A multi-level sketch-based interface for decorative pattern exploration

Abstract

Despite the extensive usage of decorative patterns in art and design, there is a lack of intuitive ways to find a certain type of patterns. In this paper, we present a multi-level sketch-based interface that incorporates low-level geometrical features and high-level structural features, namely reflection, rotation, and translation symmetries, to support decorative pattern exploration at different levels of detail. Four brush tools are designed for users to specify any combination of such features and compose a hybrid search query. The results of a pilot study show that users are able to perform pattern retrieval tasks using our system easily and effectively.