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Convert Hermite data to Bezier cubic

Short answer

The Bezier control points are B0 = P0 = (0,0), B1 = P0 + P0'/3 = (1,2), B2 = P1 - P1'/3 = (5,2), B3 = P1 = (6,0). Using Bernstein blending, P(0.5) = (3.0, 1.5) and P(0.25) = (1.219, 1.125).

A Hermite cubic has P0 = (0, 0), P1 = (6, 0), P0' = (3, 6) and P1' = (3, -6). Derive the relation between Hermite and cubic Bezier data and find the Bezier control points. Hence calculate the curve point at u = 0.5 and u = 0.25.

Relation between the forms

A cubic Bezier curve with control points B0..B3\mathbf B_0..\mathbf B_3 has end points P(0)=B0\mathbf P(0)=\mathbf B_0, P(1)=B3\mathbf P(1)=\mathbf B_3 and end tangents

P′(0)=3(B1−B0),P′(1)=3(B3−B2)\mathbf P'(0)=3(\mathbf B_1-\mathbf B_0),\qquad \mathbf P'(1)=3(\mathbf B_3-\mathbf B_2)

If this curve is to equal the Hermite curve, the end conditions must be identical:

B0=P0,B3=P1,B1=P0+13P0′,B2=P1−13P1′\mathbf B_0=\mathbf P_0,\quad \mathbf B_3=\mathbf P_1,\quad \mathbf B_1=\mathbf P_0+\tfrac13\mathbf P_0',\quad \mathbf B_2=\mathbf P_1-\tfrac13\mathbf P_1'

Both are cubics with the same four end conditions, so they are the same curve.

Control points

B0=(0,0)B1=(0,0)+13(3,6)=(1, 2)B2=(6,0)−13(3,−6)=(5, 2)B3=(6,0)\begin{aligned} \mathbf B_0&=(0,0) \\ \mathbf B_1&=(0,0)+\tfrac13(3,6)=(1,\ 2) \\ \mathbf B_2&=(6,0)-\tfrac13(3,-6)=(5,\ 2) \\ \mathbf B_3&=(6,0) \end{aligned}

Point at u = 0.5

Weights 0.125,0.375,0.375,0.1250.125, 0.375, 0.375, 0.125:

x=0.375(1)+0.375(5)+0.125(6)=3.0,y=0.375(2)+0.375(2)=1.5x=0.375(1)+0.375(5)+0.125(6)=3.0,\qquad y=0.375(2)+0.375(2)=1.5

Point at u = 0.25

Weights 0.421875, 0.421875, 0.140625, 0.0156250.421875,\ 0.421875,\ 0.140625,\ 0.015625:

x=0.421875(1)+0.140625(5)+0.015625(6)=1.2188y=0.421875(2)+0.140625(2)=1.125\begin{aligned} x&=0.421875(1)+0.140625(5)+0.015625(6)=1.2188 \\ y&=0.421875(2)+0.140625(2)=1.125 \end{aligned}

Answer: Bezier control points (0,0), (1,2), (5,2), (6,0); P(0.5) = (3.0, 1.5); P(0.25) = (1.219, 1.125).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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