We present a method for rendering 3D models in the traditional line-drawing style used in artistic and scientific illustrations. The goal is to suggest the 3D shape of the object using a small number of lines drawn with carefully chosen line qualities. The system combines several known techniques into a simple yet effective non-photorealistic line renderer. Feature edges related to the outline and interior of a given 3D mesh are extracted, segmented, and smoothed, yielding chains of lines with varying path, length, thickness, gaps and enclosures. The paper includes sample renderings obtained for a variety of models.
Mario Costa Sousa and Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz. A few good lines: Suggestive drawing of 3D models. Proceedings of Eurographics 2003: Computer Graphics Forum 22 (3), pp. 381-390.
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