Non-Photorealistic Computer Graphics Library

Virtual hairy brush for painterly rendering

Author(s): Songhua Xu, Min Tang, Francis Lau, Yunhe Pan.
Article: Graphical Models, Vol. 66, No. 5, pp. 263--302, September, 2004.
[BibTeX]

Abstract:
We propose a novel "e-brush" for calligraphy and painting, which meets all the criteria for a good e-brush. We use only four attributes to capture the essential features of the brush, and a suitably powerful modeling metaphor for its behavior. The e-brush's geometry, dynamic motions, and pigment changes are all dealt with in a single model. A single model simplifies the synchronization between the various system modules, thus giving rise to a more stable system, and lower costs. By a careful tradeoff between the complexity of the model and computation efficiency, more elaborate simulation of the e-brush's deformation and its recovery for interactive painterly rendering is made possible. We also propose a novel paperink model to complement the brush's model, and a machine intelligence module to empower the user to easily create beautiful calligraphy and painting. Despite the complexity of the modeling behind the scene, the high-level user interface has a simplistic and friendly design. The final results created by our e-brush can rival the real artwork.