Putting the G into CAGD, the authors provide a much-needed practical and basic introduction to computer-aided geometric design. This book will help readers understand and use the elements of computer-aided geometric design, curves and surfaces, without the mathematical baggage that is necessary only for more advanced work. Though only minimal background in mathematics is needed to understand the bookís concepts, the book covers an amazing array of topics such as Bezier and B-spline curves and their corresponding surfaces, subdivision surfaces, and NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines). Also included are techniques such as interpolation and least squares methods.

Putting the G into CAGD, the authors provide a much-needed practical and basic introduction to computer-aided geometric design. This book will help readers understand and use the elements of computer-aided geometric design, curves and surfaces, without the mathematical baggage that is necessary only for more advanced work. Though only minimal background in mathematics is needed to understand the book's concepts, the book covers an amazing array of topics such as Bezier and B-spline curves and their corresponding surfaces, subdivision surfaces, and NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) Also included are techniques such as interpolation and least squares methods.

The growing importance of animation and 3D design has caused computer-aided geometric design (CAGD) to be of interest to a wide audience of programmers and designers. This interactive software/book tutorial teaches fundamental CAGD concepts and discusses the growing number of applications in such areas as geological modeling, molecular modeling, commercial advertising, and animation. Using interactive examples and animations to illustrate the mathematical concepts, this hands-on multimedia tutorial enables users without a substantial mathematical background to quickly gain intuition about CAGD. Interactive Curves and Surfaces guides you in Learning the uses of CAGD as it is applied in computer graphics and engineering. Creating curved lines and surfaces using Bezier curves, B-Splines, and parametric surface patches. Understanding the mathematical tools behind the generation of these objects, and the development of computer-based CAGD algorithms. Experimenting with powerful interactive test benches to explore the behavior and characteristics of the most popular CAGD curves. Application oriented readers will find this animated tutorial presentation more accessible than the standard formal texts on the subject.

Preface -- Chapter 1 P. B̌ezier: How a Simple System Was Born -- Chapter 2 Introductory Material -- Chapter 3 Linear Interpolation -- Chapter 4 The de Casteljau Algorithm -- Chapter 5 The Bernstein Form of a B̌ezier Curve -- Chapter 6 B̌ezier Curve Topics -- Chapter 7 Polynomial Curve Constructions -- Chapter 8 B-Spline Curves -- Chapter 9 Constructing Spline Curves -- Chapter 10 W. Boehm: Differential Geometry I -- Chapter 11 Geometric Continuity -- Chapter 12 ConicSections -- Chapter 13 Rational B̌ezier and B-Spline Curves -- Chapter 14 Tensor Product Patches -- Chapter 15 Constructing Polynomial Patches -- Chapter 16 Composite Surfaces -- Chapter 17 B̌ezier Triangles -- Chapter 18 Practical Aspects of B̌ezier Triangles -- Chapter 19 W. Boehm: Differential Geometry II -- Chapter 20 GeometricContinuityforSurfaces -- Chapter 21 Surfaces with Arbitrary Topology -- Chapter 22 Coons Patches -- Chapter 23 Shape -- Chapter 24 Evaluation of Some Methods -- Appendix A Quick Reference of Curve ...

Focusing on the manipulation and representation of geometrical objects, this book explores the application of geometry to computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD). Over 300 exercises are included, some new to this edition, and many of which encourage the reader to implement the techniques and algorithms discussed through the use of a computer package with graphing and computer algebra capabilities. A dedicated website also offers further resources and useful links.

Computer Aided Geometric Design covers the proceedings of the First International Conference on Computer Aided Geometric Design, held at the University of Utah on March 18-21, 1974. This book is composed of 15 chapters and starts with reviews of the properties of surface patch equation and the use of computers in geometrical design. The next chapters deal with the principles of smooth interpolation over triangles and without twist constraints, as well as the graphical representation of surfaces over triangles and rectangles. These topics are followed by discussions of the B-spline curves and surfaces; mathematical and practical possibilities of UNISURF; nonlinear splines; and some piecewise polynomial alternatives to splines under tension. Other chapters explore the smooth parametric surfaces, the space curve as a folded edge, and the interactive computer graphics application of the parametric bi-cubic surface to engineering design problems. The final chapters look into the three-dimensional human-machine communication and a class of local interpolating splines. This book will prove useful to design engineers.

Requires only a basic knowledge of mathematics and is geared toward the general educated specialists. Includes a gallery of color images and Mathematica code listings.