A Real-Time Malleable Molecular Surface

T.E. Klein, C.C. Huang, E.F. Pettersen, G.C. Couch, T.E. Ferrin, and R. Langridge

Computer Graphics Laboratory
University of California
San Francisco, CA 94143-0446

ABSTRACT

We describe a method for generating a molecular surface using a parametric patch representation. Unlike previous methods, this algorithm generates a parametric patch surface which is smooth and G1 continuous and manipulable in real-time. Crucial to our approach is the creation of a net of approximately equilateral triangles from which we generate the control points used as the basis for describing the surface. We present in detail the method used for generating the triangular net and accompanying control points, along with examples of the resulting surfaces.

A reprint of this paper is available on request.


tef@cgl.ucsf.edu / August 1989