap between strokes. Please note that, the value will only be exact if Realtime is enabled, otherwise it will be scaled, exactly as the strokes’ timing is.

Example

Here is a simple “hand writing” video created with curves converted from sketch data.

The blend-file from the above example can be found here.