The memoir class - The UK TeX Archive

D.4. Bezier curvesTypeset example D.11: Picture: repetitions You can also make regular two-dimensional patterns by using a \multiput pattern insideanother \multiput. As LaTeX will process each \multiput every time it is repeatedit is often more convenient to store the results of the first \multiput in a bin and then usethis as the argument to the second \multiput.Source for example D.11\setlength{\unitlength}{1mm}\begin{picture}(32,14)\put(0,0){\framebox(32,14){}}\savebox{\Mybox}(8,8){\multiput(0,0)(4,4){3}{\circle*{1}}}\multiput(4,4)(6,0){4}{\usebox{\Mybox}}\sbox{\Mybox}{}\end{picture}\setlength{\unitlength}{1pt}Remember that a storage bin must have been declared via a \newsavebox commandbefore it can be used. I originally declared and used the \Mybox bin in §D.2.2. As the aboveexample shows, you can change the contents of a storage bin by utilising it in another\savebox. Storage bins can use up a lot of LaTeX’s memory. After you have finished witha storage bin empty it via the \sbox command with an empty last argument, as shown inthe example.D.4 BEZIER CURVESStandard LaTeX provides one further drawing command — the \qbezier command. Thiscan be used for drawing fairly arbitrary curves.\qbezier[〈num〉](〈Xs, Ys〉)(〈Xm, Ym〉)(〈Xe, Ye〉)The command will draw what geometers call a quadratic Bezier curve from the point (〈Xs,Ys〉) to the point (〈Xe, Ye〉). The curve will pass somewhere near to the point (〈Xm, Ym〉).Bezier curves are named after Pierre Bezier who first used them in 1962. They arewidely used in Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs and other graphics and fontdesign systems. Descriptions, with varying degrees of mathematical complexity, can befound in many places: when I was a practicing geometer these included [FP80], [Mor85]425