Curve

This page covers the basics of curve editing.

Transform

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Transform

A Bézier curve can be edited by transforming the locations of both control points and handles. NURBS curve on the other hand have only control points.

Move, Rotate, Scale

Like other elements in Blender, curve control points and handles can be moved, rotated, or scaled as described in Basic Transformations.

To Sphere, Shear, Bend, Push/Pull, Warp, Randomize

The transform tools are described in the Transformations sections.

Move/Scale Texture Space

Like other objects, curves have textures spaces which can be edited.

Radius

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Tool:

Toolbar ‣ Radius

Menu:

Curve ‣ Transform ‣ Radius

Shortcut:

Alt-S

The Radius allows you to directly control the width of the extrusion along the “spinal” curve. The radius will be interpolated from point to point (you can check it with the normals). The Radius of the points is set using the Radius transform tool. Or in the Sidebar Transform panel.

One control point radius set to zero.

Mirror

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Mirror

Shortcut:

Ctrl-M

The Mirror tool is also available, behaving exactly as with mesh vertices.

Snap

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Snap

Shortcut:

Shift-S

Mesh snapping also works with curve components. Both control points and their handles will be affected by snapping, except for within itself (other components of the active curve). Snapping works with 2D curves but points will be constrained to the local XY axes.

Spin

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Spin

The Spin operator only works for one dimensional surface objects. Its use for curves is currently not possible, the full feature is documented in Surface editing.

Add Duplicate

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Add Duplicate

Shortcut:

Shift-D

This operator duplicates the selected control points, along with the curve segments implicitly selected (if any). If only a handle is selected, the full point will be duplicated too. The copy is selected so you can move it to another place.

Split

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Split

Shortcut:

Y

The Split operator splits a selected segment of a curve from the rest of the curve. This curve can then be moved or altered without affecting the other curve. If a single control point is selected the Split operator will create a new singular loose control point; leaving the previously selected control point attached to the rest of the curve.

Separate

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Separate

Shortcut:

P

Curve objects that are made of multiple distinct curves can be separated into their own objects by selecting the desired segments and pressing P. Note, if there is only one curve in a Curve object, Separate will create a new Curve object with no control points.

Toggle Cyclic

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Toggle Cyclic

Shortcut:

Alt-C

This toggles between an open curve and closed curve (Cyclic). Only curves with at least one selected control point will be closed/open. The shape of the closing segment is based on the start and end handles for Bézier curves, and as usual on adjacent control points for NURBS. The only time a handle is adjusted after closing is if the handle is an Auto one. Fig. Open and Closed curves. is the same Bézier curve open and closed.

This action only works on the original starting control point or the last control point added. Deleting a segment(s) does not change how the action applies; it still operates only on the starting and last control points. This means that Alt-C may actually join two curves instead of closing a single curve! Remember that when a 2D curve is closed, it creates a renderable flat face.

Open and Closed curves.

Set Spline Type

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Set Spline Type

Set Spline Type converts splines in a curve object between Bézier, NURBS, and Poly curves. Note, this is not a “smart” conversion, i.e. Blender does not try to keep the same shape, nor the same number of control points. For example, when converting a NURBS to a Bézier, each group of three NURBS control points become a unique Bézier one (center point and two handles).

See also

Convert/from Mesh.

Show/Hide

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Show/Hide

Shortcut:

Alt-H, H, Shift-H

When in Edit Mode, you can hide and reveal elements from the display. You can only show or hide control points, as segments are always shown, unless all control points of the connected curve are hidden, in which case the curve is fully hidden.

See Show/Hide in Object Mode. See also the Curve Display panel.

Cleanup

Decimate Curve

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Clean Up ‣ Decimate Curve

The Decimate Curve operator reduces the number of control points while trying to maintain the curves original shape. This operator works similar to its mesh counterpart.

Ratio

The percentage of control points to remove.

Note

This tool can only decimate Bézier curves.

Delete

Reference

Mode:

Edit Mode

Menu:

Curve ‣ Delete…

Shortcut:

X, Delete; Ctrl-X

Options for the Delete pop-up menu:

Vertices

This will delete the selected control points, without breaking the curve (i.e. the adjacent points will be directly linked, joined, once the intermediary ones are deleted). Remember that NURBS order cannot be higher than its number of control points, so it might decrease when you delete some control point. Of course, when only one point remains, there is no more visible curve, and when all points are deleted, the curve itself is deleted.

Segment

Deletes the segment that connects the selected control points and disconnecting them.

Dissolve Vertices Ctrl-X

Deletes the selected control points, while the remaining segment is fitted to the deleted curve by adjusting its handles.