Computer-aided sculpturing based on boolean operations and extended recursive subdivision

Abstract

A computer-aided sculpturing system is a geometric modeling system possessing sculpturing operators. A real world sculptor carves a statue through chiseling, sandpapering, and so on. Computer-aided sculpturing systems adapt these sculpturing methods for the geometric modeling domain. In this paper, we propose a sculpturing system based on sculpturing operators, chiseling, gluing and rounding. Chiseling can cut off a part of a sculpture, and gluing paste a lump of material. We implemented chiseling and gluing using sweeping operators and boolean operators for polyhedra. A global shape design method based on three-view shillouettes is also suggested. Rounding operators generate smooth surfaces which connect sharp corners smoothly. As rounding operators of our system, we present extended recursive subdivision by localizing Catmull and Clark``s recursive subdivision methods. The proposed subdivision methods can generate blended shapes of curved and planar surfaces. As applications of these methods, we present a unified local algorithm for vertex-based, edge-based, and region-based roundings.