MAPPING OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL SURFACE DETAIL ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL SURFACES

A system and method for providing surface detail to mathematically defined three-dimensional surfaces which preserves the specific dimensional integrity of the surface detail image being mapped to provide dimensionally correct surface detail. This is accomplished by performing the intermediate step of mapping the surface detail image to a two-dimensional flattened pattern piece representation of the surface and thereafter mapping this representation to the three-dimensional surface. The system and method of the present invention may be used as one function of a greater three-dimensional computer aided design system for any industry which utilizes flat sheets of material formed or assembled into a finished product including textiles, apparel, footwear, upholstered furnishings, automotive or interior design.