<p>I started working on a &quot;stylus annotation program&quot;, and as part of it I need an algorithm that convert a path with width indicators to an outline. This is similar to the Advanced Outline Layer in the synfig program, and the Power Stroke path effect in Inkscape. I'm looking for a paper describing such an algorithm. Of course I can always read the source code, but I'd prefer a paper to understand the mathematics behind it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-18T15:29:42.270Z
https://pomax.github.io/bezierinfo/
joojaa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-06-19T03:16:38.517Z
The nearest algorithm I know of is the one Metafont uses for this. I'm not sure if it's nicely summarized in a paper, but there are several chapters in Knuth's *Digital Typography* that provide details. Metafont is available as a "literate program", so the cweb version can generate a full book describing how the program works.
luser droog
<mathematics><bezier-curve>
Converting a Bezier Path with variable width stroke to an outline?
Dov Grobgeld
# Converting a Bezier Path with variable width stroke to an outline?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-06-17)

I started working on a "stylus annotation program", and as part of it I need an algorithm that convert a path with width indicators to an outline. This is similar to the Advanced Outline Layer in the synfig program, and the Power Stroke path effect in Inkscape. I'm looking for a paper describing such an algorithm. Of course I can always read the source code, but I'd prefer a paper to understand the mathematics behind it.

**Tags:** mathematics, bezier-curve

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: https://pomax.github.io/bezierinfo/  
> **username_2**: The nearest algorithm I know of is the one Metafont uses for this. I'm not sure if it's nicely summarized in a paper, but there are several chapters in Knuth's *Digital Typography* that provide details. Metafont is available as a "literate program", so the cweb version can generate a full book describing how the program works.  

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## 0 answers

