This image is the frontispiece of SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 proceedings. The model is prepared by Lee Perry-Smith using Hair Meshes (more specifically Hair Farm, the ultime hair plugin for 3ds Max).

Abstract
Despite the visual importance of hair and the attention paid to hair modeling in the graphics research, modeling realistic hair still remains a very challenging task that can be performed by very few artists. In this paper we present hair meshes, a new method for modeling hair that aims to bring hair modeling as close as possible to modeling polygonal surfaces. This new approach provides an artist with direct control of the overall shape of the hair, giving them the ability to model the exact hair shape they desire. We use the hair mesh structure for modeling the hair volume with topological constraints that allow us to automatically and uniquely trace the path of individual hair strands through this volume. We also define a set of topological operations for creating hair meshes that maintain these constraints. Furthermore, we provide a method for hiding the volumetric structure of the hair mesh from the end user, thus allowing artists to concentrate on manipulating the outer surface of the hair as a polygonal surface. We explain and show examples of how hair meshes can be used to generate individual hair strands for a wide variety of realistic hair styles.

There is a pending patent application regarding Hair Meshes and use of Hair Meshes for modeling, animating, and rendering hair and hair-like structures in computer graphics. If you would like to use Hair Meshes for research purposes, please contact me to avoid possible patent infringement.

This image shows the hair mesh used for modeling the hairstyle shown above. The model is prepared by Lee Perry-Smith using Hair Farm, the ultime hair plugin for 3ds Max.

Another hair mesh model and the final hair strands generated from this hair mesh. The model is prepared by Lee Perry-Smith using Hair Farm, the ultime hair plugin for 3ds Max.

Two different hairstyles generated using the same hair mesh. The models are prepared by Lee Perry-Smith using Hair Farm, the ultime hair plugin for 3ds Max.

A complicated hair mesh example, showing that hair meshes can be used, if desired, in a similar fashion to wisp modeling. The model is prepared by Lee Perry-Smith using Hair Farm, the ultime hair plugin for 3ds Max.

The same hair mesh can be used for generating multiple groups of hair strands, which can be styled differently. This is very useful for easily creating fly-aways.

Cem Yuksel, Scott Schaefer, and John Keyser Hair Meshes (patent pending) Proceedings of SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 (TOG), 28(4) 2009 [Preprint PDF] - 3.6 MB [Slides] - 16 MB [BibTeX] © ACM, 2009. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in ACM Transactions on Graphics (Proceedings of SIGGRAPH Asia 2009), {28, 4, December 2009}