Superquadrics have been considered as important models for part-level
description in computer graphics and computer vision. The description
power of these models resides in their parameterised nature, which all
ows the definition of a wide variety of shapes, yet maintains a compac
t characterisation. We present a subdivision technique for modelling a
nd displaying superquadrics. The method defines the surface of a super
quadric as a deformation of an ellipsoid. The linear are-length parame
terisation obtained provides a regular distribution of the parameters
along the surface. Furthermore, the definition simplifies computations
in scanning by avoiding the evaluation of rational exponents. We expl
oit the geometric properties of an ellipsoid during subdivision for ad
ditional simplification.