Make an unusual closed curve shape with the EP Curve Tool with Curve Degree set to 1 Linear. (in the top view?)
To close curve: Select curve and then Curves > Open/Close *Note, if you select it twice, it will open again.
Adjust your curve.
Activate the Move Tool to determine where the manipulator is located. The location of the Manipulator is the point where the curve follows along the path.
Make sure it is centered or in a location suitable for extrusion. A quick way would be to center the manipulator. Modify > Center Pivot
To manually move the manipulator press {Insert} on the keyboard and then manually move it. Now make a fun curve to be used as a path for extrusion with the EP Curve Tool with Curve Dergree set to 3 Cubic. Basically reset the tool. (in the front view?)
Select the curved curve shape that you want to extrude and then {Shift} select the path.
Open the Extrude menu option box Surfaces > Extrude ❑
SETTINGS:
- Style: Tube
- Result Position: Path
- Orientation: Path Direction
- Output Geometry: Polygons
- Type: Quads
- Tessellation Method: Count
- Count: 200 – 500?
Now hit Extrude . . . and it should look something like this.
*If it doesn't look like this, you might have drawn your curve in a reverse direction, which makes the extrusion turn black. Basically, a polygon has a front and a back and you want the sides receiving light on the outside. If it is back on the outside either reverse the base curve direction, select the base curve and Curves > Reverse Curve Direction OR select the output mesh and Mesh Display > Reverse.
Select the current extrusion, and in the Channel Box under Inputs change the Extrude Settings:
Scale: This will adjust the scale of the closed curve along the path.
Rotation: Rotates the closed curve shape along the path
Change the Scale percentage under extrude setting to something like 0.1 to 0.01 . Your extrusion should scale down to a point.
Press {3} to show the mesh with a smooth preview.
Assign a new material, that shows a specular highlight like Blin. {Right-Click} on the object and choose Assign New Material then the material you want to use.
Or this . . .