Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for creating editable feature curves for a multi-dimensional model represented by a tessellated mesh are described. A mesh representation of a multi-dimensional model may not support intuitive modification of the model. The mesh representing the multi-dimensional model may be analyzed to extract feature curves that define the characteristics of the multi-dimensional model. Such feature curves may provide an intuitive mechanism for modifying the multi-dimensional model. The model may be modified by changing the constraints of the feature curves defining the model's characteristics. For example, a constraint may be modified to change the angle of the surface on either side of a location on a feature curve. A compressed representation of a multi-dimensional model may include the feature curves that define the shape of multi-dimensional model and a set of boundary curves that represent disjoint regions of the multi-dimensional model.