Optimal approximate conversion of spline surfaces (Q1824344)

The authors solve the important problem of representing a tensor-product surface given by Bernstein polynomials of high degree by (3,3) of (5,5) Béziers spline patches. The necessary formulas are derived. The problem of smoothing patches at common boundaries and merging patches is discussed but not down to the level of readily implementable procedures. It is pointed out that the formulas derived in the paper yield the spline representation not only of the given surface but also of all its parallel surfaces (here called ``offset surfaces'').