Three-dimensional grading of virtual garment with design signature curves

Abstract

The key difference between tailoring and mass production is the use of a single size versus a size chart that contains difference sizes. In practice, the garment pattern of a reference size is made for the confirmation of style and sizing during the product development process. Then, garment patterns of other sizes are derived by this reference size using a technique of grading. In the flat-patterning techniques, there are three types of grading: rectangular (Cartesian coordinate), radio (polar coordinate) and line (localized Cartesian coordinate). All these methods suffer from the limitation of the increase of deformation as the sizes increase. In this article, I shall present a three-dimensional method of grading, which can maintain the styling and comfort characteristics of the wearers at different sizes. This is achieved by the concept of Design Signature Curve. After I present the concept, I shall also present an example as the verification. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.