A sketch-based method to control deformation in a skeletal implicit surface modeler

Skeletal implicit surfaces offer many advantages for sketch-based modeling systems, such as blending, CSG, and a procedural object hierarchy. Free-form deformation (FFD) is also extremely useful in this context, however existing FFD approaches do not support implicit surface representations, and FFD lattice manipulation is timeconsuming compared to sketch-based techniques. In this paper, we describe an FFD technique suitable for implicit surface representations. To enhance real-time feedback, we split the problem into an approximate formulation used during interactive deformation, and a more robust variational technique which preserves desirable scalar field properties. As an interface to manipulate the deformation, we introduce a sketch-based volumetric peeling interface. The designer's task is to draw a curve on the surface, and pull or push the surface to the desirable position via the curve. Subsequently, the deformation is automatically defined. Results show that a desirable deformation can be easily achieved while preserving implicit properties.