Difference between Bezier Curve and B-Spline Curve

Nowadays, we all see that the use of graphics is increased. Graphics is used in all the websites, applications and also games. Ever wondered how such smooth curves are created in the graphics. The creation of smooth and well-defined curves in graphics is modelled using the Bezier curve and B-Spline curve. So, today we are going to learn about each topic briefly. We are also going to know about which factors brings the differences between Bezier curve and B-Spline curve.

What is Bezier Curve?

The Bezier Curve uses the four different points which can be named as p1, p2, p3, p4. The following points are used to model a curve. The following points are known as knots. In the following four points, two points are considered as the end points of the curve and the other two points are used manipulate or control the shape of the curves.

What is B-Spline Curve?

The B-Spline Curves are introduced to overcome the problems of the Bezier Curves. The B-Spline Curve also uses the similar representation used for Bezier Curve. Total of four control points are used for the representation of the curve. In the following four points, the two points are considered as the end points of the curves and the other two points are used to manipulate the curve. On moving single point, the whole curve is not disturbed but only the local or desired potion of the curve is changed.

Advantages of Bezier Curve

• The Bezier Curve computation is very easy.
• The Bezier Curves got a lot of stability in the lower degrees of polynomials.
•  The Bezier Curves can be rotated in different directions.
•  The translation is also possible in the Bezier curve by doing different operations over the data points present in the curves.

Advantages of B-Spline Curve

• The B-Spline curve produces clearer and neat curves when compared to Bezier Curve.
• The B-Spline Curves can be used for the polynomials of any degree.
• The shape of the curve is locally manipulated or controlled so that there will be fewer disturbances in the curve.

Disadvantages of Bezier Curve

• The Bezier Curve can only be drawn over the polynomials of degree n.
• There will be a relationship established between the number of data points and the degree of data points. So, they are dependent on each other.
• The shape of the curve is controlled by control points globally it becomes a major drawback of this curve because if there will be any disturbance in any of the control point the shape of the whole curve will be changed.

Disadvantages of B-Spline Curve

• The B-Spline curve always require more control points because every control point can only control some part of the curve.
•  The B-Spline curve computation is a bit hard process when compared to the computation of the Bezier Curve.

Differences between Bezier Curve and B-Spline Curve

Bezier Curve	B-Spline Curve
The data points in the Bezier Curve are n+1 and the Bezier Curve deals with polynomials of degree n.	The data points in the B-Spline curve are n+1 data points and the B-Spline curve deals with the polynomials of any degree from one to n.
The data points and the degree of the data points are dependent in the Bezier Curve modelling.	The data points and the degree of the data points in the B-Spline curve are independent there will be no relation between them.
The shape of the curve is manipulated globally using the control points.	The shape of the curve is locally manipulated using the control points.
The shape of the curve is can easily be disturbed because when you try to change the single control point whole shape of the curve will be changed.	The shape of the curve is not disturbed easily because changing one of the control points does not change the whole shape of the curve.
The Bezier Curve has the global control over the curve.	The B-Spline curve has the local control over the curve.
The curves produced by the Bezier Curve are not that clear when compared to the curves produced by the B-Spline curve.	The B-Spline curve produces clearer and neat curves than the Bezier Curve.
The computation of the Bezier curve is easy when compared to B-Spline curve.	The computation of the B-Spline curve is somewhat tough when compared to Bezier Curve.