edge flow reduction – two simple tricks from topology

If a 3d modeler needs to get rid of polygons in a 3D mesh, but don’t want to add triangles, here’s two good ways. I call them “3-to-1” and “2-to-1 corner”.  I worked these out in 1988 with Joe Formicola and Ken Fedeson, building finite element models for CFD and FEA.  Many other 3d artists have discovered or learned these topological tricks, since (and probably before then, too).  I just noticed how the first one resembles the shadow of a hypercube.

 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized by admin. Bookmark the permalink.

About admin

Josh Whitkin is a Lecturer in the School of Media, Communication and Culture at Murdoch University. His areas of expertise include mobile device design and computer graphic content production.