Aesthetic design of shapes using fully free-form deformation features

B-Rep or CSG geometric models, often used as intermediate object representations shared during the design workflow, are unable to convey complex information related to the specific tasks involved in a process. Moreover, the tools proposed to manipulate/modify such complex mathematical models are still not sufficient or suited to designer way of work. In this paper, we introduce the so-called Fully Free Form Deformation Features (delta-F-4) together with the tools used to manipulate them. Advantages of both free form surfaces deformation method and feature-based approach are merged to define these high level modelling entities enabling the direct manipulation/modification of surfaces through a restricted set of intuitive parameters. Also the curve-oriented designers' way of working has been taken into account. In addition, a delta-F-4 classification is proposed to permit a fast access to the desired shape according to semantic information, such as the morphology or topology of the added shape with respect to the surface. The proposed approach is illustrated with some examples coming from our prototype software.