3D parametric surface takes the form

x
y
z

f(u,v)
g(u,v)
h(u,v)

Example:
x(u,v) =

u
v
u2 + v2

Where f,g,h are bivariate

functions of u and v

Polynomial parametric surface

f(u,v), g(u,v), h(u,v) are polynomial functions

written in the Bernstein basis

Bzier surface b(u,v)

Bzier control points bij
Bzier control net

Bzier Surface
b33

Structure

b03

(1,1)
v

b30

v
u

(0,0)
u

b00

Bzier Surface
Properties

boundary curves
lie on surface
boundary curves
defined by
boundary polygons

Bzier Surface
Properties

Nice, intuitive method for creating surfaces

Variable display resolution

Minimal storage

Ruled Surfaces
A ruled surface can always be described (at least locally) as the set of
points swept by a moving straight line. For example, a cone is formed
by keeping one point of a line fixed whilst moving another point along
a circle.
A surface is doubly ruled if
through every one of its
points there are two distinct
lines that lie on the surface.
The hyperbolic paraboloid
and the hyperboloid of one
sheet are doubly ruled
surfaces. The plane is the
only surface which contains
three distinct lines through
each of its points

A surface is doubly ruled if through every one of its points there are
two distinct lines that lie on the surface. The hyperbolic paraboloid
and the hyperboloid of one sheet are doubly ruled surfaces. The plane
is the only surface which contains three distinct lines through each of
its points

A section of an elliptic hyperboloid

of one sheet (an example of a ruled
surface) spanned by a set of straight
wires. Through any point on this
surface pass two straight lines lying
entirely on it.

A surface whose equation is a second-degree algebraic equation. They are

natural 3D-extensions of the so-called conics (ellipses, parabolas, and
hyperbolas), and they provide examples of fairly nice surfaces to use.