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Synopsis

pointOnCurve( [objects] , [constructionHistory=boolean], [curvatureCenter=boolean], [curvatureRadius=boolean], [normal=boolean], [normalizedNormal=boolean], [normalizedTangent=boolean], [parameter=float], [position=boolean], [tangent=boolean], [turnOnPercentage=boolean])

Note: Strings representing object names and arguments must be separated by commas. This is not depicted in the synopsis.

pointOnCurve is undoable, queryable, and editable.

This command returns information for a point on a NURBS curve. If no flag is specified, it assumes p/position by default.

Return value

float[3]
float
string

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Flags

constructionHistory, curvatureCenter, curvatureRadius, normal, normalizedNormal, normalizedTangent, parameter, position, tangent, turnOnPercentage
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
curvatureCenter(cc) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) center of curvature of the specified point on the curve
curvatureRadius(cr) boolean create
Returns the radius of curvature of the specified point on the curve
normal(no) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) normal of the specified point on the curve
normalizedNormal(nn) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) normalized normal of the specified point on the curve
normalizedTangent(nt) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) normalized tangent of the specified point on the curve
parameter(pr) float queryedit
The parameter value on curve
Default: 0.0
position(p) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) position of the specified point on the curve
tangent(t) boolean create
Returns the (x,y,z) tangent of the specified point on the curve
turnOnPercentage(top) boolean queryedit
Whether the parameter is normalized (0,1) or not
Default: false
Common flags
constructionHistory(ch) boolean create
Turn the construction history on or off.

Flag can appear in Create mode of command Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command Flag can have multiple arguments, passed either as a tuple or a list.

Python examples

import maya.cmds as cmds

cmds.pointOnCurve( 'curve1', pr=0.5, p=True )
# Returns the (x,y,z) position of curve1 at parameter 0.5.

cmds.pointOnCurve( 'curve1', pr=0.5 )
# Returns the (x,y,z) position of curve1 at parameter 0.5, since
# position is the default information.

cmds.pointOnCurve( 'curve1', pr=0.5, nn=True )
# Returns the (x,y,z) normalized normal of curve1 at parameter 0.5.

cmds.pointOnCurve( 'curve1', pr=0.5, cr=True )
# Returns the curvature radius of curve1 at parameter 0.5.

infoNode = cmds.pointOnCurve('curve1', ch=True, pr=0.55)
cmds.getAttr(infoNode + ".position")  # returns the position
cmds.getAttr(infoNode + ".normal")    # returns the normal

# Returns a string which is the name of a new pointOnCurveInfo
# dependency node.  With this node connected to the curve,
# the output values of the pointOnCurveInfo node are always current
# even if, for example, the parameter is being animated.