Draw a curve by placing CVs or edit points

Use the Curves > New Curves > New CV Curve or Curves > New Curves > New Edit Point Curve tools to draw curves by clicking to place CVs or edit points.

Set up the New Curve tools

To set what parameterization and degree the curves you draw will have, open the tool’s option box and set the Knot Spacing and Curve Degree options.

Draw curves by placing CVs

1. Choose Curves > New Curves > New CV Curve.
2. Click in view windows to place the CVs of the new curve, or type coordinates for the CV locations.

   See Use the mouse and keyboard in tools.

   For a degree 3 curve (default), the curve will only appear after 4 CVs have been placed.

   Note:

   The general rule is that a curve of degree m requires m+1 CVs before becoming visible. To see the curve sooner, turn on Progressive Degree in the option box.

   Tip:

   The first CV in the curve is shown as a square and the second as a “U” instead of a cross. This helps show the direction of the curve.

   
3. Choose the tool again to start another curve.

Draw curves by placing edit points

1. Choose Curves > New Curves > New Edit Point Curve.
2. Click in view windows to place the edit points of the new curve, or type coordinates for the CV locations.

   See Use the mouse and keyboard in tools.

   
3. Choose the tool again to start another curve.
   Tip:

   This tool is useful when you want to create a single span curve from two end points.

   Tip:

   You can continue drawing curves between view windows. For example, click the first point in the Top window, click the second point in the Back window, and so on.

What if...?

I want to add more points to a finished curve?

Use the Curve Edit > Modify > Add points tool.