Reduces dense roto to clean splines using RDP. Features animation baking, locked feathering, and target point counts.
Smart Roto Simplifier
First submitted: 9 February 2026
Updated: 10 February 2026
Author: Marty Blumen
Website: https://www.martyblumen.com/
Compatible Nuke versions: 16.0 or later
Compatibility: Source
Roto Simplifier: Precision Curve Reduction
Roto Simplifier is a Python utility for Nuke that reduces dense roto data into clean, editable splines. It distills jittery points down to their essential geometry while preserving the original silhouette and feathering dynamics with mathematical precision.
Key Features v1.1
Intelligent Reduction: Uses the Ramer-Douglas-Peucker (RDP) algorithm to evaluate the visual structure of your shape, keeping only the vertices necessary to define the form.
Animation Transfer: Bakes motion from the original high-res shape to the new low-res spline. It tracks specific vertex indices across the timeline to ensure the new simplified rig matches the original movement.
Target Point Count: Specify an exact budget (e.g. 15 points) and the tool calculates the optimal settings to meet it.
Dynamic Auto-Smoothing: Instantly generates continuous, organic Bezier handles for every new point. During animation baking, tangents are recalculated on every frame to maintain smooth curvature as the shape deforms.
Non-Destructive Workflow: Includes an option to output the simplified shapes to a clean, separate Roto node, keeping your original data safe.
Register in menu.py
Open your menu.py file (in the same .nuke directory) and add the following lines. If you don't have a menu.py, you can create a text file with that name.
import nuke
# 1. Import the module
import roto_simplifier
# 2. Add it to the "Properties" Right-Click Menu
# This makes it appear when you RMB on any Properties panel background.
nuke.menu('Properties').addCommand('Roto Simplifier...', 'roto_simplifier.start()')BSD 3-Clause License
Copyright (c) 2026, Marten Blumen All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
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