Skip to main content

Offset

Overview​

Boolean Modes

The Offset operator creates multiple parallel copies of a spline, with options to incrementally adjust offset, translation, and rotation. This is useful for generating procedural patterns, outlines, or layered spline-based geometry directly within RailClone.

Usage​

  1. Add the Offset Operator: Drag the Offset node into the RailClone Style Editor.
  2. Connect a Spline: Attach a spline input to generate offsets.
  3. Configure Offset Settings: Adjust parameters such as Number of Parallels, Spacing, and Offset Distance to define the duplicates.
  4. Modify Transformations: Fine-tune translation and rotation along the X, Y, and Z axes.
  5. Set Offset Mode: Choose between 2D and 3D modes for different behavior.
  6. Enable Additional Features: Activate options like Double Side, Heal Intersections, or Apply Backwards for further customization.

Interface & Parameters​

Interface​

Spline offset tool interface for precise design adjustments

# Parallels​

Specifies the number of times the input spline is duplicated.

Spacing​

Controls the incremental offset of the cloned splines using two parameters

  • Distance sets the offset distance between each parallel

  • Offset Allows you to modify the offset value for just the first parallel.

Rotation​

Incrementally rotates splines using the stepped values set for the X, Y, and Z axes.

Translation​

Incrementally translates the splines using the values set for the X, Y, and Z axes.

Mode​

SplineOffset includes two algorithms for performing offset and healing operations: 2D Mode and 3D Mode.

2D Mode for SplineOffset2D Mode 3D Mode for SplineOffset: Creates dynamic 2D and 3D arrays with precise control over translation, rotation, and offset.3D Mode

2D Mode​

The 2D algorithm provides the most robust healing solution and has two additional options to define how the parallels are created by setting their Bevel Type and End Type. It also has the ability to auto-heal splines that are being generated by different sub-splines Though more featured, 2D mode will always flatten all splines on the Z axis before performing any further translation rotation or offset operations.

3D Mode​

3D mode lacks the Bevel Type and End Type features of 2D mode and has a less robust auto-healing algorithm, but it will retain the spline's position and orientation and attempt to make appropriate clones.

Bevel Type​

Choose from 3 types of bevel type for intermediary corners: Square. Round or Chamfer

3D spline offset tool for 3ds Max wit hbevel type SquareBevel Type = Square 3D spline offset tool for 3ds Max wit hbevel type ChamferBevel Type = Chamfer 3D spline offset tool for 3ds Max wit hbevel type RoundBevel Type = Round

End Type​

Choose from 5 options for the way the ends of spline are terminated: Closed Polygon. Closed Line. Open Butt. Open Square or Open Round.

SplineOffset adds cloned splines with customizable offsets with end type closed PolygonEnd Type = Closed Polygon SplineOffset adds cloned splines with customizable offsets with end type closed LineEnd Type = Closed Line and Double Sided Offset = On SplineOffset adds cloned splines with customizable offsets with end type open ButtEnd Type = Open Butt SplineOffset adds cloned splines with customizable offsets with end type open SquareEnd Type = Open Square SplineOffset adds cloned splines with customizable offsets with end type open RoundEnd Type = Open Round

New Vertex Type​

Sets the type used when new vertices are created, particularly useful on curved Splines. This setting can be used with the Conditional nodes and/or Corner settings in RailClone to help differentiate the original vertices in the source spline to the ones added by the SplineOffset modifier.

Keep Original Spline​

When enabled, the source spline is retained. When disabled the source spline is removed.

SplineOffset Modifier Cloning keep original spline offKeep Original Spline = Off SplineOffset Modifier Cloning keep original spline onKeep Original Spline = On

Apply Backwards​

When enabled, translation and rotation operations are performed backwards, i.e. from the last parallel to the first. When disabled, translation and rotation operations are performed in the order from the first parallel to the last.

SplineOffset Modifier Tutorial: Create Clones & Customize OffsetApply Backwards = Off SplineOffset Modifier Tutorial: Create Clones & Customize OffsetApply Backwards = On

Double Sided Offset​

When enabled, splines are created inside and outside the source spline. When disabled, splines are only on one side of the source spline.

Cloning and offsetting splines in 3ds Max with SplineOffset modifierDouble Sided Offset = Off Cloning and offsetting splines in 3ds Max with SplineOffset modifierDouble Sided Offset = On

Heal Intersecting Splines​

When enabled intersecting parallels from different sub-splines are auto-healed. When disabled, parallels from different sub-splines are not healed and simply overlap.

SplineOffset tool automatically heals intersecting splines for continuous paths in 3ds Max, enhancing design capabilities.Heal Intersecting Splines = Off SplineOffset tool automatically heals intersecting splines for continuous paths in 3ds Max, enhancing design capabilities.Heal Intersecting Splines = O

Tips & Best Practices​

  • Use Double Side when creating symmetrical parallel spline patterns.
  • Adjust Heal Intersections when dealing with complex overlapping offsets to maintain clean geometry.
  • 3D Mode is useful for maintaining non-planar paths but has fewer features, whereas 2D Mode provides better control over closed shapes and intersections.
  • Experiment with Bevel settings to control corner transitions in 2D Mode.