i_algbr Library part 1

These functions are now included in the program code, so they can be used without using external library calls.

Field Strength The numerical value at a point in space generated by the function is multiplied by the Field Strength. The set of points where the function evaluates to zero are unaffected by any positive value of this parameter, so if you're just using the function on its own with threshold = 0, the generated surface is still the same.

In some cases, the field strength has a considerable effect on the speed and accuracy of rendering the surface. In general, increasing the field strength speeds up the rendering, but if you set the value too high the surface starts to break up and may disappear completely.

The surface generated with threshold = 0.1 and field strength 1 is the same as the surface generated with threshold = 0.2 and field strength 2. Doubling the field strength has doubled the numeric value at a point in space, but doubling the threshold tells the program to look for points where the numeric value is double.

Setting the field strength to a negative value produces the inverse of the surface, like setting sign -1.

Field Limit The numerical value at a point in space generated by the function is limited to plus or minus the field limit. E.g. if you set the field limit to 2, then the value returned for a point that is a large distance from the surface will be +2 or -2.

This won't make any difference to the generated surface if you're using threshold that's within the field limit (and will kill the surface completely if the threshold is greater than the field limit). However, it may make a huge difference to the rendering times.

If you use the function to generate a pigment, then all points that are a long way from the surface will have the same colour, the colour that corresponds to the numerical value of the field limit.

SOR Switch If greater than zero, the curve is swept out as a surface of revolution. If the value is zero or negative, the curve is extruded linearly in the Z direction.

SOR Offset If the SOR switch is on, then the curve is shifted this distance in the X direction before being swept out.

SOR Angle If the SOR switch is on, then the curve is rotated this number of degrees about the Z axis before being swept out.

In the article that started all this, Tore Nordstrand just happened to mention four particular 2d curves that could be used in this way, and these have become the Algbr_Cyl functions that are implemented.

function {f_algbr_cyl1(x,y,z,1,1,0,0,0)}

1. Field Strength.
2. Field Limit.
3. SOR Switch.
4. SOR Offset.
5. SOR Angle.

  function { f_algbr_cyl2(x,y,z,1,1,0,0,0)}

  function { f_algbr_cyl3(x,y,z,1,1,0,0,0)}

  function { 0 - f_algbr_cyl4(x,y,z,1,1,0,0,0)}

I've sliced these three images in half so that you can see the 2d figure-of-eight curve that generates them more easily.

  function { f_algbr_cyl1(x,y,z,1,1,1,0,0)}

  function { f_algbr_cyl1(x,y,z,1,1,1,0.4,0)}

  function { f_algbr_cyl1(x,y,z,1,1,1,0.6,90)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.
2. Scale. The surface is always the same shape. Changing this parameter has the same effect as adding a scale modifier. Setting the scale to 1 gives a surface with a radius of about 1 unit.

  function { - f_bicorn(x,y,z,1,1)}

1. Field Strength.
2. Scale. The mathematics of this surface suggest that the shape should be different for different values of this parameter. In practice the difference in shape is hard to spot. Setting the scale to 3 gives a surface with a radius of about 1 unit.

  function { - f_bifolia(x,y,z,1,3)}

For this surface, it helps if the field strength is set extremely low, otherwise the surface has a tendency to break up or disappear entirely. This has the side effect of making the rendering times extremely long - this image took 16 times longer to render than any other surface on this page.

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.
2. Scale. The surface is always the same shape. Changing this parameter has the same effect as adding a scale modifier.

  function { - f_boy_surface(x,y,z,0.0000001,1)}

1. Field Strength.
2. Major radius - like the major radius of a torus.
3. Filling. Set this to zero, and you get a torus. Set this to a higher value and the hole in the middle starts to heal up. Set it even higher and you get an ellipsoid with a dimple.
4. Thickness. The higher you set this value, the plumper is the result.

  function { - f_ovals_of_cassini
      (x, y, z, 1, 0.5, 0.24, 5)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.

  function { f_cubic_saddle(x,y,z,0.1)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.

  function { - f_cushion(x,y,z,1)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.

  function { -f_devils_curve(x,y,z,1)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.
2. X factor.
3. Y factor.
4. SOR Switch.
5. SOR Offset.
6. SOR Angle.

  function { f_devils_curve_2d
      (x, y, z, 1, 1.5, 1.52, 0, 0, 0) }

A Dupin Cyclid can be considered to be the envelope of all the possible spheres that just kiss three other spheres. It can also be considered to be the envelope of all spheres on a conic section that just touch a given sphere. And it can also be considered to be the "inversion" of a torus.

  function { f_dupin_cyclid
    (x, y, z, 0.0001, 4.9, 5, 2, 0, 3)}

The parameters are:

1. Field Strength.
2. Major radius of torus.
3. Minor radius of torus.
4. X displacement of torus.
5. Y displacement of torus.
6. radius of inversion.

  function { f_dupin_cyclid
    (x, y, z, 0.000001, 3, 5, 3, 0, 9)}

  function { - f_dupin_cyclid
    (x,y,z,0.0000001, 6, 0.5, 3, 0, 12)}