Split bezier curves at position

This example splits cubic and bezier curves in two.

The function splitCurveAt splits the curve at position where 0.0 = start, 0.5 = middle, and 1 = end. It can split quadratic and cubic curves. The curve type is determined by the last x argument x4. If not undefined or null then it assumes the curve is cubic else the curve is a quadratic

Example usage

Splitting quadratic bezier curve in two

var p1 = {x : 10 , y : 100};
var p2 = {x : 100, y : 200};
var p3 = {x : 200, y : 0};
var newCurves = splitCurveAt(0.5, p1.x, p1.y, p2.x, p2.y, p3.x, p3.y)

var i = 0;
var p = newCurves
// Draw the 2 new curves
// Assumes ctx is canvas 2d context
ctx.lineWidth = 1;
ctx.strokeStyle = "black";
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.moveTo(p[i++],p[i++]);
ctx.quadraticCurveTo(p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++]);
ctx.quadraticCurveTo(p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++]);
ctx.stroke();

Splitting cubic bezier curve in two

var p1 = {x : 10 , y : 100};
var p2 = {x : 100, y : 200};
var p3 = {x : 200, y : 0};
var p4 = {x : 300, y : 100};
var newCurves = splitCurveAt(0.5, p1.x, p1.y, p2.x, p2.y, p3.x, p3.y, p4.x, p4.y)

var i = 0;
var p = newCurves
// Draw the 2 new curves
// Assumes ctx is canvas 2d context
ctx.lineWidth = 1;
ctx.strokeStyle = "black";
ctx.beginPath();
ctx.moveTo(p[i++],p[i++]);
ctx.bezierCurveTo(p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++]);
ctx.bezierCurveTo(p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++], p[i++]);
ctx.stroke();

The split function

splitCurveAt = function(position, x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3, [x4, y4])

Note: Arguments inside [x4, y4] are optional.

Note: The function has some optional commented /* */ code that deals with edge cases where the resulting curves may have zero length, or fall outside the start or ends of the original curve. As is attempting to split a curve outside the valid range for position >= 0 or position >= 1 will throw a range error. This can be removed and will work just fine, though you may have resulting curves that have zero length.

// With throw RangeError if not 0 < position < 1
// x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3 for quadratic curves
// x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3, x4, y4 for cubic curves
// Returns an array of points representing 2 curves. The curves are the same type as the split curve
var splitCurveAt = function(position, x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3, x4, y4){
    var v1, v2, v3, v4, quad, retPoints, i, c;
    
    // =============================================================================================
    // you may remove this as the function will still work and resulting curves will still render
    // but other curve functions may not like curves with 0 length
    // =============================================================================================
    if(position <= 0 || position >= 1){
        throw RangeError("spliteCurveAt requires position > 0 && position < 1");
    }

    // =============================================================================================
    // If you remove the above range error you may use one or both of the following commented sections
    // Splitting curves position < 0 or position > 1 will still create valid curves but they will 
    // extend past the end points
    
    // =============================================================================================
    // Lock the position to split on the curve. 
    /* optional A
    position = position < 0 ? 0 : position > 1 ? 1 : position;
    optional A end */
    
    // =============================================================================================
    // the next commented section will return the original curve if the split results in 0 length curve
    // You may wish to uncomment this If you desire such functionality
    /*  optional B
    if(position <= 0 || position >= 1){
        if(x4 === undefined || x4 === null){
            return [x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3];
        }else{
            return [x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3, x4, y4];
        }
    }
    optional B end */
    
    
    retPoints = []; // array of coordinates
    i = 0;
    quad = false;  // presume cubic bezier
    v1 = {};
    v2 = {};
    v4 = {};
    v1.x = x1;
    v1.y = y1;
    v2.x = x2;
    v2.y = y2;
    if(x4 === undefined || x4 === null){
        quad = true;  // this is a quadratic bezier
        v4.x = x3;
        v4.y = y3;
    }else{
        v3 = {};
        v3.x = x3;
        v3.y = y3;
        v4.x = x4;
        v4.y = y4;
    }
    c = position;
    retPoints[i++] = v1.x;  // start point 
    retPoints[i++] = v1.y;

    if(quad){ // split quadratic bezier
        retPoints[i++] = (v1.x += (v2.x - v1.x) * c);  // new control point for first curve
        retPoints[i++] = (v1.y += (v2.y - v1.y) * c);
        v2.x += (v4.x - v2.x) * c;
        v2.y += (v4.y - v2.y) * c;
        retPoints[i++] = v1.x + (v2.x - v1.x) * c;  // new end and start of first and second curves
        retPoints[i++] = v1.y + (v2.y - v1.y) * c;
        retPoints[i++] = v2.x;  // new control point for second curve
        retPoints[i++] = v2.y;
        retPoints[i++] = v4.x;  // new endpoint of second curve
        retPoints[i++] = v4.y;
        //=======================================================
        // return array with 2 curves
        return retPoints;
    }
    retPoints[i++] = (v1.x += (v2.x - v1.x) * c); // first curve first control point                
    retPoints[i++] = (v1.y += (v2.y - v1.y) * c);
    v2.x += (v3.x - v2.x) * c;
    v2.y += (v3.y - v2.y) * c;
    v3.x += (v4.x - v3.x) * c;
    v3.y += (v4.y - v3.y) * c;
    retPoints[i++] = (v1.x += (v2.x - v1.x) * c); // first curve second control point
    retPoints[i++] = (v1.y += (v2.y - v1.y) * c);
    v2.x += (v3.x - v2.x) * c;
    v2.y += (v3.y - v2.y) * c;
    retPoints[i++] = v1.x + (v2.x - v1.x) * c; // end and start point of first second curves
    retPoints[i++] = v1.y + (v2.y - v1.y) * c;
    retPoints[i++] = v2.x;  // second curve first control point
    retPoints[i++] = v2.y;
    retPoints[i++] = v3.x;  // second curve second control point
    retPoints[i++] = v3.y;
    retPoints[i++] = v4.x;  // endpoint of second curve
    retPoints[i++] = v4.y;
    //=======================================================
    // return array with 2 curves
    return retPoints;              
}

<!—— Future editors Please note that this function will be used by other examples (yet to be written 10th August 2016) If you change the input arguments, or output, or uncomment optional parts (excluding optional A) you will also have to change those functions to account of the changed behaviour. I will be adding links in this example to any dependent examples. ——!>

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