1. A computer implemented method for constructing an optimal parameterization for a discrete surface patch, comprising: selecting a three-dimensional image having a surface; constructing an initial parameterization of the surface onto a two-dimensional plane; measuring a distortion of the initial parameterization; specifying a length parameter α 1 , an area parameter α α , and an angle parameter α c ; and optimizing the initial parameterization through a discrete deformation of a parameter domain that minimizes the distortion based on the length, area, and angle parameters.