CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++algorithmmodel3dskinning
Evil Spork
Evil Spork

Reputation: 1001

Generating 3D models via primitive skinning

I am looking for a method by which to generate 3D models for use in video games. The idea is virtual primitives that are simply points with associated data for size, shape, material and rotation.

For instance an asteroid might start as two simple spheres that intersect. Material of dusty rock which would tell the skinning algorithm to provide smooth sandy curves and occasional jagged boulders. Probably end up with a sort of lumpy peanut shape.

After that add smaller spheres with material of void or crater, peppered around the object. These would produce crater like areas in the surface of the peanut and the skin would adjust to suit. In the end you would have a semi plausible representation of an asteroid.

Now with that in mind, my question is, are there any decent open source or public domain examples of skinning algorithms that can find the surface of a model and generate a smooth, evenly distributed quad-strip mesh that could be then textured?

Some more information; I'm looking at CSG methods for the underlying models (adding and subtracting volume) then looking at other methods for remeshing the whole thing.

Upvotes: 8

Views: 1406

Answers (2)

Bill Abrams
Bill Abrams

Reputation: 320

This is an exciting question and no doubt there are many ways it could be done. Personally I'd probably start by getting basic shapes on .obj format, which is easy to both parse and create programmatically, and then do exactly that in my code: tweak or randomize the the vertices you export from a modelling program to create an infinite variety of similar but slightly different objects, like asteroids. Of course if you need more than asteroids, you'd go back to a different .obj file. It's hard to say the best technique for your case since I think some experimentation would be required no matter what you try.

Upvotes: 1

MasterPlanMan
MasterPlanMan

Reputation: 1032

Skinning is an art more than a scientific process (and so almost impossible to automate) because skinning is a visual approximation of movement. To get something fully automatic, you would either have to assume bone placement or simply assume there are none at all.

Here's an example. This is an open-source project that skins automatically based on the fact that the provided mesh is a humanoid. http://igl.ethz.ch/projects/fast/

EDIT: Wait, you mean the other way around? Isn't that similar to marching cubes? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marching_cubes

Upvotes: 2

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