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Styriam Shaped Curves Merger

by Styriam sp. z o.o.·Workflow

Images © Styriam sp. z o.o.. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place in the superhive library by solving a narrow but real problem: preserving shape key animation data when merging curves in Blender.

What is Styriam Shaped Curves Merger?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger addresses a specific problem in Blender: joining curves with the standard Ctrl+J shortcut leads to a loss of animation data when the curves carry shape keys. This add-on merges the curves instead, copying shape keys along with their f-curves and their modifiers.

To use it, select curves in object mode and choose Join Curves from the Object menu or the right-click context menu. The active object becomes the base object for the merge and retains its modifiers and constraints. In the add-on preferences, there is an option to hijack the Join shortcut, so that curves with shape keys are merged by the add-on when the Join shortcut (Ctrl+J by default) is used.

The add-on supports a workflow where complex motions driven by curves animated with motion keys can be divided into smaller segments and joined later. A demo video is available, created with the Styriam Waveform add-on. Documentation is included.

Who is Styriam Shaped Curves Merger best for?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger is best for blender artists animating curves with shape keys who need to join them without losing animation data.

How much does Styriam Shaped Curves Merger cost?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Merges curves with shape keys, copying shape keys along with their f-curves and modifiers
  • Accessible from the Object menu or the right-click context menu as Join Curves
  • Active object becomes the base object for the merge and keeps its modifiers and constraints
  • Preference option to hijack the Join shortcut (Ctrl+J by default) for curves with shape keys
  • Supports dividing curve-driven motion into smaller segments that can be joined later
  • Documentation included

Tags

#curves#shape keys#animation#merge#join#blender#add-on

Frequently asked questions

What Blender versions does Styriam Shaped Curves Merger support?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger lists compatibility with Blender versions 2.8 through 5.0. This covers a wide span of releases, so the add-on should work across many project setups. Because it targets the specific task of joining curves with shape keys, confirm the exact behaviour against the Blender version you run, and check the developer's page for the most current compatibility details before installing into a production project.

How do I merge curves with Styriam Shaped Curves Merger?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger works by selecting the curves in object mode and choosing Join Curves from the Object menu or the right-click context menu. The active object becomes the base object for the merge and retains its modifiers and constraints. Shape keys are copied along with their f-curves and their modifiers. You can also enable an option in the add-on preferences to hijack the Join shortcut, which is Ctrl+J by default, so those curves are merged by the add-on.

Why not just use Ctrl+J to join curves with shape keys?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger exists because joining curves with the standard Ctrl+J shortcut leads to a loss of animation data when the curves have shape keys. The add-on merges the curves instead, copying the shape keys along with their f-curves and their modifiers, so that animation data is preserved. It can also take over the Join shortcut through a preference option, letting you keep the familiar Ctrl+J while getting the shape-key-aware merge.

Is Styriam Shaped Curves Merger free?

Styriam Shaped Curves Merger is listed as free in this catalog and is distributed under the GPL license. Licensing terms can change over time, so check the developer's page for the current details before you rely on it. The add-on also includes documentation to help you get started with joining curves that carry shape keys in Blender.

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