Systems and methods for three-dimensional modeling

A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation;
• modifying the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail;
• and
• modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.

A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

• transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation;
• modifying the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail;
• and
• modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.

A system for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer, the system comprising:

• a representation module that represents a virtual object as a volumetric model;
• a conversion module that converts a subset of the volumetric model into non-volumetric representation;
• an analytic module that modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a stimulus, thereby simulating a deformation of the virtual object while preserving surface detail;
• and
• a modification module that modifies the volumetric model so as to substantially represent the modified non-volumetric representation.

A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising:

• a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation;
• a first modification module that modifies the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail;
• and
• a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.

A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising:

• a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation;
• a first modification module that modifies the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail;
• and
• a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.