Skip to main content

Curves and Surfaces

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 3451 Accesses

Overview

In computer graphics, blending curves and surfaces are widely used for both interpolation and approximation. We have previously seen the application of Hermite polynomials in vertex blending, and Catmull-Rom splines for keyframe interpolation. Spline curves and surfaces also find applications in the interactive design of three-dimensional models.

This chapter gives an overview of polynomial interpolation methods, and the construction of splines using different types of piecewise cubic polynomial curves. Design aspects such as local control, flexibility and parametric continuity are discussed in detail. Surface design techniques using two-dimensional Bezier and B-spline surface patches are also presented. Extensions of these methods using rational basis functions are then outlined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barsky, B. A., & Tony, D. (1989). Geometric continuity of parametric curves. IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, 9(6), 60–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buss, S. R. (2003). 3-D computer graphics: A mathematical introduction with OpenGL. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Farin, G. (1999). NURBS: From projective geometry to practical use (2nd ed.). Natick: A K Peters.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Farin, G. E. (2001). Curves and surfaces for CAGD: A practical guide (5th ed.). San Francisco: Morgan Kaufmann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, R. (2009). An integrated introduction to computer graphics and geometric modeling. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, J. J. (2006). Computer graphics: Theory into practice. Boston/London: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olfe, D. B. (1995). Computer graphics for design: From algorithms to AutoCAD. Englewood Cliffs/London: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piegl, L. A., & Tiller, W. (1997). The NURBS book (2nd ed.). Berlin/London: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Prautzsch, H., Boehm, W., & Paluszny, M. (2002). Bézier and B-spline techniques. Berlin/New York: Springer.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Salomon, D. (2006). Curves and surfaces for computer graphics. New York/London: Springer.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Watt, A. H., & Watt, M. (1992). Advanced animation and rendering techniques: Theory and practice. New York/Wokingham/Reading: ACM Press/Addison-Wesley Pub.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramakrishnan Mukundan .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mukundan, R. (2012). Curves and Surfaces. In: Advanced Methods in Computer Graphics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2340-8_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2340-8_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-2339-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-2340-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics