International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887) Volume 11– No.1, December 2010 28 Parameterized Modeling of Star Patterns for Traditional Latticed Screens Vishal Gulati GJ-University of Science and Technology, Hisar, India Puneet Katyal GJ-University of Science and Technology, Hisar, India ABSTRACT This work makes the contribution of developing a parametric modeler for designing Islamic star patterns. The intention here is to innovate with new interpretations of star patterns for latticed screens, which are reminiscent of the Indo-Mughal era. With a motivation for providing traditional appearance to the buildings like resorts and hotels, traditional latticed screens with Islamic star patterns are used as a fundamental resource to archive decorative effects. Such latticed screens have been generated by using computer aided geometric modeling and manufacturing for commercial applications in the domain of architectural as well as interior decoration. Star patterns are realized as periodic and repeated arrangement of a type of motifs/compound-motifs. Further, motif/compound-motif is viewed as polar array of a primitive which is an atomic geometric object required for the representation of motif/compound-motif. Geometry of the primitives for motifs is defined in the form a planar map having a set of points. The positions of points are devised in terms of the modeling parameters and pairs of points are connected to generate a set of edges. By controlling the modeling parameters through a User Interface, patterns are rendered and further submitted to computer controlled laser cutting machine for fabrication. Keywords Islamic star pattern, latticed screen, motif, CAD 1. INTRODUCTION Indian craft sector, which is growing by leaps and bounds, can be empowered with technological tools of design and manufacturing to keep this sector economically sustainable. Use of technological tools can not only give economic success by reducing drudgery and time involved in crafting, but also can provide opportunities for creative designing and innovative fabrication. Therefore, this work is directed towards the automation of craftsmanship by implementing CAD/CAM tools for producing real world crafted artifacts. For instance in this work, latticed screens, which are reminiscent of the Indo-Mughal era, have been regenerated by using computer aided design and manufacturing for commercial applications in the domain of architectural as well as interior decoration. With a motivation for providing traditional appearance to the buildings like resorts and hotels, traditional latticed screens with Islamic star patterns are used as a fundamental resource to archive decorative effects. Latticed screens have been universally used in Indo-Mughal monuments on edges of platforms, causeways and terraces (as railings), and also on balconies. These have been employed gorgeously to close window and door openings for veil and ventilation. Moreover, latticed screen produces aesthetic effect in the room during the day as sunlight streams through it, the pattern forms magical shadow and graces the adjacent floors and walls (see Figure 1). Being such a useful architectural accessory, this work has laid emphasis on the decoration of latticed screens with Islamic art which mostly focus on the depiction of star patterns. Figure 1: Latticed Screens Crafted during Indo-Mughal Period The intention here is to innovate with new interpretations of star patterns for latticed screens. Traditional star patterns are understood as a set of motifs and relationships among them. In formal sense, this understanding corresponds to view a star pattern in terms of vocabulary of star motifs in the artifact, along with transformations rules between them. A variety of patterns can be generated with the appropriate definitions of motifs and rules. In particular, this work makes the technical contribution of developing a parametric modeler for designing Islamic star patterns. A variety of star patterns can be rendered by defining modeling parameters. The rendered patterns are 2D in nature and ideally suited to computer-controlled manufacturing. Since traditional latticed screen is a plane pierced panel crafted out from one piece of stone/wood and adorned with regular and symmetric network of a pattern. Therefore, a rendered pattern is executed on a 2½D planar surface in a manufacturing environment and