[comp.graphics] contour plotting

pickel@mcnc.org (Lisa C. Pickel) (05/20/89)

Can anyone recommend some algorithms/books on producing contour
plots?  I think I understand the "triangles method", but unfortunately
my data is not on a regular, rectangular grid.

Code on which I could hack would also be more than welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Lisa Pickel
pickel@mcnc.org
decvax!mcnc!pickel

haletky@mrsvr.UUCP (Ed Haletky) (05/22/89)

From article <4487@alvin.mcnc.org>, by pickel@mcnc.org (Lisa C. Pickel):
> Can anyone recommend some algorithms/books on producing contour
> plots?  I think I understand the "triangles method", but unfortunately
> my data is not on a regular, rectangular grid.
> 
> Code on which I could hack would also be more than welcome.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Lisa Pickel
> pickel@mcnc.org
> decvax!mcnc!pickel

You do not need a regular, rectangular grid to use the triangle method. The
data must form a triangle. Most of the time I have used the triangle method
I have been using 3d coordinates. I only concern myself with 2d of the 3d.
The third dimension can be ignored. Unless it is important to you. Here is the
example:

	I had a 3d non-rectangular, skewed mesh with a wave. That is how it looked
	physically. Computationally it was a cube. It is easy to map 3d points to
	a cube. Contour by triangles was then performed. I got some real nice
	contour plots.

I know this is not a very good explanation. But without looking through tons
of code it is all I have. I do have a half way decent 2d contour program,
written by myself and a professor from Purdue University.

Alternative methods would include: bezier curves
								   B-splines
								   B-spaline patches
								   Any other curve drawing technique.

					Good-luck,
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