A Pen and Paper Metaphor for Orchid Modeling

The creation of 3D computer models is an essential task for many applications in science, engineering and arts and is frequently performed by untrained users. In many cases speed and simplicity of the modeling process is more important than matching the geometry of the modeled object exactly. Sketch-based modeling has been suggested as an important tool for such applications. In this paper we extend the pen and paper metaphor with a paper sculpting metaphor which is applied to sketched shapes. Using these techniques we present an efficient and effective tool for orchid modeling. We discuss the inherent properties of orchid flowers and use them to develop constraints for representing the complex surface shapes of orchids with simple 2D sketches. Surface details are added using noise functions. Additional surface modifications are possible using the paper sculpting metaphor. By computing inherent bending axis from the skeleton of a sketched 2D shape the user is able to warp leaf-like structures like if they were cut from a piece of paper. The intuitive object manipulation of our tool means that an otherwise complex model can be created by an inexperienced, non-artistic user in a short period of time.