Path Trim

Overview

Extracts only part of a path (from start_t to end_t). Its showcase use is a line-drawing effect: simply animate end_t from 0 to 1 to draw a line as it traces the path.

Usage tips

• The go-to drawing animation is: promote end_t to an input pin 📌 → time_source + ease_in_out → draw with path_stroke → animation_render. It creates drawing effects for magic circles, signatures, or lightning in one setup.
• It is useful statically too: take part of a circular path for an arc, or use only the middle of a long path.
• A closed path can extract an interval across the starting point (start 0.75 → end 0.25).

Related nodes

• path_stroke — draw the extracted line

• ease_in_out / time_source — drive end_t

• path_reverse — reverse the growth direction

• reveal — a similar image-based effect that does not require a path

• Version: 1

Behavior

• Extracts the interval from start_t to end_t as a Path.
• On an open path with start_t > end_t, the values are automatically reordered from smaller to larger.
• On a closed path with start_t > end_t, the interval wraps forward across the end point.
• A zero-length interval returns an empty path.

Examples

Draw a growing line

[Bezier Path] → [Path Trim] → [Path Stroke] → [Preview]
                   ↑start_t
                   ↑end_t

Keep start_t=0.0 and animate end_t from 0 to 1 to make the line grow.

Place stamps on only part of a path

[Bezier Path] → [Path Trim] → [Path Array] → [Preview]

Extract an interval across the start of a closed path

[Multi Path] → [Path Trim(start_t:0.75, end_t:0.25)] → [Path Stroke]

On a closed path, an interval across the starting point is extracted forward as-is.

Notes

• One operation trims one subpath.
• Combine it with PathSplit to handle multiple subpaths individually.
• The trimmed result is open unless the entire interval is retained.