Choose POLY for deliberate straight segments and BEZIER for smooth paths. Supply control points in scene units, choose handle behavior explicitly, then set bevel depth, bevel resolution, and path resolution according to the intended silhouette and preview distance.
Keep curves editable until downstream mesh-only work requires curve.to_mesh. After conversion, treat the result as a new mesh topology and run mesh inspection. Verify control-point order, cyclic state, profile thickness, sampling smoothness and endpoint placement. The current interface supports one spline per created curve and a round bevel profile; use a disclosed fallback when custom profiles or multiple splines are required.
When to Use
Use when you need path-, cable-, track-, pipeline-, or curve-driven props while retaining control points and parameterized thickness. Convert to mesh only when boolean operations or sculpting are required.
Prerequisites
- Clarify purpose, coordinate system, units, control point order, closure state, and target thickness.
- For smooth paths, choose BEZIER and specify handles; for polyline paths, choose POLY.
Workflow
Step 1. Check scale and endpoint objects, and organize control points in the expected direction. Step 2. Create spline, and set cyclic, handle, resolution, and bevel parameters. Step 3. Check curvature, endpoints, corners, and thickness from close-up and delivery shots. Step 4. Convert only when required for downstream mesh operations, and register the result as a new topology version.
Validation and Delivery Evidence
Report control points, spline type, closure state, resolution, bevel parameters, endpoint positions, and previews. After converting to mesh, additionally check vertices/edges/faces, normals, and degenerate geometry.
Rules and Capability Boundaries (Inapplicable Scenarios)
Currently, only single spline and circular bevel are validated; custom profiles, multiple splines, or complex node paths require separate capabilities. Do not pass off a mesh as a still-editable curve.
Gotchas (Common Issues and Recovery)
- Curve kinks: check point order, handles, and tilt, rather than only increasing resolution.
- Abnormal thickness: verify object scale and per-point radius.
- Path changes needed after conversion: recover from the preserved source curve or snapshot.