Skeleton based surfacing : Fundamentals

Definitions

Surface - is an area boundered by edges which is non solid feature with no thickness
Surface Patch - an individual boundered area with no other edges intersecting it
Surface Quilt - a number of patches joined together
Curvature - with respect to a spline curve or surface with a constantly changing radius. At any point on the curve/surface
its curvature is 1 divided by the radius at that point. Therefore, a nearly flat area of a surface/curve [very large radius] has
a very small curvature.

Surface Display

The one-sided outer edges of a surface feature are displayed in cerise [pink].
The two-sided inner edges are displayed in magenta [purple].
Therefore a quilt will be displayed as a number of magenta lines inside a cerise boundary.

Surface Continuities

Make sure you know what a spline curve is [HERE] and what curvature is [HERE]

Continuity between surface patches is important for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Poor continuity can show
creases and show each individual patch's boundaries. Continuity between curves and surfaces can be expressed as
geometric (G0, G1, G2) continuity.

Click image to enlarge

G0 Continuity: Positional continuity. Two curves that share an endpoint, two surfaces that share a boundary are G0
continuous.

G1 Continuity: Tangential continuity. Two curves that share an endpoint, two surfaces that share a boundary are G1
continuous when the normals at the join/boundary are exactly aligned in direction - at that point they are travelling in the
same direction.

G2 Continuity: Curvature continuity. Two curves that share an endpoint, two surfaces that share a boundary are G2
continuous when they have the same curvature values where they meet.
Midplane/Symmetry Continuity

If your model is symmetrical then it will generally be quicker and more robust to model half of it and then mirror the whole
model - at least to the point where it becomes asymmetrical.

To achieve continuity across the midplane:

All curves and resultant surfaces must be normal to the midplane.

Surface Classification

Surfaces within a model are often classified

according to their aesthetic importance in
the final product.

The fundamental outer surfaces which are

most prominent in a product are often
classed as the A surfaces - those which
need most aesthetic consideration, ie. the
top surfaces of the mouse in your hand.

The surfaces which are generally hidden but

may still be seen by the user, ie. the bottom
of the mouse, are classed as the B
surfaces.

The C surfaces are then the internal, always

hidden surfaces which need no aesthetic
consideration.