Modeling Synthetic Curves

(Bezier curve)

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve (Bz)
 As an engineer at Renault, he became a leader in the transformation of design
and manufacturing, through mathematics and computing tools, into computer-
aided design and three-dimensional modeling.
 Bézier patented and popularized the Bézier curves and Bézier surfaces that are
now used in most computer-aided design and computer graphics systems.

Computer-aided design Slide #1

 Bezier Curve | Graphical Representation
P2

P1
u

P0 P3
u=0 u=1

n+1 = No of control points, n is degree

Computer-aided design Slide #2
Bezier Curve | Key Points

 The data points of the Bezier curve are called control points.
 Only the first and the last control points lie on the curve. The other
points define the shape of the curve.
 The curve is always tangent to the first and the last polygon segment.
 The curve shape tends to follow the polygon shape.

Computer-aided design Slide #3

Bezier Curve Characteristics

 The slope and shape of the Bezier curve is controlled by its control points
unlike the Hermite cubic curve.
 This provides the designer with a much better feel for the relationship
between the input points and the output curve.
 Hermite cubic spline is always a cubic curve, whereas the degree of the
Bezier curve is defined by the number of data points and is variable.
 n + 1 data points define nth degree curve , which permits higher order
continuity. CAD systems limit the degree of the curve.

Computer-aided design Slide #4

Bezier Curve | Parametric Equation

P(u): any point on the curve

Pi: control point or vertex of characteristic control polygon
Bi,n(u): Basis function or Bernstein function

n
P (u )   Pi Bi ,n (u ) 0  u 1
i 0
Computer-aided design Slide #5
Bezier Curve | Parametric Equation

n
P(u )   Pi Bi ,n (u ) 0  u 1
i 0

for 3th degree curve, i.e. a cubic Bz curve,

for nth degree curve,

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Parametric Equation

n
P(u )   Pi Bi ,n (u ) 0  u 1
i 0

……

Computer-aided design
Max Value of Blending Function

n
P(u )   P0 Bi ,n (u ) 0  u 1
i 0
It can be proved that,

Physical Significance w.r.t Cubic Bz.

n+1 = 4, n = 3
Pi is most influential at (u=i/n)
P0 is most influential at (i/n) = (0/3) = 0
P1 is most influential at (i/n) = (1/3)
P2 is most influential at (i/n) = (2/3)
P3 is most influential at (i/n) = (3/3) = 1

Computer-aided design
Blending functions for a quadratic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Blending functions for a quadratic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Parametric Eqn for a quadratic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Blending functions for a cubic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Blending functions for a cubic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Parametric Eqn for a cubic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Blending functions for a quartic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
 Blending function for a pentic Bz Curve

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

The curve interpolates the 1st and last points, i.e. it passes through P0 and Pn

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

The curve interpolates the 1st and last points, i.e. it passes through P0 and Pn

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

The curve is tangent to the 1st and last segments of the characteristic polygon.

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

Convex Hull Property:

Bezier curve is completely contained in a convex hull defined/formed by

the curve’s control points.
The convex hull is a minimum convex area that contains all the control
points.
This property is useful to check graphics functions such as clipping or
displaying.

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

Symmetry Property:
The curve is symmetric w.r.t. u and (1-u).
This means that the sequence of control points defining the curve can
be reversed without change of shape of curve.

P3

P2
u

P1 P4
u=0 u=1

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

Maximum value of Bernstin function:

The Bernstin function has maximum value at u=i/n on the curve. This
implies that each control point is most influential on the curve shape at
u=i/n.
e.g., for a cubic Bz. curve, P0, P1, P2 and P3 are most influential at u =
0/3=0, 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3=1, respectively.

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

Shape Control:
The curve shape can be controlled/modified
(1) by changing one or more vertices of polygon or
(2) by keeping the polygon fixed and specifying multiple coincident points at a vertex.

Computer-aided design
Bezier Curve | Characteristics

It can be shown that for any given value of u, the

summation of the Bernstin (basis) function is precisely 1.

This ensures relationship between curve and it’s control

points is invariant under connected transformations.

This fact can be used to check numerical computations

and software development.
n

B
i0
i ,n (u )  1

B
i0
i ,n ( u )  (1  u ) 3  3u (1  u ) 2  3u 2 (1  u )  u 3  1

Computer-aided design
Solved example

Find equation of a Bz curve defined by P0 [2 2 0]T P1 [2 3 0]T P2 [3 3 0]T

P3 [3 2 0]T.

Obtain coordinates at u = 0, ¼, ½, ¾ and 1.

[2 3] [3 3]
P1 P2

P0 P3
[2 2] [3 2]

Computer-aided design
 Model Solution

[2 3] [3
P1 3]P2

P0 P3
[2 [3
2] 2]

Computer-aided design
 Tut-1

2 1

2 1 0

Computer-aided design
 Tut-1 | Solution

2 1

Computer-aided design
Composite Bezier Curve | Continuity

Fig shows 2 Bz curve segments defined by 2 sets of points: P1, P2, P3,
P4 and P4, P5, P6, P7, P8.

P8
P7

P3
P2

u1 u2
P6
P1 P4

P5

What is the continuity between 2 Bz curve

segments?
C0

Computer-aided design
Composite Bezier Curve | Continuity

How can we achieve C1 continuity?

P3
P2

u
1
P1 P4

P8

What is the continuity between 2 Bz curve

segments?
C1

Computer-aided design
Composite Bezier Curve | Continuity

How can we achieve C1 continuity?

P’(0) = n(P1–P0) | P’(1) = n(Pn–Pn-1)

P’(u1=1) = P’(u2=0)

P3 3(P4–P3) = 4(P5–P4)
P2

u (P4–P3) = 4/3(P5–P4)
1
P1 P4

P8

For C2, required conditions will have to be applied

P’’(u1=1) = P’’(u2=0)

Computer-aided design
 Composite Bezier Curve | Continuity

Computer-aided design
 Tut-2
Using parametric approach prove: Point U varies from P0 to P1, defining
a linear Bezier curve and point V varies from P1 to P2, defining another
linear Bezier curve. If points U, V and B divide the line segments P0P1,
P1P2 and UV, respectively by an equal ratio then point B(u) describes a
quadratic Bezier curve.

Computer-aided design
 Tut-2
As U, V and B divides P0P1, P1P2 and UV by an
equal ratio

U-P0 = u(P1–P0)

V-P1 = u(P2–P1)

B-U = u(V-U)

From above equations,

U = (1-u)P0 + u.P1
V = (1-u)P1 + u.P2
B = (1-u)U + uV

B(u) = (1-u)2P0 + 2u(1-u)P1 + u2P2

Computer-aided design
Limitations of Bz Curve

 The curve does not pass through the control points, which is
inconvenient to some designers.

 Curve lacks local shape control. It has global shape control

characteristics. If one control point is changed then the whole
curve changes.

 Degree of the curve depends on the

number of control points

Computer-aided design
 THANK YOU !

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