bTrace 1.0 is now ready! (updated the first post with this same info)
The purpose of this script is to add tools that are similar to C4D Tracer. These type of tools will come in particularly handy for motion graphic artists.
Since I first combined some of liero’s great scripts last April and made the first version bTrace, I’ve gone through and added more options and tools to the existing tool set.
You can download the script here (link will download a zip file), you can install the same as any other addon or run the script through the text editor: http://www.thewooddesign.com/blender/bTrace.zip
When the script is installed, a panel shows up in the properties toolbar when an object is selected.
Each tool has it’s own button with the options hidden by default, showing the tool also gives the option to show additional settings for that particular tool. The five main tools (Object Trace, Object Connect, Handwriting, Particle Trace, Particle Connect) all share common settings for the most part. Each tool creates a curve as the end result. The settings for the curve created can be setup under the Universal Curves Settings button.
Most of the tools also have the option to add a grow curve animation which animates the curve radius.
A quick explanation:
Brush Trace: Creates a curve by joining points of a mesh in a continuous manner or by all edges. Options to modulate the curves radius or add distortion to mesh before converting.
Objects Connect: Join selected objects with a curve and add hooks to each node.
Particle Trace: Creates a curve from each particle of a system. Keeping particle amount under 250 will make this run faster.
Particle Connect: Connects each particle of a system with a continuous curve.
Handwriting Tool: And updated version of the Handwriting tool from liero and Meta-Androcto, creates an animated curve using the grease pencil.
Grow Curve Animation: Animate the radius of a curve over time. Can be run alone on a curve object, or run with the tools above.
F-Curve Noise: Quick link to add a F-Curve modifier to an object.
Each script has a number of different options which can be used to create some very interesting effects. I don’t have time to explain them all, but highly encourage you to play around with them.
A lot of these scripts are based off the work from liero and included with his permission, who I have to give most the credit for the logic behind these. Liero, you rule and thank you. Also a lot of thanks to Mackraken who gave me a lot of great advice. Meta-Androcto and Atom have also helped great, even if indirect ways.
Lastly, any suggestions/bugs/feedback would be very much welcomed. I’m still doing my best to learn python so I can’t guarantee everything works perfect on this. Hope everyone enjoys!
Super~