Interactive Surface Design and Manipulation Using PDE-Method through Autodesk Maya Plug-in

Abstract

This paper aims to propose a method for geometric design, modelling and shape manipulation using minimum input design parameters. Here, we address the method for the construction of 3D geometry based on the use of Elliptic Partial Differential Equations (PDE). The geometry corresponding to an object is treated as a set of surface patches, whereby each surface patch is represented using four boundary curves in the 3D space that formulate the appropriate boundary conditions for the chosen PDE. We present our methodology using a plugin that was developed utilizing Maya API. The plug-in provides the user with tools that could be used easily and effectively for designing purposes. Maya is a popular 3D modelling tool. Various types of shapes with different complexities are presented here. Our proposed method allow the designer to utilize the Maya functionality for sketching curves in the 3D space that represents the outline of arbitrary shapes, construct the corresponding model using the PDE method, deform and sculpt these models interactively by editing the boundary curves.