Conceptual free-form styling on the responsive workbench

Abstract

A two-handed 3D styling system for free-form surfaces in a table-like Virtual Environment, the Responsive Workbench (RWB)™, is described. Intuitive curve and surface deformation tools based on variational modeling and interaction techniques adapted to 3D VR modeling applications are proposed. The user draws curves (cubic B-splines) directly in the Virtual Environment using a stylus as an input device, The curves are connected automatically, such that a curve network develops. A combination of automatic and user-controlled topology extraction modules creates the connectivity information. The underlying surface model is based on B-spline surfaces, or, alternatively, uses multisided patches [20] bounded by closed loops of curve pieces.