Constrained deformations based on convolution surfaces

Deformation is a powerful tool for shape modeling and computer animation. In this paper we present a new local deformation model based on convolution surfaces. After a user specifies a series of constraints, which can consist of line segments, arcs and quadratic curves, their effective radii and maximum displacements, the deformation model creates a set of convolution surfaces taking the constraints as the skeletons. Each convolution surface determines a local influence region and a field function associated with the constraint. Compared with the constrained deformation model based on generalized metaballs, our method can reduce the bulges emerged from the deformation. Furthermore, the user can finely control the deformation result by adjusting the weight distribution along the one dimensional convolution skeleton. This deformation model operates on the local space and is independent of the underlying representation of the object to be deformed. Experimental results show that our new deformation model is both efficient and intuitive.