Implicit Representations in Computer Animation: a Compared Study

How can Implicit Surfaces be used in the context of high-end Computer Animation ? This paper compares two different representations of field functions – the constructive approach and the field image approach. Their respective advantages and limitations for the definition of animation and morphing algorithms, and for the visualization of an animation are discussed. We show that efficient solutions to the animation of textured objects can be provided by hybrid methods that combine these representations together and/or with parametric surfaces. This point is illustrated by two case studies: the animation of deformable characters and the simulation of textured lava-flows. Categories and subject descriptors: I.3.5 [Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modeling– Solid and object representations, Object hierarchies; I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism–Animation, Texture. Additional