US 5,333,245 A · Method and apparatus for mapping surface texture

Abstract

A two- or three-dimensional image of an object is first input into a computer system. An operator may then define one or more regions of the image for application of surface texture. A two-dimensional image of a surface texture is also input into the computer system. A polygonal area or patch, such as a rectangle, of the surface texture is then defined by the operator. A corresponding patch on the object image, which need not have the same shape or orientation as the patch on the texture image, is also defined by the operator. The patches on the texture image and on the object image need not be contiguous, adjacent or uniform. The object patch is assumed to be a perspective view of the corresponding texture patch, and a three-dimensional mapping function from the texture patch to the object patch is calculated. The spatial position of points on the defined region of the object image that are between the patches are interpolated and smoothed so that a complete three-dimensional mathematical model of a surface corresponding to the defined region is calculated. The process of defining polygonal patches on the texture image and corresponding patches on the object image is repeated until the operator is satisfied that the defined region of the object image is adequately modelled. Conventional texture mapping algorithms are then used to fill the defined region of the object image with texture.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for adding surface texture to a computer generated two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional object comprising the steps of:

(a) generating said two-dimensional image of said three-dimensional object on a first computer screen,
(b) defining a region with bounding polylines on said two-dimensional image of said object,
(c) generating a two-dimensional image of said surface texture on a second computer screen,
(d) defining first and second non-contiguous polygonal areas with bounding polylines of said two-dimensional image of said surface texture,
(e) defining first and second polygonal areas with bounding polylines within said defined region corresponding to said first and second polygonal areas defined in step (d),
(f) computing a mathematical model of said defined region by:
(i) calculating initial mappings between vertices of the first and second polygonal areas defined in step (d) and corresponding vertices of the respective first and second polygonal areas defined in step (e);
(ii) calculating a mapping function for each of a plurality of sample points within said defined region by interpolating said initial mappings;
(iii) smoothing the mapping function for each of said plurality of sample points by integrating the corresponding mapping functions of a plurality of neighboring sample points;
(g) mapping said surface texture onto said defined region in accordance with said mathematical model, and
(h) generating a textured image of said defined region on said first computer screen.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for mapping surface texture

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for mapping surface texture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13