Procedural band patterns

Abstract

We seek to cover a parametric domain with a set of evenly spaced bands which number and width varies according to a density field. We propose an implicit procedural algorithm, that generates the band pattern from a pixel shader and adapts to changes to the control fields in real time. Each band is uniquely identified by an integer. This allows a wide range of texturing effects, including specifying a different appearance in each individual bands. Our technique also affords for progressive gradations of scales, avoiding the abrupt doubling of the number of lines of typical subdivision approaches. This leads to a general approach for drawing bands, drawing splitting and merging curves, and drawing evenly spaced streamlines. Using these base ingredients, we demonstrate a wide variety of texturing effects.