Computer Aided Calligraphy in Haptic Virtual Environment

This paper is dedicated to computer simulation of the beautiful art of calligraphy, more precisely, the western and European calligraphy, which is engaged with classical flat-nibbed pens. Current graphics software does not offer enough realism for natural creating of handwritten calligraphic artworks, especially for the spontaneous ones called expressional calligraphy.In this paper, we introduce an interactive experimental application for simulation of calligraphic creation called HapticCalligraphy. We designed and implemented an effective and intuitive application with the highest possible realism and lifelikeness, which enables an artist to realize the whole creative process on computer. The application assists an artist by determination of strokes´ writing trajectories and offers a possibility to export a finished artwork into a vector format for further editing in one of commercial graphics software suites.Utilization of an attractive and innovative graphical user interface combined with force feedback ranks among the main contributions. Artists work in a haptic virtual environment. Holding the force feedback device, one feels like working with a real pen, senses touching the paper and its surface characteristics. Moreover, the application can be run in stereoscopic mode so the artist can perceive the whole scene spatially.