Applications of Bezier Clipping Method and Their Java Applets

Displaying objects with high accuracy is important in CAGD and for the synthesis of photo-realistic images. The representation of free-form surfaces can be classified into two: parametric surfaces such as Bezier patches, and implicit surfaces like metaballs. We discuss display methods for both Bezier patches and metaballs by using Bezier Clipping. Traditionally, polygonal approximation methods have been employed to display parametric surfaces. This paper introduces various display methods for Bezier patches without polygonal approximation. Bezier Clipping can be also applied to the following: 1) curve/curve intersection, 2) curve/surface intersection, 3) scan conversion of curved regions such as outline fonts, 4) various lighting simulations such as curved light sources and radiosity method. In order to show the effectiveness of Bezier Clipping widely by using the Internet, we have coded some of them(e.,g.,curve/curve intersection, metaballs) in Java language. The Bezier Clipping is very effective for displaying metaballs and metacircles (2D version of metaballs) and for the application of metaballs, we demonstrate realistic rendering of clouds, snow, smoke, and water droplets.