Resolution independent curved seams in clothing animation using a regular particle grid

Abstract

We present a method for representing seams in clothing animation, and its application in simulation level of detail. Specifically we consider cloth represented as a regular grid of particles connected by spring-dampers, and a seam specified by a closed set of parametric trim curves in the cloth domain. Conventional cloth animation requires the tessellation of seams so that they are handled uniformly by the dynamics process. Our goal is a seam definition which does not constrain the attached clothing panels to be of the same resolution, or even constant resolution, while not being a hindrance to the dynamics process. We also apply our seams to cloth defined on a regular grid, as opposed to the irregular meshes commonly used with seams. The determination of particles interior to the cloth panel can be done using wellknown graphics operations such as scan-conversion. Due to the particle-based nature of the simulation, the dynamics approach combines easily with existing implicit and explicit methods. Finally, because the seams are resolution independent, the particle density per clothing panel can be adjusted as desired. This gives rise to a simple application of the given seams approach illustrating how it may be used for simulation level of detail.