• When we have a basic shape we can use equations to describe the shape,
• When the shape is not common, splines enable curved surfaces to be defined easily, with good control of the shape
• The source of control points for the splines are experimental data or design parameters or artistic judgement, etc.
• A spline uses end points, and some internal control points to adjust the shape which could not be defined with known primitive geometries.
• A spline can be used as a face in a B-Rep (solid) model.
• Some splines allow variable tension, such as the Catmull-Ron, and some B-Splines. This allows a skin which is stretched, tightly, or loose.
• Mathematical functions for curves and surfaces may be explicit or parametric.
Explicit - The values are directly related
Parametric - The curve is described by varying other numbers
