Convert to Geometry¶
Reference
Alt-C
The Convert to Curve options.
In the 3D View, sketches on the active layer can be converted to geometry, based on the current view settings, by transforming the points recorded when drawing (which make up the strokes) into 3D-space. Currently, all points will be used, so it may be necessary to simplify or subdivide parts of the created geometry for standard use.
Sketches can currently be converted into curves, as proposed by the Convert Grease Pencil menu popped-up by the Convert button in the grease pencil properties.
Options¶
- Type
The type of object to convert to.
- Path
- Create NURBS 3D curves of order 2 (i.e. behaving like polylines).
- Bézier Curve
- Create Bézier curves, with free “aligned” handles (i.e. also behaving like polylines).
- Polygon Curve
- Bézier Curve with strait line segments (auto handles).
Note
Converting to Mesh
If you want to convert your sketch to a mesh, simply choose first NURBS, and then convert the created curve to a mesh.
- Normalize Weight
Will scale weights value so that they tightly fit into the (0.0 to 1.0) range. (enabled by default)
All this means that with a pressure tablet, you can directly control the radius and weight of the created curve, which can affect e.g. the width of an extrusion, or the size of an object through a Follow Path Constraint or Curve Modifier!
- Link Strokes
- Will create a single spline, i.e. curve element. (enabled by default) from all strokes in active grease pencil layer. This especially useful if you want to use the curve as a path. All the strokes are linked in the curve by “zero weights/radii” sections.
Timing¶
Grease pencil stores “dynamic” data, i.e. how fast strokes are drawn. When converting to curve, this data can be used to create an Evaluate Time F-Curve (in other words, a path animation), that can be used e.g. to control another object’s position along that curve (Follow Path constraint, or, trough a driver, Curve modifier). So this allows you to reproduce your drawing movements.
Important
All those “timing” options need Link Stroke to be enabled, else they would not make much sense!
- Timing Mode
This control let you choose how timing data are used.
- No Timing
- Just create the curve, without any animation data (hence all following options will be hidden).
- Linear
- The path animation will be a linear one.
- Original
- The path animation will reflect to original timing, including for the “gaps” (i.e. time between strokes drawing).
- Custom Gaps
- The path animation will reflect to original timing, but the “gaps” will get custom values. This is especially useful if you have very large pauses between some of your strokes, and would rather like to have “reasonable” ones!
- Frame Range
- The “length” of the created path animation, in frames. In other words, the highest value of Evaluation Time.
- Start Frame
- The starting frame of the path animation.
- Realtime
- When enabled, the path animation will last exactly the same duration it took you do draw the strokes.
- End Frame
- When Realtime is disabled, this defines the end frame of the path animation. This means that the drawing timing will be scaled up or down to fit into the specified range.
- Gap Duration
- Custom Gaps only. The average duration (in frames) of each gap between actual strokes. Please note that the value entered here will only be exact if Realtime is enabled, else it will be scaled, exactly as the actual strokes’ timing is!