Polynomial encoding of vertex data for use in computer animation of cloth and other materials

A computer program product comprising a medium for embodying a computer program for input to a computer and a computer program embodied in the medium for causing the computer to perform steps of:

• establishing a plurality of different poses for a material;
• and
• encoding each component of each vertex position of the material into a polynomial by using corresponding vertices in the plurality of different poses for the material;
• wherein the corresponding vertices in the plurality of different poses for the material are encoded relative to a bind pose.

A method for use in animation of a material, comprising the steps of:

• retrieving coefficients for a plurality of polynomials that define vertices of the material when a same set of variable values are used in each polynomial;
• assigning a value to each variable in the same set of variable values;
• computing a result of each polynomial using the values assigned to the same set of variable values to generate the vertices of the material;
• and
• transforming the vertices of the material into world space.

A system for use in animation of a material, comprising:

• means for retrieving coefficients for a plurality of polynomials that define vertices of the material when a same set of variable values are used in each polynomial;
• means for assigning a value to each variable in the same set of variable values;
• means for computing a result of each polynomial using the values assigned to the same set of variable values to generate the vertices of the material;
• and
• means for transforming the vertices of the material into world space.