UNIT-III

Conic, Curves and Surfaces

Curves and Surfaces

 Displays of three dimensional curved lines and surfaces can be generated from an input set of
mathematical functions defining the objects or from a set of users specified data points.
 When functions are specified, a package can project the defining equations for a curve to the display
plane and plot pixel positions along the path of the projected function.
Quadric surfaces
• A frequently used class of objects are the quadric surfaces, which are
described with second-degree equations (quadratics).
• They include
1. Spheres,
2. Ellipsoids,
3. Paraboloids,
4. Hyperboloids etc.
• In Cartesian coordinates, a spherical surface with radius r centered on the coordinate origin is
defined as the set of points (x, y, z) that satisfy the equation

Sphere in parametric form

• We can also describe the spherical surface in parametric form, using latitude and longitude
angles.

Sphere in parametric form

Ellipsoid
• An ellipsoidal surface can be described as an extension of a spherical
surface, where the radii in three mutually perpendicular directions
can have different values.

• The Cartesian representation for points over the surface of an ellipsoid centered on the origin
is

Ellipsoid - Parametric representation

Superquadrics
 Superquadrics are formed by incorporating additional parameters into the quadric equations to
provide increased flexibility for adjusting object shapes.
 The number of additional parameters used is equal to the dimension of the object: one
parameter for curves and two parameters for surfaces.

1. Superellipse

We obtain a Cartesian representation for a superellipse from the corresponding equation

for an ellipse by allowing the exponent on the x and y terms to be variable.

In parametric form
2. Superellipsoid

• Figure 10-13 illustrates supersphere shapes that can be generated using various values for
parameters s1 and s2.

• These and other superquadric shapes can be combined to create more complex structures,
such as furniture, threaded bolts, and other hardware

Spline and Bazier Representation

Spline
Drafting terminology

• Spline is a flexible strip that is easily flexed to pass through a series of design points (control
points) to produce a smooth curve.
• Spline curve – a piecewise polynomial (cubic) curve whose first and second derivatives are
continuous across the various curve sections.

Spline Representations

• A spline is a smooth curve defined mathematically using a set of constraints

• Splines have many uses:

• 2D illustration

• Fonts

• 3D Modelling

• Animation

Big Idea
• User specifies control points

• Defines a smooth curve

Interpolation Vs Approximation
• A spline curve is specified using a set of control points

• There are two ways to fit a curve to these points:

• Interpolation - the curve passes through all of the control points

• Approximation – the curve does not pass through all of the control points

• Approximation for structure or shape

• Interpolation for animation

Convex Hulls

• The boundary formed by the set of control points for a spline is known as a convex hull

• Think of an elastic band stretched around the control points.

Control Graphs

• A polyline connecting the control points in order is known as a control graph

• Usually displayed to help designers keep track of their splines.

Piecewise cubic splines

Types of Curves

• A curve is an infinitely large set of points. Each point has two neighbors except endpoints.
Curves can be broadly classified into three categories −

• explicit, implicit, and parametric curves.

Implicit Curves

• Implicit curve representations define the set of points on a curve by employing a procedure
that can test to see if a point in on the curve.
• Usually, an implicit curve is defined by an implicit function of the form −

f(x, y) = 0

Eg. A common example is the circle, whose implicit representation is

X2 + y 2 – R 2 = 0

Explicit Curves

• A mathematical function y = f(x) can be plotted as a curve.

• Such a function is the explicit representation of the curve.

Parametric curve

• The explicit and implicit curve representations can be used only when

the function is known.

• Curves having parametric form are called parametric curves.

• In practice the parametric curves are used.

• Every point on the curve is having two neighbors (other than the end points).

• A two-dimensional parametric curve has the following form −

P(t) = f(t), g(t) or P(t) = x(t), y(t)

• The functions f and g become the (x, y) coordinates of any point on the curve, and the points
are obtained when the parameter t (or u) is varied over a certain interval [a, b], normally [0, 1].

Parametric Continuity Conditions

• To ensure a smooth transition from one section of a piecewise parametric curve to the next,
we can impose various continuity conditions at the connection points.

• If each section of a spline is described with a set of parametric coordinate functions of the
form.

