Patent ID: 8731876

Claim:
A method, comprising: executing a feature curve tool on a processor of a computer device to perform: receiving a connected mesh representation of a multi-dimensional model; analyzing the connected mesh representation to determine feature curves that define one or more characteristics of the multi-dimensional model; dividing the connected mesh representation into disjoint regions defined by one or more boundaries that correspond to one or more of the feature curves, the disjoint regions each represented as a triangular mesh utilizing artificial vertices to complete triangles at triangular mesh boundaries of a disjoint region, at least one or more of the artificial vertices located outside of a boundary of the connected mesh representation; joining the disjoint regions to form a modified connected mesh representation of the multi-dimensional model; and displaying the multi-dimensional model with editable feature curves displayed as handles that are user-selectable to manipulate a displayed surface of the multi-dimensional model and modify the feature curves of the multi-dimensional model.