Computer
graphics modelling technique using
implicit surfaces. Also the
nickname of the
inventor of the technique, a
computer science professor at the
University of Calgary. Blobs are very useful for modelling smooth shapes, such as
gummi bears and
water balloons. They also turn out to be good for
rendering hair and
fur and
flame and
smoke in
particle systems. Can be compared with
NURBS, which have trouble with making smooth patches and forming good cusps.
As an example of what modelling with blobs would look like, imagine taking two point charges of like charge. They will form an electrostatic field. Each alone forms a radially-symmetric field, where any isosurface is a sphere. If the two points are brought together, the isosurfaces will distort towards each other, until they touch, and meld. (Think of silly putty.) Similarly, it is possible to have points with a negative charge. This is a fairly good way of thinking of modelling with blobs. You can also (sometimes) have lines as sources of the surfaces.