A fast algorithm for generating a polyline approximation (flattening) for the offset curves of a cubic B?zier curve segment is described. It is shown to be more efficient than the standard recursive subdivision method by generating only 70% as many segments, but, just as importantly, 94% of all segments fall within 20% of the flatness criterion. The code runs as fast as recursive subdivision.
Citation:
Thomas F. Hain, Sri Venkat R. Racherla, David D. Langan, "Fast, Precise Flattening of Cubic B?zier Segment Offset Curves," sibgrapi, pp.244-249, Computer Graphics and Image Processing, XVII Brazilian Symposium on (SIBGRAPI'04), 2004