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An Introduction to NURBS: With Historical Perspective (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics)
 
 

An Introduction to NURBS: With Historical Perspective (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) [Hardcover]

David F. Rogers (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)


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Book Description

1558606696 978-1558606692 August 4, 2000 1


The latest from a computer graphics pioneer, An Introduction to NURBS is the ideal resource for anyone seeking a theoretical and practical understanding of these very important curves and surfaces. Beginning with Bézier curves, the book develops a lucid explanation of NURBS curves, then does the same for surfaces, consistently stressing important shape design properties and the capabilities of each curve and surface type. Throughout, it relies heavily on illustrations and fully worked examples that will help you grasp key NURBS concepts and deftly apply them in your work. Supplementing the lucid, point-by-point instructions are illuminating accounts of the history of NURBS, written by some of its most prominent figures.


Whether you write your own code or simply want deeper insight into how your computer graphics application works, An Introduction to NURBS will enhance and extend your knowledge to a degree unmatched by any other resource.

* Presents vital information with applications in many different areas: CAD, scientific visualization, animation, computer games, and more.
* Facilitates accessiblity to anyone with a knowledge of first-year undergraduate mathematics.
* Details specific NURBS-based techniques, including making cusps with B-spline curves and conic sections with rational B-spline curves.
* Presents all important algorithms in easy-to-read pseudocode-useful for both implementing them and understanding how they work.
* Provides C-code implementations of worked examples at http://www.mkp.com/nurbs.
* Includes complete references to additional NURBS resources.


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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Curve and surface computer modeling is far more complex than what you see on screen. It is quite a feat to convert a data set into a visual image, and a bigger trick to convert it into a recognizable dimensional object that you can turn as if you were holding it in your hand. The mathematical heroes who paved the road to this point are acknowledged eloquently in David Rogers's An Introduction to NURBS with Historical Perspective.

Rogers himself is a figure in computer graphics history, having penned Mathematical Elements for Computer Graphics and Procedural Elements for Computer Graphics. In An Introduction to NURBS, he takes us on a mathematical journey that introduces the concept and details of non-uniform rational B-splines, while simultaneously shedding light on the mathematical wizards that make NURBS possible.

This is a hardcover textbook (not light reading) with enough equations and pseudocode to satisfy even the hungriest of math theorists. With seven chapters, starting with "Curve and Surface Representation" through "B-Spline Curves" to "Bzier Surfaces," the book is a thorough primer for those who are working toward understanding computer graphic modeling.

What really sets this book apart from other texts, however, is the closing portion of each chapter, in which readers get a historical perspective of the current state of the art in curve and surface mathematics, in passages written by such luminaries as Robin Forrest (Bzier curves), Rich Riesenfeld (B-splines), and Lewis Knapp (rational B-splines). --Mike Caputo

From the Back Cover

The latest from a computer graphics pioneer, An Introduction to NURBS is the ideal resource for anyone seeking a theoretical and practical understanding of these very important curves and surfaces. Beginning with Bézier curves, the book develops a lucid explanation of NURBS curves, then does the same for surfaces, consistently stressing important shape design properties and the capabilities of each curve and surface type. Throughout, it relies heavily on illustrations and fully worked examples that will help you grasp key NURBS concepts and deftly apply them in your work. Supplementing the lucid, point-by-point instructions are illuminating accounts of the history of NURBS, written by some of its most prominent figures.

Whether you write your own code or simply want deeper insight into how your computer graphics application works, An Introduction to NURBS will enhance and extend your knowledge to a degree unmatched by any other resource.

