From Spline to Fractals

Over the last decades, computer graphics researchers have developed numerous mathematical models capable of generating free-form shapes. Such models come in two varietes — deterministic and stochastic. Spline models, which are deterministic, have established themselves as a convenient and powerful technique for modelling smooth, man-made shapes, such as teapots. By contrast, fractal models have become popular for recreating a wide variety of the shapes found in nature. Most fractal model feature a stochastic component, making them well suited to generating nonsmooth, irregular shapes, such as monntainous terrain.