Interactive Shape Editing Using Surface Flow

In this paper, we propose a new shape editing algorithm based on the concept of explicit surface flow. The basic idea is: given an input polygonal model, the user interactively defines a distance field around regions of interest of the model, the locally or globally affected regions of the model will then automatically deform according to the userdefined distance field. The deformation behavior of the model is guided by a PDE-based explicit surface flow. During the deformation, the model can always maintain its regularity and can properly modify its topology when collisions between different parts of the model occur. In contrast to existing level-set based mesh editing techniques, our algorithm is simpler and much easier to incorporate user control. Furthermore, it is not necessary to convert polygonal models into volumetric representations prior to editing. Besides closed polygonal models, our algorithm also works for mesh models with open boundaries. Within our framework, we developed a number of shape editing operators including blending, cutting, drilling as well as free-hand sketching. We applied our algorithm to a variety of examples that demonstrate the usefulness and efficacy of the new technique in interactive shape design and surface deformation.