Features:

*Presents vital information with applications in many different areas: CAD, scientific visualization, animation, computer games, and more

*Facilitates accessiblity to anyone with a knowledge of first-year undergraduate mathematics

*Details specific NURBS-based techniques, including making cusps with B-spline curves and conic sections with rational B-spline curves

*Presents all important algorithms in easy-to-read pseudocode-useful for both implementing them and understanding how they work

*Provides C-code implementations of worked examples at www.mkp.com/nurbs

*Includes complete references to additional NURBS resources

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 344 pages
  • Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (August 4, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1558606696
  • ISBN-13: 978-1558606692
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,924,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, should be a model for all textbooks, February 2, 2001
By 
D. Taylor (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: An Introduction to NURBS: With Historical Perspective (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Hardcover)
You don't have to be a graphics guru to appreciate this book. A good high school math student could grasp the exposition in this book. I highly recommend this to teenage prodigies, not only for the exposition, but to read about the accomplishments of the prodigies who made this science. This book really emphasizes understanding and generalization - it will serve you well when you head out on your own. It is not language or platform specific and will remain relevant to the future for this reason. This book will serve as the foundations of a CAD, animation, or gaming background. It won't make you an expert in any of the fields, but your feet will be well grounded. The book progresses from Bernstein Polynomials, parametric Curves through Bezier Curves and on into the more recent developments in Knots and NonUniform Rational B-Splines.

The author is more than qualified to write an historical perspective: He's been a leading authority on the subject of computer graphics and CAD programming for more than a quarter of a century. He's been a personal acquaintance of many of the principal characters in the unfolding of this exciting and still young branch of mathematics. Characters such as Pierre Bezier, Steven Coons, and Carl de Boor. I should emphasize that the historic perspective doesn't interfere with the flow and development of the text from a purely mathematical point of view. You could read the text and skip the history, but that'd be a shame because the historical accounts and biographies are what set this text apart. In some sense you feel like you're experiencing the thrill of discovery in the same way that the theory developed - only in fast forward.

For these reasons, this book will also be of interest to anyone who enjoyed James Gleick's Chaos. But unlike Gleick's Chaos, you'll really get to understand the mathematics behind the story - the story of the development of NURBS. It reads like a novel with twists, coincidences and subplots. The men behind NURBS have had a profound influence on the last part of the 20th century and their methods will literally shape the future as the graphic tools of tomorrow's designers. I wish all textbooks could be written in this style. That would also mean all textbooks would have to be written by the founders of their respective fields and that wouldn't be a bad thing.

If you're a blue-collar Microsoft junkie looking for some sort of certification to let you pretend to be a programmer, perhaps your appetite will be better served by more specific texts. But for anyone who appreciates the art of programming, this book is for you - even if you don't ever touch graphics, it's just a fun book.

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6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction, August 10, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: An Introduction to NURBS: With Historical Perspective (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Hardcover)
I'm not complete reading this book yet - but from what I read so far - I found this to be a very informative book. It has a nice thorough introduction to most of the basic concepts dealing with curves and curved surfaces. The mathematical examples are easy to understand - it's a very good book for anyone who is starting to work with curved surfaces or needs a quick refresher. Oh yeah - is it me or does the author look kind of like Sean Connery?
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile, April 23, 2006
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This review is from: An Introduction to NURBS: With Historical Perspective (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics) (Hardcover)
For one week after receiving this book I agreed with an earlier very critical review. I changed my mind. The subject is not easy but written by someone who knows his business. Having got used to his notation I find this book more and more useful and refer back to it whenever a problem arises and usually find the answer or some pointer to the answer.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
NURBS, or NoN Uniform Rational B-Splines, are the standard for describing and modeling curves and surfaces in computer aided design and computer graphics. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
control polygon vertices, internal knot values, open knot vector, open uniform knot vector, surface file format, multiple knot values, new knot vector, net vertices, periodic knot vector, nonuniform knot vector, polygon spans, rational basis functions, uniform knot vectors, surface fairness, net vertex, isoparametric lines, parametric direction, new control polygon, original control polygon, values npts, dimension temp, knot removal, coincident vertices, bilinear surface, polygon net
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Robin Forrest, Rich Riesenfeld, Steve Coons, Historical Perspective, Curve Derivatives, Charles Lang, Ken Versprille, Bill Gordon, Cambridge University, Color Plate, Lewie Knapp, Jeff Lane, Mapping Parametric Surfaces, Syracuse University, Even Mehlum, Malcolm Sabin
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