Lofting Curve Networks using Subdivision Surfaces

Abstract

Lofting is a traditional technique for creating a curved shape by first specifying a network of curves that approximates the desired shape and then interpolating these curves with a smooth surface. This paper addresses the problem of lofting from the viewpoint of subdivision. First, we develop a subdivision scheme for an arbitrary network of cubic B-splines capable of being interpolated by a smooth surface. Second, we provide a quadrangulation algorithm to construct the topology of the surface control mesh. Finally, we extend the Catmull-Clark scheme to produce surfaces that interpolate the given curve network. Near the curve network, these lofted subdivision surfaces are C2 bicubic splines, except for those points where three or more curves meet. We prove that the surface is C1 with bounded curvature at these points in the most common cases; empirical results suggest that the surface is also C1 in the general case.