Computer Graphics Through OpenGL, 2nd Edition

Chapter 15

Bézier

The goal for this chapter is an understanding of the theory underlying Bézier primitives. We are already familiar with many of their practical aspects. In Section 10.3 of the chapter on drawing we saw how to specify Bézier curves and surfaces and incorporate them into our designs. This was possible then – even before theory – as an intuitive understanding of control points and their role as attractors in shaping Bézier primitives is sufficient to grasp the OpenGL syntax. We went even further in Sections 11.11.4 and 12.4.2, learning how to light and texture Bézier surfaces.

We’ll restrict ourselves in this chapter to polynomial Bézier primitives. The more general form is rational – a rational function being the ...