Digitally interpreting traditional folk crafts

The cultural heritage preservation requires that objects persist throughout time to continue to communicate an intended meaning. The necessity of computer-based preservation and interpretation of traditional folk crafts is validated by the decreasing number of masters, fading technologies, and crafts losing economic ground. We present a long-term applied research project on the development of a mathematical basis, software tools, and technology for application of desktop or personal fabrication using compact, cheap, and environmentally friendly fabrication devices, including '3D printers', in traditional crafts. We illustrate the properties of this new modeling and fabrication system using several case studies involving the digital capture of traditional objects and craft patterns, which we also reuse in modern designs. The test application areas for the development are traditional crafts from different cultural backgrounds, namely Japanese lacquer ware and Norwegian carvings. Our project includes modeling existing artifacts, Web presentations of the models, automation of the models fabrication, and the experimental manufacturing of new designs and forms

An investigation on the framework of dressing virtual humans

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Realistic human models are widely used in variety of applications. Much research has been carried out on improving realism of virtual humans from various aspects, such as body shapes, hair, and facial expressions and so on. In most occasions, these virtual humans need to wear garments. However, it is time-consuming and tedious to dress a human model using current software packages [Maya2004]. Several methods for dressing virtual humans have been proposed recently [Bourguignon2001, Turquin2004, Turquin2007 and Wang2003B]. The method proposed by Bourguignon et al [Bourguignon2001] can only generate 3D garment contour instead of 3D surface. The method presented by Turquin et al. [Turquin2004, Turquin2007] could generate various kinds of garments from sketches but their garments followed the shape of the body and the side of a garment looked not convincing because of using simple linear interpolation. The method proposed by Wang et al. [Wang2003B] lacked interactivity from users, so users had very limited control on the garment shape.This thesis proposes a framework for dressing virtual humans to obtain convincing dressing results, which overcomes problems existing in previous papers mentioned above by using nonlinear interpolation, level set-based shape modification, feature constraints and so on. Human models used in this thesis are reconstructed from real human body data obtained using a body scanning system. Semantic information is then extracted from human models to assist in generation of 3 dimensional (3D) garments. The proposed framework allows users to dress virtual humans using garment patterns and sketches. The proposed dressing method is based on semantic virtual humans. A semantic human model is a human body with semantic information represented by certain of structure and body features. The semantic human body is reconstructed from body scanned data from a real human body. After segmenting the human model into six parts some key features are extracted. These key features are used as constraints for garment construction.Simple 3D garment patterns are generated using the techniques of sweep and offset. To dress a virtual human, users just choose a garment pattern, which is put on the human body at the default position with a default size automatically. Users are allowed to change simple parameters to specify some sizes of a garment by sketching the desired position on the human body.To enable users to dress virtual humans by their own design styles in an intuitive way, this thesis proposes an approach for garment generation from user-drawn sketches. Users can directly draw sketches around reconstructed human bodies and then generates 3D garments based on user-drawn strokes. Some techniques for generating 3D garments and dressing virtual humans are proposed. The specific focus of the research lies in generation of 3D geometric garments, garment shape modification, local shape modification, garment surface processing and decoration creation. A sketch-based interface has been developed allowing users to draw garment contour representing the front-view shape of a garment, and the system can generate a 3D geometric garment surface accordingly. To improve realism of a garment surface, this thesis presents three methods as follows. Firstly, the procedure of garment vertices generation takes key body features as constraints. Secondly, an optimisation algorithm is carried out after generation of garment vertices to optimise positions of garment vertices. Finally, some mesh processing schemes are applied to further process the garment surface. Then, an elaborate 3D geometric garment surface can be obtained through this series of processing. Finally, this thesis proposes some modification and editing methods. The user-drawn sketches are processed into spline curves, which allow users to modify the existing garment shape by dragging the control points into desired positions. This makes it easy for users to obtain a more satisfactory garment shape compared with the existing one. Three decoration tools including a 3D pen, a brush and an embroidery tool, are provided letting users decorate the garment surface by adding some small 3D details such as brand names, symbols and so on. The prototype of the framework is developed using Microsoft Visual Studio C++,OpenGL and GPU programming

Digital 3D reconstruction of historical textile fragment

This paper presents a new methodology for reproducing historic fragment in 3D with realistic behaviour, providing users with a feel for the fragment detailing. The fragment piece originates from the English National Trust archive held in the collection at Claydon House. The aim is to utilize a combination of both 2D pattern software and state-of-the-art 3D technology to recreate a compelling and a highly realistic representation of historic fragment. The process starts with investigation of the textile construction. Textile fragments will be incomplete and/or have a level of deterioration therefore various recording techniques are to be explored. A combination of both photography and 3D scanning technology will be utilized throughout the methodology to accurately record the digital data. The equipment setting will be analyzed in order to produce an accurate working method. This paper forming part of a larger study, will specifically focus on the methodology for recording data from one fragment piece

Embroidery Modelling and Rendering

Embroidery is a traditional non-photorealistic art form in which threads of different colours stitched into a base material are used to create an image. This thesis presents techniques for automatically producing embroidery layouts from line drawings and for rendering those layouts in real time on potentially deformable 3D objects with hardware acceleration. Layout of stitches is based on automatic extraction of contours from line drawings followed by a set of stitch-placement procedures based on traditional embroidery techniques. Rendering first captures the lighting environment on the surface of the target object and renders it as an image in texture space. Stitches are rendered in this space using a lighting model suitable for threads at a resolution that avoids geometric and highlight aliasing. It is also possible to render stitches in layers to capture the 2.5D nature of embroidery. A filtered texture pyramid is constructed from the resulting texture and applied to the 3D object. Aliasing of fine stitch structure and highlights is avoided by this process. The result is a realistic embroidered image that properly responds to lighting

Impact of the Agricultural Sector on the Arkansas Economy in 2003

Agriculture and associated agricultural activities are major contributors to the Arkansas economy. Agriculture is defined as the sum of agricultural production and processing activities, unless otherwise specified, and includes crop and animal production and processing, agricultural support industries, forestry and forest products, and textile goods. Agriculture contributes to the economy through direct agricultural production and value-added processing, and also leads to economic activity in other parts of the economy

Wearable ring resonator antenna

Postprint (author's final draft

Wearable ring resonator antenna

Postprint (author's final draft

Rendering the Renaissance: A Methodology for Recreating Historical Fabrics and Fashions in Computer Graphics

Fabric and costume is an integral part of film media and increasingly so in computer graphics. There exists a growing interest in the creation of period films. To stay true to historical accuracy, creating believable, accurate costumes with appropriate fabric is key. While films such as Pixar’s Brave have made attempts at visual accuracy, there is little existing literature discussing a method of creating such costumes. This thesis aims to form a methodology and approach to historical costume using available technology, extant historical garments, period artist renderings and real world fabrics and sewing technique. To approach this problem, a focus time period and location was selected for review and recreation. Due to the amount of visual data available, mid 16th century Florence proved a desirable candidate. Existing software packages Maya, Marvelous Designer, Mental Ray and Renderman were used for modeling, simulation and rendering respectively in order to execute the final product. The end goal was to render a model of a Florentine dress with identifiable fabrics using the designed methodology. An additional goal was to demonstrate a variety of fabric shaders to illustrate fabrics found during this period such as wool, linen, silk and velvet. The resulting renders represented visual accuracy to the sources used. Applications for this methodology can include film, games, historical documentation and education