Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mailrus!ncar!asuvax!noao!amethyst!spock.ame.arizona.edu!chris
From: chris@spock.ame.arizona.edu (Chris Ott)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Need help making an object from parallel slices
Message-ID: <1001@amethyst.math.arizona.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 89 19:11:12 GMT
Sender: news@amethyst.math.arizona.edu
Reply-To: chris@spock.ame.arizona.edu.UUCP (Chris Ott)
Lines: 37



     I have a 3d graphics problem, and I was wondering if anyone could help.

     I would like to take a set of coutours of a 3d object and generate
a list of polygons (preferably triangles) that could be used in a solid-
shading program to render that object. For instance, one of the objects
I'm working on is a catscan of a person's head. I take each slice and
outline the area of interest, the brain, for example. Then, using the
contours from each slice, I would like to make a set of polygons that
are a 3d representation of the brain. Another thing I'm working on is a
contour map. Given the contours of the map, I'd like to make a model of
the landscape it describes in the computer.

     I have a program now, but it doesn't quite work. It has a problem
with narrow appendages (such as the ears on the head). I'm pretty sure
it would work if I had more slices, but I need it to work with what I have.

     It also won't work when there is more than one contour on a level,
so the head will work okay, but the map won't because there are several
peaks.

     Does anyone out there know an algorithm that would solve my problem,
or at least know of a reference I can look up? Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Chris Ott
 Forensic Productions, Inc.               Infatuation is blind, not love. A
 Tucson, Arizona                            person in love can see the other's
                                            faults, but loves them anyway.
 Internet: chris@spock.ame.arizona.edu
 UUCP: {allegra,cmcl2,hao!noao}!arizona!amethyst!spock!chris
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------