About ArtPaths

Updated: 12/12/2019

What is an ArtPath?

An ArtPath is a feature to represent the main lines of an illustration.
By allowing the line texture of an illustration to be handled like a vector line material in the model, it is possible to freely deform and express changes in color tone while maintaining the texture and thickness of the line.

Note: The ArtPath function is only available when the target version of the model is “SDK(N/A)/Latest Cubism.”
If you try to select the ArtPath function with target versions other than the above, a warning popup will appear in the lower right corner of the View area.

ArtPath Screen Layout

(1)	ArtPath Tools	You can create and edit a new ArtPath.
(2)	Locking of drawable objects	Only ArtMesh and ArtPath can be shown/hidden and locked on the view. Textures are displayed as they are.
(3)	Tool Details	See “Tool Details Palette” for details on the [Tool Details] palette when selecting an ArtPath.
(4)	Inspector	For details on the [Inspector] palette when selecting an ArtPath, see “Inspector Palette.”
(5)	Show/hide ArtPaths	ArtPath filter add button. It is possible to show and hide ArtPath objects in the palette.
(6)	ArtPath	The created ArtPath will be added to the [Part(s)] palette.

Properties and Types of ArtPaths

“LCNS” and “SNS” are used for the line generation method of the ArtPath.
Each of these changes the shape of the line even when the position of the control point is the same.
See the table below for the differences between them.

	LCNS line	SNS line
Visual differences
Behavior when moving a control point

Sprite method drawing mechanism

This section explains how lines are drawn when an ArtPath is drawn with a sprite method brush.
In the sprite method, which uses textures prepared with multiple brush sizes, the texture size chosen depends on the quality value of the brush setting.

The higher the quality, the higher the resolution of the texture selected for smaller line widths.
The lower the quality, the lower the resolution of the texture selected for larger line widths.

The following are outlines of a sample model Hiyori Momose (video version), adjusted to make it easier to understand how the sprite method drawing works.

Quality: 5 The textures selected by the line width overlap each other, and areas that look like overlapping ink are drawn.	Quality: 20 This is drawn with smooth brushstrokes.

As you can see, the appearance of the lines can change depending on the quality, so we recommend that you adjust the values appropriately while looking at the actual ArtPath drawn on the canvas.
For more information on the sprite method, see “ArtPath Brush Editing: Sprite Method.”

Mesh method drawing mechanism

This section explains how lines are drawn when an ArtPath is drawn with a mesh method brush.
The ArtPath lines with the mesh method are a little more specific in the drawing mechanism as the number of control points increases.

Below is a mesh method texture that has been adjusted to make the drawing mechanism easier to understand.

The following figures show how the line changes with the number of control points when a straight line is drawn with this brush.

2 points (A-B)
The ratio between control points A-B will be the same as the appearance of the texture. Moving either vertex does not change the ratio of tip begin/end.

3 points (A-B-C)
The same ratio of brush texture is used as in the 2 points,
but the ratio of tip begin/end changes when the position of the control point B, which is in the middle, is moved.

4 points (A-B-C-D)
The line between the first two control points A-B is set as “Tip begin” and the line between the last two points C-D is set as “Tip end.”
For the line between B and C, “Segment” is displayed.

5 points (A-B-C-D-E)
For 5 or more points, the following mechanism is used to draw.
The line between the first two control points A-B is set as “Tip begin” and the line between the last two points D-E is set as “Tip end.”
For the line between B and C, “Segment” and “(reversed left and right) Segment” are displayed.
For the line between C and D, the second and third points counting from the last, “Segment” is displayed.

The mechanism for 6 points or more is the same as the concept for 5 points.
The line between the first two control points is set as “Tip begin” and the line between the last two control points is set as “Tip end.”
The “Segment” is displayed between the second and third control points counting from the last,
and “Segment” and “(reversed left and right) Segment” are repeated between the other control points.

For more information on mesh methods, see “ArtPath Brush Editing: Mesh Method.”

Expansion and Contraction of ArtPaths

ArtPaths maintain their line widths even when scaled with bounding boxes or deformers.
If you want to change the line width on the model, adjust the line width setting for the control point.

In the Animator, you can set the magnification of the ArtPath width from [Placement & Opacity] in the [Property Group].

Note: The width set for the border in the brush settings is maintained even if the magnification is changed.
Note: If the magnification is reduced until the borders touch each other, the magnification of the borders will also be reduced.

About the Display of ArtPaths

By default, the lines of the mesh of the ArtPath itself are displayed.
The lines of this mesh can be edited in [ArtPath display settings: Mesh line color] in the [Tool Details] palette to make them less transparent or change their color.

Control point types

	The control points of the ArtPath that are not selected are displayed in white.
	The control points of the ArtPath with start and end points set are displayed in light blue.
	The control points of the selected ArtPath are displayed in red.
	The control points of the ArtPath with fold lines are displayed in yellow.
	The control points of the ArtPath that have been set to follow are displayed in pink.

How to Create an ArtPath

There are two main ways to create an ArtPath.

ArtPath auto generation function

This is a method to reproduce the “main line” as an ArtPath on the model from data that has the “main line” and “fill” in the source PSD.
See “ArtPath Auto Generation” for details.

ArtPath manual generation function

This is a method for freely creating line drawings with ArtPaths in the model.
For more information, see “ArtPath Manual Creation.”