Brush2Model: Convolution surface‐based brushes for 3D modelling in head‐mounted display‐based virtual environments

Abstract

AbstractEasy and efficient 3D modelling in virtual environments is an important and unsolved topic. This paper proposes a new modelling approach to tackle this issue. It invents convolution surface‐based brushes to directly draw 3D models in head‐mounted display‐based virtual environments. In order to maximize the efficiency, flexibility, and capacity of our proposed modelling approach, we propose three different skeleton‐based convolution surfaces to tackle different modelling tasks: point skeleton‐based convolution surfaces for metaball shapes, line skeleton‐based convolution surfaces for cylindrical shapes, and polygon skeleton‐based convolution surfaces for planar surfaces. Their combination makes 3D modelling more flexible and powerful. The high efficiency is further raised by our developed closed‐form solutions for point skeletons, ends of line skeletons, and edges of polygonal skeletons. Different user‐friendly sweeping schemes are provided to facilitate intuitive inputs for various complex shape generation. Unlike Google's Tilt Brush, which is used to create disconnected sheet‐like surfaces only, our proposed convolution surface‐based brushes can produce smoothly blended manifold surfaces, and novice users can easily learn and use them to create various interesting 3D models efficiently.