A Method for allowing Local Editing of Globally Optimized Splines

Abstract The present work describes an algorithm for modifying spline curves in the neighborhood of an editing point while preserving global smoothness properties. Current spline algorithms have either a graphical editing mode in which the user edits local properties of the spline, or a globally optimizing mode, in which the spline coefficients are determined such that overall properties e. g. smoothness, distance to support points, or physical behavior are optimized. With globally optimized splines, editing parameters at one point causes their transmission through the whole spline. Hence, the user has the impression that it is not possible to change the shape of the spline without disturbing the overall behavior. This can be circumvented by forcing the trajectory of the globally optimized curve to lie in the close vicinity of the original curve far away from the edited point. The present work describes an algorithm for local editing of spline curves that are produced by a global optimizer. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)