Modify tube behavior using control curves

User Guide > General > Paint Effects and 3D Paint > Painting in 3D >

You can modify the behavior of Paint Effects tubes using a system of control curves. Control curves are CV or EP curves that are associated with strokes. You can set stroke tubes to follow control curves and you can set them to be attracted to them.

If you are animating your scenes, you can use control curves to make tubes react to movement. When you keyframe the movement of the control curves, the stroke tubes react to that movement according to the tube settings for the stroke. For more information, see Use control curves to make tubes react to forces.

To create stroke control curves

Create the curves, making sure the curves start near the stroke and work away from it. The order that the curve CVs are created affects the behavior of the tubes the curves control.
Select the curves and the stroke you want to associate them with.
Select Paint Effects > Curve Utilities > Set Stroke Control Curves.
Define how the tubes react to control curves using the Curve options in the brush node for the stroke. For details, Set force attributes.