from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Bezier surface
<graphics> A surface defined by mathematical formulae, used in
{computer graphics}. A surface P(u, v), where u and v vary
orthogonally from 0 to 1 from one edge of the surface to the
other, is defined by a set of (n+1)*(m+1) "control points"
(X(i, j), Y(i, j), Z(i, j)) for i = 0 to n, j = 0 to m.
P(u, v) = Sum i=0..n {Sum j=0..m [
(X(i, j), Y(i, j), Z(i, j))
* B(i, n, u) * B(j, m, v)]}
B(i, n, u) = C(n, i) * u^i * (1-u)^(n-i)
C(n, i) = n!/i!/(n-i)!
Bezier surfaces are an extension of the idea of {Bezier
curves}, and share many of their properties.
(1996-06-12)