Special Edition Using AutoCAD® 2000

Splines

Splines are smooth curves that pass through a series of points and are typically used to create irregularly shaped curves. Although you can convert a polyline into a spline-fit polyline, which you will see later in this book, this is done by approximation, and the result does not give you what is defined as a true spline. The Spline command generates true splines, or nonuniform rational b-splines (NURBS). These spline elements are more accurate mathematically, and they also help create smaller drawing files than spline-fit polylines.

Tip 49 from

One of the best reasons to use splines over fit or spline-curve polylines is that splines maintain their true shape after editing. Using editing commands such as Trim or Break, which are discussed ...