Automatic Skinning using the Mixed Finite Element Method

TL;DR

This paper introduces an efficient physics-based character skinning method using mixed finite element formulation, enabling realistic deformations respecting artist constraints without complex physics solver constraints.

Contribution

It presents a novel mixed finite element approach for skinning that improves efficiency and control in physics-based character deformation.

Findings

Efficient computation of character deformations respecting handle positions.

Ability to use various physics material models for realistic skinning.

Avoidance of complex constraints improves performance.

Abstract

In this work, we show that exploiting additional variables in a mixed finite element formulation of deformation leads to an efficient physics-based character skinning algorithm. Taking as input, a user-defined rig, we show how to efficiently compute deformations of the character mesh which respect artist-supplied handle positions and orientations, but without requiring complicated constraints on the physics solver, which can cause poor performance. Rather we demonstrate an efficient, user controllable skinning pipeline that can generate compelling character deformations, using a variety of physics material models.