• Three types of continuity

1. Zero Order Continuity

2. First Order Continuity

3. Second Order Continuity

Zero Order Continuity

• Two piece of curve must meet at transition point

• Segments have to match ‘nicely’.

• Given two segments P(u) and Q(v).

• We consider the transition of P(1) to Q(0).

• Zero-order parametric continuity

• C0: P(1) = Q(0).

• Endpoint of P(u) coincides with start point Q(v).

First Order Continuity

• First parametric derivatives (tangent lines) of the coordinate functions two successive curve
sections are equal at their joining point.

• Segments have to match ‘nicely’.

• Given two segments P(u) and Q(v).

• We consider the transition of P(1) to Q(0).

• First order parametric continuity

• C1: dP(1)/du = dQ(0)/dv.

• Direction of P(1) coincides with direction of Q(0).

Second Order Continuity

• Second-order parametric continuity, or C2 continuity, means that both the first and second
parametric derivatives of the two curve sections are the same at the intersection.

• Given two segments P(u) and Q(v).

• We consider the transition of P(1) to Q(0).

• Second order parametric continuity

• C2: d2P(1)/du2 = d2Q(0)/dv2.

• Curvatures in P(1) and Q(0) are equal.

Geometric Continuity
• It suffices to require that the directions are the same:

• geometric continuity.

An alternate method for joining two successive curve sections.

An alternate method for joining two successive curve sections

1. Zero Order Geometric Continuity

2. First Order Geometric Continuity

3. Second Order Geometric Continuity

1. Zero Order Geometric Continuity

• the two curves sections must have the same coordinate position at the boundary point (
Same as zero order parametric continuity)

2. First Order Geometric Continuity

• the parametric first derivatives are proportional at the intersection of two successive sections
(In parametric continuity these are equal)

3. Second Order Geometric Continuity

• both the first and second order derivatives of the two 2.curve sections are proportional at
their boundary
Spline Specification
There are three equivalent methods for specifying a particular spline representation:

(1) We can state the set of boundary conditions that are imposed on the spline;

(2) we can state the matrix that characterizes the spline;

(3) we can state the set of blending functions;

boundary conditions

• Boundary conditions for this curve might be set, for example, on the endpoint coordinates
x(0) and x(l) and on the parametric first derivatives at the endpoints x'(0) and x '(1) .

• Boundary conditions are sufficient to determine the values of the four coefficients ax, bx,
cx, and dx.

Matrix Form
blending functions

Bezier curves
• Bezier curve is discovered by the French engineer Pierre Bézier.

• These curves can be generated under the control of other points. Approximate tangents by
using control points are used to generate curve.
• The simplest Bézier curve is the straight line from the point P0 to P1.

• A quadratic Bezier curve is determined by three control points.

• A cubic Bezier curve is determined by four control points.

Properties of Bezier curves

• They generally follow the shape of the control polygon, which consists of the segments joining
the control points.

• They always pass through the first and last control points.

• They are contained in the convex hull of their defining control points.

• The degree of the polynomial defining the curve segment is one less that the number of
defining polygon point. Therefore, for 4 control points, the degree of the polynomial is 3, i.e.
cubic polynomial.

• A Bezier curve generally follows the shape of the defining polygon.

• The direction of the tangent vector at the end points is same as that of the vector determined
by first and last segments.

• The convex hull property for a Bezier curve ensures that the polynomial smoothly follows the
control points.

• No straight line intersects a Bezier curve more times than it intersects its control polygon.

• They are invariant under an affine transformation.

• Bezier curves exhibit global control means moving a control point alters the shape of the
whole curve.

• A given Bezier curve can be subdivided at a point t=t0 into two Bezier segments which join
together at the point corresponding to the parameter value t=t0.

• Suppose we are given n + 1 control-point positions: pk = (xk, yk, zk), with k varying from 0 to
n.

• These coordinate points can be blended to produce the position vector P(u), which describes
the path of an approximating Bezier polynomial function between P0 and Pn
Bezier curves Numericals and derivation

Bezier curves and surfaces

1)Given control points (10,100), (50, 100), (70,120) and (100, 150).

Calculate coordinates of any four points lying on the corresponding

Beizer curve.

2) Set up the equation of Beizer curve and roughly trace it for three

control points (1,1), (2,2) and (3,1).