SplineOffset is a modifier for 3ds Max that creates multiple clones of splines with the option to incrementally increase or decrease offset, translation, and rotation. In many ways it is similar to 3ds Max's built-in array tool combined with a spline offset function, but with two major benefits: Firstly SplineOffset is fully parametric so you can change the number of clones, the size of the offsets, and their distribution at any time. Secondly, SplineOffset is able to heal overlapping splines so that they form one continuous path, a feature that's missing from Max and opens up the plugin to a huge range of applications.
Change Material ID mode to either
Sequence by Segments to create a pattern of material IDs based on the segments of the spline
Sequence by Spline to create a pattern of material IDs based on the parallels
Specifies the number of times the input spline is duplicated.
Controls the incremental offset of the cloned splines using two parameters
Sets the offset distance between each parallel
Allows you to modify the offset value for just the first parallel.
Incrementally rotates splines using the stepped values set for the X, Y, and Z axes.
Incrementally translates the splines using the values set for the X, Y, and Z axes.
Allows the user to control the material IDs on cloned splines. Five options are available
Parallels retain the Material ID(s) assigned to the source spline
Sets a new value for the parallels. The new Material ID is set using the input list at the bottom of the Material ID group UI. Note that in the event of a comma separate list, only the first entry is used for this mode.
Increments the Material ID on each parallel by the first value stored in the input list
Creates a pattern of material IDs using a comma separated list. The modifier then loops through these, moving to the next material ID in the sequence for each spline segment.
Creates a pattern of material IDs using a comma separated list. The modifier then loops through these, moving to the next material ID in the sequence for each parallel
SplineOffset includes two algorithms for performing offset and healing operations: 2D Mode and 3D Mode.
The 2D algorithm provides the most robust healing solution and has two additional options to define how the parallels are created by setting their Bevel Type and End Type. It also has the ability to auto-heal splines that are being generated by different sub-splines Though more featured, 2D mode will always flatten all splines on the Z axis before performing any further translation rotation or offset operations.
Choose from 3 types of bevel type for intermediary corners: Square, Round or Chamfer
Choose from 5 options for the way the ends of spline are terminated: Closed Polygon, Closed Line, Open Butt, Open Square, or Open Round.
When enabled intersecting parallels from different sub-splines are auto-healed. When disabled, parallels from different sub-splines are not healed and simply overlap.
3D mode lacks the Bevel Type and End Type features of 2D mode and has a less robust auto-healing algorithm, but it will retain the spline's position and orientation and attempt to make appropriate clones.
Sets the type used when new vertices are created, particularly useful on curved Splines. This setting can be used with the Conditional nodes and/or Corner settings in RailClone to help differentiate the original vertices in the source spline to the ones added by the SplineOffset modifier.
When enabled, the source spline is retained. When disabled the source spline is removed.
When enabled, translation and rotation operations are performed backwards, i.e. from from the last parallel to the first. When disabled, translation and rotation operations are performed in the order from the first parallel to the last.
When enabled, splines are created inside and outside of the source spline. When disabled, splines are only on one side of the source spline.
SplineOffset supports 3ds Max 2013 and above. There is no automatic installer application, so you will need to install SplineOffset manually by following these steps: