Curve Widget

../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_ui.png

Curve widget.

The Curve Widget allows to intuitively map a range of input values to a set of output values by adjusting a curve, where the X axis represents the input and the Y axis the output.

Control Points

Like all curves in Blender, the curve of the Curve Widget is controlled using control points.

By default, there are two control points: one at (0.0, 0.0) and one at (1.0, 1.0), meaning the input is mapped directly to the output (unchanged).

Move

Simply click and drag it around.

Add

Click anywhere on the curve where there is not already a control point.

Remove

Select it and click the X button at the bottom right.

Controls

Above the curve graph is a row of controls. These are:

Zoom In (plus magnifying glass icon)

Zoom into the center of the graph to show more details and provide more accurate control. To navigate around the curve while zoomed in, click and drag in an empty part of the graph.

Zoom Out (minus magnifying glass icon)

Zoom out of the graph to show fewer details and view the graph as a whole. You cannot zoom out further than the clipping region (see Clipping below).

Specials v

A Specials menu with operators to edit control points or to set properties.

Reset View

Resets the view of the curve.

Extend Options

Controls how the curve is extended before the first control point and after the last control point.

Extend Horizontal

Causes the curve to stay horizontal before the first point and after the last point.

Extend Extrapolated

Causes the curve to extrapolate before the first point and after the last point, based on the shape of the curve.

../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_extend-horizontal.png

Extend Horizontal.
../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_extend-extrapolate.png

Extend Extrapolated.
Reset Curve

Resets the curve to default (removes all points added to the curve).

Clipping Options (dot icon)
Use Clipping

Forces curve points to stay between specified values.

Min X/Y and Max X/Y

Set the minimum and maximum bounds of the curve points.

Below the curve are options for the selected control point:

Handle Type

Controls how the control points affect the curve shape. It determines the interpolation of the curve segment at the selected control point.

Vector Handle:

Vector handles create straight lines and sharp corners.

Auto Handle:

Automatic handles that create smooth curves.

Auto-Clamped Handle:

Automatic handles that create smooth curves while also preventing overshoot.

Free Handle:

The handles can be moved completely independently, and thus can result in a sharp change of direction.

Aligned Free Handles:

The two handles of the curve point are locked together to always point in exactly opposite directions. This results in a curve that is always smooth at the control point.

../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_handle-vector.png

Vector Handles.
../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_handle-auto.png

Auto Handles.
../../../_images/interface_controls_templates_curve_handle-auto-clamped.png

Auto Clamped Handles.
X, Y

The coordinates of the selected control point.

Delete X

Remove the selected control point. The first and last points cannot be deleted.

Copy/Paste Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V

The whole curve can be copied from one Curve Widget to another by hovering over the curve graph and pressing Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V.