Interactive mesh visualisation and deformation

Abstract

In recent years, computer graphics has increasingly been in the research spotlight and could be found in most visual content. 3D geometric modelling and animation aims to realistically simulate the world or to create novel fictional 3D characters or objects, known as meshes. As a mesh is static, it is difficult to model and animate it by manual changing the positions of its vertices. Mesh deformation solves this problem by simplifying the process of 3D geometric modelling and animation.

This project aims to demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of applying Freeform Deformation (FFD) onto meshes in real-time. Although FFD is not a new concept, it is used by many to further improve or to create new mesh deformation algorithms. By undertaking this project, fundamental knowledge and new insights on mesh deformations could be gained. A simple yet robust program has been developed to enable interactive mesh visualisation and to experiment with the FFD algorithm. Through the implementation, the project sheds light on the mathematical complexities behind the FFD algorithm, principally the tensor product trivariate Bernstein polynomial. The results obtained proved that FFD could indeed be achieved in real-time. However, it is also concluded that FFD may produce unrealistic mesh deformations. One of the suggested recommendations is to combine FFD with physics to produce realistic deformations.