Topological Mesh Modeling

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Topological Mesh Modeling is my main research direction and TopMod is a manifold mesh modeling system that includes all the work presented in our Topological Mesh Modeling papers. Using TopMod, you can find a wide variety of ways to create high genus shapes; almost all subdivision algorithms, wide variety of ways to remesh shapes, new extrusions and more. TopMod reads and writes .obj files. Therefore, it is compatible with Maya and other software that accept obj files. The figures here show 3D shapes modelled with TopMod and printed with a rapid prototyping machine. TopMod is based on a new paradigm that allows dynamically changing the topology of 2-manifold polygonal meshes. The new paradigm always guarantees topological consistency of polygonal meshes. Based on our paradigm, by simply adding and deleting edges,handles can be created and deleted, holes can be opened or closed, polygonal meshes can be connected or disconnected. These edge insertion and edge deletion operations are highly consistent with subdivision algorithms. In particular, these operations can easily be included into a subdivision modeling system such that the topological changes and subdivision operations can be performed alternatively during model construction. TopMod demonstrates practical examples of topology changes based on this new paradigm and show that the new paradigm is convenient, effective, efficient, and friendly to subdivision surfaces. TopMod has been used and tested by Visualization Science students extensively since 2000. We have released as a free software for non-commercial applications since October 2005. After the release, sculptors and architects discovered the software and created unusual shapes. Since there is a strong interest for further development of TopMod we want to continue to TopMod as an Open-Source project. Acknowledgment We are also grateful to all Visualization Sciences and Computer Science graduate students who added modules to TopMod. We are also thankful to students who used TopMod in their projects and give us input. We are also very thankful to Shape Modeling community. Without the collective support and motivation from the community, TopMod would have not been successful.