Reading: "Adaptively Sampled Distance Fields: A General Representation of Shape for Computer Graphics

元論文はこちら
2000年のSIGGRAPH論文。三菱のラボで研究されていたらしい。

概要：

Adaptively Sampled Distance Fields (ADFs) are a unifying representation of shape that integrate numerous concepts in computer graphics.
Two main applications:

1) artistic carving of fine detail
2) representing and rendering volume data and volumetric effects

既存のshape representationに使われているどの方式(parametric surfaces, subdivision surfaces, implicit surfaces,)よりもADFsはメモリ節約、（生成される）フォルムの美しさ、run-time、

A distance field .. a distance to a shape, where the distance indicates the boundary of the shape. (inside and outside)

Contributions

The adaptively sampled distance fields representation is new
In order to construct nicely rendered 3D representation of an object at minimal time, we used to need to sacrifice fine detail and interiror information. In order to get fine detail and comprehensive information on the object's internal structure, it used to cost us in render time and memory. But by using adaptively sampled distance fields, the difference of this trade-off might have diminished.

Strength and Weakness

While regularly sampled distance fields are inconvenient when there exists fine detail in the object to represent, adaptively sampled distance fields use adaptive, detail-directed sampling so that they can modify the sampling rate depending on the amount of detail of the object.
This allows adaptive sampling to demonstrate arbitrary accuracy in the reconstructed field and efficient memory usage.
ADFs support a broad range of important processing operations, including rendering, sculpting, level-of-detail management, surface offsetting, collision detection, Boolean operations, blending and filleting, creating offset surfaces, and morphing between shapes.
Boolean operations on a shape can often be achieved by operations on its distance field.

Ideas for extension

Open questions

In what modeling softwares is ADFs used to represent geometrical features?
How can we use ADFs in 2D drawing system?
- - Quick research on google told me this website (