To achieve realistic computer animation, our artificial fish model
must capture the form and appearance of real fishes with adequate
fidelity. In this chapter we design texture mapped, 3D geometric
display models with which to ``envelope'' the biomechanical fish model
described in Chapter 
, thus constructing different
artificial fishes. We begin with color photographs of real fishes and
build free-form geometric models of several different species using
nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surfaces. We develop a new
interactive tool for segmenting portions of the fish images to be used
as texture maps that are subsequently rendered onto the geometric
display surfaces. Finally, we describe how this geometric display
model is coupled to the dynamic model of the fish to appropriately
actuate and deform the display model. We also describe the
visualization of the pectoral fin motion in the display model.
Figure: Digital images of real fish.
| Xiaoyuan Tu | January 1996 |