Talk:Computer representation of surfaces

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Some of the terms in this article are a little Catia specific and could be confusing to general readers or people using other graphics systems. Could you make the terms more generic or explain in more than one way, maybe differences between means for surface, face, trim in different software systems would be useful to readers?

Also, where is this article going? The content of the article is useful, but is it planned as general overview of computer graphics surfaces in all fields (which is lacking), engineering, gaming, animation, visualization, covering everything from facet modeling to NURBS, or is it also deep dive into CAD freeform modeling or CAD hybrid (solid/surface) modeling? In which case should it be consider merging Computer representation of surfaces some of the Computer-aided design articles such as Solid modelling and Freeform surface modelling? Or should Freeform surfaces be merged with this article? Or should this page be seen as a sub page of Talk:3D_computer_graphics/Temp? Separate articles on computer graphics, surface types (maths), CAD surface methods are useful but how should they be called and the content better organized/distributed?

The intent is for it to be an overview of the general concepts of each computer representation of a surface, with links pointing to articles with more specific details on each type. How is it lacking in this ? It may very well be CATIA biased, as that is where my primary experience is. I would like suggestions for terms/concepts I can add to make it more general. One such concept I was considering adding was descriptions of point-based systems, like CGS, where lines are defined by two points, verus a math-based systems, like CATIA, where lines are represented by an equation and limited by trim parameters. Note that much of the freeform surface content was added by another editor, but it seemed useful, so I left it in. I was considering adding a section on "visualizations of surfaces", but hesitated since the NHR, HLR, HRD, SHD terms I am familiar with would make the article even more CATIA biased. Do you know if these same surface visualization methods are used in other CAD systems and what they are called there ? StuRat 12:59, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Merge ?

I would like to propose that this article covers introduction of where surfaces are used in computer graphics, and the methods used. Therefore move/merge v contents to here and moving from here examples of methods of use to freeform surface modeling. Expanding this to methods of displaying surfaces would be good. Maybe someone can add terms from other systems. By the way, CGS, do you mean GM’s old surface software or is there another package with the same name?

I do mean GM's Corporate Graphics System. Do they no longer use it ? When I worked there they used CGS, UG, CADAM, and CATIA (at Saturn), and a few others, like AutoCAD, to a lesser extent. As for the merge, I think the merge tag should be between freeform surface and freeform surface modeling, not here. There may be a need to swap some sections between here and either of those articles, but that's not the same as a merge. Please list those sections you think should be moved around. I do agree with you that this article should be an introduction to all computer reps of surfaces and not get into too much detail on any one, such as freeform surfs. StuRat 19:24, 31 October 2005 (UTC)