MANIPULATION OF VOLUMETRIC SOLIDS WITH APPLICATIONS TO SCULPTING
Jakob Andreas Bærentzen, Niels Jørgen Christensen · 2002
ii The topic of this thesis is volume graphics, and in particular techniques which are applicable to volume sculpting. A volume sculpting system is an interactive computer program for shape modelling where the shape is represented volumetrically in a 3D lattice of so–called voxels. It is argued that it is reasonable to classify the tools in a sculpting system according to whether the tools tend to deform the sculpted object or work according to the paradigm of Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG). Existing volume sculpting systems are surveyed, and it is found that almost all systems provide sculpting tools belonging exclusively to either or both categories. It is also found that existing systems have a number of important deficiencies. For instance, none of the systems provide a generic methodology for deformation. Rather they provide specific solutions for concrete deformation tasks, e.g. smoothing or the creation of small protrusions or dents. Moreover, most of the