Bulge Factor
List of: Discussion Topic
Subjects: Blending
Contents: Blending

The bulge factor is a number used to control the shape of the vertex blend. The bulge factor affects the interior shape of the vertex blend surface. It has no effect on the boundaries of the blend surface. It also affects only the n-sided patch surface, making no difference when spheres or tori (etc.) are used.

The bulge factor value ranges from 0.0 to 2.0. If the bulge factor is not set by the user, it is set to the default value, 1.0. A larger value increases the fullness of the blend. A value of zero is usually suitable for a blend at a mixed convexity vertex, but for a uniform convexity vertex (i.e., all of whose edges are either convex or concave), a positive bulge factor may improve the shape obtained. Figure 1-9 illustrates a vertex blend with no bulge (blend is flatter) and then the same blend with bulge = 2.0, which produces a fuller blend. The default value of 1.0 should normally be acceptable.


Figure 1-9. Bulge
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