Make a 3D tube with a Bézier curve?

Question

How can I make a Bézier curve into a 3D-noodle-like structure (like a tube)? When I try, it keeps turning out like a rectangle with corners.

Did you see there is a way to make a tree with a built-in addon in Blender? See here: blender.stackexchange.com/questions/8688/… — Thom Blair III, Apr 18 '14 at 2:27
Great article! Also wrote a similar one that included using this same method but with tapering tubes as well: http://benchung.com/making-tubes-blender/ — user13442, Mar 27 '15 at 18:56

gandalf3 · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-18 01:38:14Z

31

To make a tube, set the Fill to full in Curve > Shape:

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Then increase the bevel Depth and Resolution in Curve > Geometry:

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If you want a more complex/custom shape, you can use a bevel object:

enter image description here

answered Apr 18 '14 at 1:31

gandalf3♦

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$\begingroup$ Thanks so much!!! I had everything right except the resolution lol. Also how do I make it branch off? $\endgroup$ – Zachooz Apr 18 '14 at 1:32
$\begingroup$ I just duplicated a segment and then extruded it in another direction. This will work as long as you don't mind the branches not actually being connected to each other, but if you do want them connected, you might want to try using a mesh object with a skin modifier. $\endgroup$ – gandalf3♦ Apr 18 '14 at 1:34
1

$\begingroup$ It would be better if you asked this as a separate question, asking multiple questions per post is discouraged. $\endgroup$ – gandalf3♦ Apr 18 '14 at 1:45

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Thom Blair III · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-18 13:34:47Z

13

Make a Curve into a Tube

Add a Curve: SHIFTA -> Curve -> Bezier
Now add a Circle Curve: SHIFTA -> Curve -> Circle
Now use the circle as the bevel object for the bezier curve:
- Select the bezier curve
- Object Properties window -> Curve tab -> set Bevel Object to the circle
- Scale the circle until the tube is the size you want
If you would then like to edit the shape of your tube, just edit the Bevel Object, which here is the circle:

answered Apr 18 '14 at 1:38

Thom Blair III

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$\begingroup$ I really like this tutorial! I just wonder, why is there such a big size difference between the "tube" and the bevel object? $\endgroup$ – drmariod Mar 9 '16 at 6:34

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