10 Modeling shapes with signed distance functions and surrogates
This chapter covers
- Understanding the merits and flaws of modeling shapes with signed distance functions (SDFs)
- Using typical operations on SDFs: offset, unite, intersect, and subtract
- Learning the basics of generative design with tri-periodic minimal surfaces
- Understanding metaballs as a design technique
Signed distance functions (SDFs) as instruments of geometric modeling have become important only recently. They were known for ages, but mostly in academic circles. Boundary representations and images, which we’ll look into in the following chapters, were the main techniques for modeling in computer-aided design (CAD), medical imaging, and games. Now the tables are turning.
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