ANIMATION IN WARPED SPACE
Date
1993-10-01
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Abstract
Free form deformations are useful for describing a class
of complex motions within an animation system. Such deformations have been
described using a generalization of parametric surfaces and their
application to modeling is well documented. In this paper we present
a method that can be applied to implicit surfaces which are defined
as an iso-surface around a set of skeletal elements, contributing
to a scalar field. The resulting surface is approximated by a
polygon mesh. Shape distortions, such as "squash and stretch" are
applied automatically to models in motion by warping the space in
which the models exist. A model will change its shape as the function
defining the warped space can change over time or, the model will deform
as it moves through the warped space. Sophisticated, possibly non-linear
deformations can be achieved on arbitrarily complex surfaces. Several
examples are given including a running wave simulation and a slug like
creature. The interesting, non-linear motion obtained, from space
warping would be difficult to reproduce using other techniques.
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Computer Science