BTracer

The purpose of this script is to add tools that are similar to C4D Tracer. Btrace provides several ways to trace objects and particles and animate the resulting curve.

Activation

  • Open Blender and go to Preferences then the Add-ons tab.

  • Click Add Curve then BTracer to enable the script.

Interface

Located in the 3D Viewport ‣ Sidebar ‣ Edit tab.

The default setting in the interface is Choose Tool, here you pick what trace methods and functions.

../../_images/addons_add-curve_btracer_ui.jpg

Information

The five main tools (Object Trace, Object Connect, Mesh Follow, Particle Trace, Particle Connect) all share common settings for the most part. Each tool creates a curve as the end result. The settings for the curve created can be setup under the Curves Settings button.

The tools have access to a few other features. All of them have access to the grow curve animation tool which animates the curve radius. As well as the Color Blender tool.

Object Trace

Creates a curve by joining points of a mesh in a continuous manner or by all edges. Options to modulate the curves radius or add distortion to mesh before converting.

Objects Connect

Join selected objects with a curve and add hooks to each node.

Particle Trace

Creates a curve from each particle of a system. Keeping particle amount under 250 will make this run faster.

Particle Connect

Connects each particle of a system with a continuous curve.

Mesh Follow

Creates curve from animated mesh object. Following the path of either the vertices, edges or faces, and also the option to follow the object’s origin.

Grow Curve Animation

Animate the radius of a curve over time. Can be run alone on a curve object, or run with the tools above.

F-Curve Noise

Quick link to add an F-Curve modifier to an object.

Color Blender

Assign colors, create color palettes and randomize colors.

Each script has a number of different options which can be used to create some very interesting effects.

Reference

Category:

Add Curve

Description:

Tools for converting/animating objects/particles into curves.

Location:

Sidebar ‣ Create tab

File:

btrace folder

Author:

liero, crazycourier

Contributors:

Atom, MacKracken, meta-androcto

Maintainer:

Brendon Murphy (meta-androcto)

License:

GPL

Support Level:

Community

Note:

This add-on is bundled with Blender.