Subdivision Surface-Based Geometric Modeling System

Abstract

A method for surface modeling of images to produce realistic images or to provide simulations with accurate surface information is provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new subdivision depth computation technique and to an improved label-driven adaptive subdivision technique for use in Catmull-Clark subdivision surface modeling systems. The method comprises computing a subdivision depth to determine the number of recursive subdivisions which may be performed on a control mesh to generate a plurality of finer mesh elements while preserving a predetermined error tolerance, and using the computed subdivision depth to construct an adaptively refined mesh that is substantially similar to the control mesh within the predetermined error tolerance. Limit control surfaces with and without extraordinary vertices may be analysed using the method of the invention. In another aspect, a software program for accomplishing the method of the present invention is provided