Filling in gaps for outlines

Question

I'm using an algorithm to generate quads. These become outlines. The algorithm is:

 void OGLENGINEFUNCTIONS::GenerateLinePoly(const std::vector<std::vector<GLdouble>> &input,
     std::vector<GLfloat> &output, int width)
 {

     output.clear();
     if(input.size() < 2)
     {
         return;
     }
     int temp;
     float dirlen;
     float perplen;
     POINTFLOAT start;
     POINTFLOAT end;
     POINTFLOAT dir;
     POINTFLOAT ndir;
     POINTFLOAT perp;
     POINTFLOAT nperp;

     POINTFLOAT perpoffset;
     POINTFLOAT diroffset;

     POINTFLOAT p0, p1, p2, p3;

     for(unsigned int i = 0; i < input.size() - 1; ++i)
     {

         start.x = static_cast<float>(input[i][0]);
         start.y = static_cast<float>(input[i][1]);

         end.x = static_cast<float>(input[i + 1][0]);
         end.y = static_cast<float>(input[i + 1][1]);

         dir.x = end.x - start.x;
         dir.y = end.y - start.y;

         dirlen = sqrt((dir.x * dir.x) + (dir.y * dir.y));

         ndir.x = static_cast<float>(dir.x * 1.0 / dirlen);
         ndir.y = static_cast<float>(dir.y * 1.0 / dirlen);

         perp.x = dir.y;
         perp.y = -dir.x;

         perplen = sqrt((perp.x * perp.x) + (perp.y * perp.y));

         nperp.x = static_cast<float>(perp.x * 1.0 / perplen);
         nperp.y = static_cast<float>(perp.y * 1.0 / perplen);

         perpoffset.x = static_cast<float>(nperp.x * width * 0.5);
         perpoffset.y = static_cast<float>(nperp.y * width * 0.5);

         diroffset.x = static_cast<float>(ndir.x * 0 * 0.5);
         diroffset.y = static_cast<float>(ndir.y * 0 * 0.5);

            // p0 = start + perpoffset - diroffset
             //p1 = start - perpoffset - diroffset
             //p2 = end + perpoffset + diroffset
            // p3 = end - perpoffset + diroffset 

         p0.x = start.x + perpoffset.x - diroffset.x;
         p0.y = start.y + perpoffset.y - diroffset.y;

         p1.x = start.x - perpoffset.x - diroffset.x;
         p1.y = start.y - perpoffset.y - diroffset.y;

             p2.x = end.x + perpoffset.x + diroffset.x;
             p2.y = end.y + perpoffset.y + diroffset.y;

             p3.x = end.x - perpoffset.x + diroffset.x;
             p3.y = end.y - perpoffset.y + diroffset.y;




         output.push_back(p2.x);
         output.push_back(p2.y);
         output.push_back(p0.x);
         output.push_back(p0.y);
         output.push_back(p1.x);
         output.push_back(p1.y);
         output.push_back(p3.x);
         output.push_back(p3.y);

     }
 }

The problem is that there are then gaps as seen here: http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/2882/eeekkk.png

There must be a way to fix this. I see a pattern but I just cant figure it out. There must be a way to fill the missing inbetweens. Thanks

Answer 1

EDIT: See my other answer.

Add a triangle connecting the "outside" (check the sign of the 2D 'cross product') vertexes with the center joint vertex.

If you want to get fancier you can do a 2D slerp to get a more rounded outer join, though this does cost correspondingly more triangles.

Also, if you're going to use lines that wide and so finely subdivided you might try simplifying them first to reduce overdraw/polycount.