How Do I Draw a Clean 3D Character Outline on an XY Oscilloscope?
Open an animated GLB in OSC-1’s 3D IMPORT panel, turn 3D PREVIEW off, then select PATH OPTIMIZATION → EDGE MODE → OUTLINE (CHARACTER). The trace follows the outside of the figure and keeps some lines where nearer limbs cross the body. Those extra lines make a hand passing in front of a shirt easier to read.
Outline (Character) on a short dance from Quaternius’s CC0 Universal Animation Library.
How do I trace the moving character?
- Open OSC-1 and select CREATOR.
- Expand IMPORT SHAPES → 3D IMPORT. Choose IMPORT FILE and open an animated GLB.
- Set 3D PREVIEW to OFF so the scope draws the actual trace. Expand ANIMATION and pick the embedded clip. This demo uses
Dance_Loop. - Under PATH OPTIMIZATION, set EDGE MODE to OUTLINE (CHARACTER).
- Click PLAY CLIP and watch a full cycle. Pause on a pose with an arm in front of the torso to inspect the overlap.
To follow the same steps, download the demo mannequin GLB from Quaternius’s Universal Animation Library Standard pack.
When you can’t see an embedded clip in ANIMATION, check that the GLB actually contains animation. A rig can be present without any motion baked into the file. If you’re starting from a GLTF with separate files, use the 3D import guide to bring in its matching buffers.
If the character is still covered in triangles, check 3D PREVIEW. With the preview on, the canvas shows the model’s mesh. Turn it off to see the line trace that EDGE MODE controls.
The mesh view is useful for inspecting the model. Switch it off before comparing edge modes.
What changes if I choose Silhouette?
Try SILHOUETTE (CONTOUR) when the profile tells the story. A side-on walk is a good test. On this mannequin, Silhouette traces separate surfaces around the torso and hands, so it can look busier than OUTLINE (CHARACTER). Check the trace on the actual model before choosing a mode.
Silhouette uses the same model and dance. Look at the extra contour around the lower torso and the detail around the hands.
Use VIEW CONTROLS → ROTATION Y to turn the figure a little if both arms collapse into one line. Check the whole loop before settling on an angle. The pose that reads best at the start may hide a foot or hand in the next part of the move.
How do I keep the motion for later?
Use EXPORT → 3D→XY if you want the drawing as stereo XY audio. Follow the animated GLB to XY WAV tutorial for choosing the loop count and opening the rendered WAV again.
Load a character and compare its outside contour with the traced overlap lines.
Try 3D Import in OSC-1