Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!noao!amethyst!winfree@.math.arizona.edu
From: winfree@.math.arizona.edu (Art Winfree)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.visualization
Subject: surface rendering of fuzzy cloud
Message-ID: <2594@amethyst.math.arizona.edu>
Date: 28 Apr 91 17:26:01 GMT
Sender: news@amethyst.math.arizona.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: Dept. of Mathematics, University of Arizona  85721
Lines: 13


Does anybody know how to render the surface of a fuzzy 3D cloud of
data points? The "cloud" is actually supposed to be a 2D surface, but
the algorithm which generates it is not perfect, and typically
produces a sheet of points of variable thickness. In places, the
sheet is only 1 point thick.  We tried placing the cloud in a large
3D array then hitting it with Marching Cubes-like surface finders,
but always with unsatisfactory results.  B-splining the surface points
was rejected because the points are totally unordered, and ordering
into rectangular array of control points is precluded by complex 
geometry of cloud.  Any suggestions?

      ATW