Algorithm for creating rounded corners in a polygon

Question

I\'m looking for an algorithm that allows me to create rounded corners from a polygon. In Input, I get an array of points that represents the polygon (red line) and in outpu

Answer 1

Here is my realisation of dbc's idea on c#:

/// 

/// Round polygon corners
/// 
/// Vertices array
/// Round radius
/// 
static public GraphicsPath RoundCorners(PointF[] points, float radius) {
    GraphicsPath retval = new GraphicsPath();
    if (points.Length < 3) {
        throw new ArgumentException();
    }
    rects = new RectangleF[points.Length];
    PointF pt1, pt2;
    //Vectors for polygon sides and normal vectors
    Vector v1, v2, n1 = new Vector(), n2 = new Vector();
    //Rectangle that bounds arc
    SizeF size = new SizeF(2 * radius, 2 * radius);
    //Arc center
    PointF center = new PointF();

    for (int i = 0; i < points.Length; i++) {
        pt1 = points[i];//First vertex
        pt2 = points[i == points.Length - 1 ? 0 : i + 1];//Second vertex
        v1 = new Vector(pt2.X, pt2.Y) - new Vector(pt1.X, pt1.Y);//One vector
        pt2 = points[i == 0 ? points.Length - 1 : i - 1];//Third vertex
        v2 = new Vector(pt2.X, pt2.Y) - new Vector(pt1.X, pt1.Y);//Second vector
        //Angle between vectors
        float sweepangle = (float)Vector.AngleBetween(v1, v2);
        //Direction for normal vectors
        if (sweepangle < 0) { 
            n1 = new Vector(v1.Y, -v1.X);
            n2 = new Vector(-v2.Y, v2.X);
        }
        else {
            n1 = new Vector(-v1.Y, v1.X);
            n2 = new Vector(v2.Y, -v2.X);
        }

        n1.Normalize(); n2.Normalize();
        n1 *= radius; n2 *= radius;
        /// Points for lines which intersect in the arc center
        PointF pt = points[i];
        pt1 = new PointF((float)(pt.X + n1.X), (float)(pt.Y + n1.Y));
        pt2 = new PointF((float)(pt.X + n2.X), (float)(pt.Y + n2.Y));
        double m1 = v1.Y / v1.X, m2 = v2.Y / v2.X;
        //Arc center
        if (v1.X == 0) {// first line is parallel OY
            center.X = pt1.X;
            center.Y = (float)(m2 * (pt1.X - pt2.X) + pt2.Y);
        }
        else if (v1.Y == 0) {// first line is parallel OX
            center.X = (float)((pt1.Y - pt2.Y) / m2 + pt2.X);
            center.Y = pt1.Y;
        }
        else if (v2.X == 0) {// second line is parallel OY
            center.X = pt2.X;
            center.Y = (float)(m1 * (pt2.X - pt1.X) + pt1.Y);
        }
        else if (v2.Y == 0) {//second line is parallel OX
            center.X = (float)((pt2.Y - pt1.Y) / m1 + pt1.X);
            center.Y = pt2.Y;
        }
        else {
            center.X = (float)((pt2.Y - pt1.Y + m1 * pt1.X - m2 * pt2.X) / (m1 - m2));
            center.Y = (float)(pt1.Y + m1 * (center.X - pt1.X));
        }
        rects[i] = new RectangleF(center.X - 2, center.Y - 2, 4, 4);
        //Tangent points on polygon sides
        n1.Negate(); n2.Negate();
        pt1 = new PointF((float)(center.X + n1.X), (float)(center.Y + n1.Y));
        pt2 = new PointF((float)(center.X + n2.X), (float)(center.Y + n2.Y));
        //Rectangle that bounds tangent arc
        RectangleF rect = new RectangleF(new PointF(center.X - radius, center.Y - radius), size);
        sweepangle = (float)Vector.AngleBetween(n2, n1);
        retval.AddArc(rect, (float)Vector.AngleBetween(new Vector(1, 0), n2), sweepangle);
    }
    retval.CloseAllFigures();
    return retval;
}