Subdivision mask ($q_j={\sum }_i{a}_{j-2i}{p}_i$)

A stationary binary subdivision mask $a$ specifies a refinement operator $q_j={\sum }_i{a}_{j-2i}{p}_i$. Indices may be vectors for a surface. Coefficients restricted to a parity class give the stencil for one type of refined vertex.

// Target: analysis.bigb

For a stationary univariate refinement $S_{ij}=a_{i-mj}$, the subdivision mask width counts fine-grid positions from the first to the last active entry in a column, including any internal zeros. Consecutive columns are translates by $m$ rows, the subdivision arity. The number of old control points used by a particular new point is instead the size of its row stencil; it need not equal the mask width. A span convention counts $w-1$ fine intervals, so numerical width claims should specify the convention.

The subdivision arity is the integer factor $a>1$ by which a stationary refinement shrinks parameter-grid intervals: control index $i$ has coordinate $i/a^{\ell }$ after $\ell$ levels. It is distinct from the mask width and from the number of neighbors in a stencil.

For backward differences $\Delta P_i=P_i-P_{i-1}$, a scalar stationary arity-$a$ subdivision mask has symbol $M(z)={\sum }_i{M}_i{z}^i$. The identity $(1-z)M(z)=B(z)(1-z^a)$ gives the displayed intertwining whenever the quotient is a finite Laurent polynomial. Iterating supplies higher-difference masks. The coefficients $a^{r\ell }{\Delta }^r{P}_i^{\ell }$ are candidate $r$th-derivative controls. A convergent derivative scheme, proved by contraction of its first differences, establishes corresponding smoothness of the original limit under the standard consistent parameterization.

Finite local subdivision matrices for the scaled difference scheme track derivative variations in nested parameter intervals. A product-norm bound below one proves uniform contraction for every interval and therefore gives a lower bound on derivative continuity. A product eigenvalue of modulus at least one is an obstruction when its mode is reachable from the data and visible in the limit: generic data excite it, so the corresponding derivative differences fail to vanish. Harmless polynomial or unobservable modes must be removed before applying such an upper bound. Borderline smoothness needs direct analysis, not rounding a numerical exponent. Stability and convergence of the underlying scheme must be checked rather than inferred from mask width.

A local subdivision matrix maps the control points in a refinement-invariant neighborhood to the refined neighborhood. Row sums one express constant reproduction. Its constant eigenvector has eigenvalue one; remaining eigenvalues govern decay of shape modes. Near an extraordinary subdivision vertex, tangent modes and a characteristic map of a subdivision surface are needed to test geometric smoothness, beyond simple convergence.