Interactive Design and Simulation of Net Sculptures

We present a graphical user interface that allows an artist to virtually design and visualize net sculptures. Net sculptures consist of net pieces that are seamlessly connected to each other and to fixed rails. They are flexible and hence dynamic under external forces such as gravity and wind. The interface that we describe allows an artist to create net sculptures made up of multiple net pieces. Simple operations such as clicking on points and click-and-drag gestures are used to create and modify individual net pieces, and drag-and-drop gestures are used to connect net pieces to multiple rails. The effect of gravity on the net sculpture is simulated, allowing the artist to simultaneously design and visualize net sculptures as they would appear once installed in a real setting.