Computer Graphics

BBIT 4101 COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Objectives
In this lecture, Introductions Course Objective

we explore what computer graphics is about

Brief historical introduction Survey some application areas

Intro
BIT 4101 Computer Graphics Instructor: Jeremiah Mugambi Email: mugambijim@gmail.com Lecture: 1st Floor Room 14 (Time 5:30- 8:30 pm) Notes: sent via email every week

Class rules:

Attendance Time Partipation, CATs and Assignments

Prerequisites
Data Structure and Algorithms

Reading Materials
Hearn,Baker - Computer Graphics - C Version 2nd

Ed

Course Outline
Provided (Hard Copy)

What is Computer graphic

Introduction Fundamentals of computer graphics Why Computer Graphics ?

History
Applications

Computer Graphics:
Computer Graphics: Computer graphics is

concerned with producing images and animations (or sequences of images) using a computer. This includes the hardware and software systems used to make these images. The task of producing photo-realistic images is an extremely complex one, but this is a field that is in great demand because of the nearly limitless variety of applications.

 Computer graphics deals with all aspects of creating

images with a computer

Hardware Software Applications

The Basics
Computer graphics: generating 2D images of a

3D world represented in a computer. Main tasks:

modeling: (shape) creating and representing the geometry of objects in the 3D world rendering: (light, perspective) generating 2D images of the objects animation: (movement) describing how objects change in time

History
The field of computer graphics has grown enormously over the past 1020 years, and many software systems have

been developed for generating computer graphics of various sorts. This can include systems for producing 3dimensional models of the scene to be drawn, the rendering software for drawing the images, and the associated user-interface software and hardware.

Why Study Computer Graphics?

Graphics is cool I like to see what Im doing I like to show people what Im doing Graphics is interesting Involves simulation, AI, algorithms, architecture Ill never get an Oscar for my acting But maybe Ill get one for my CG special effects

Graphics is fun

Applications
Everyday Use Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Industrial design Entertainment: Cinema, Games , Movie, TV special

effects, Video games

Computer Art ; Communication Training & Education

Visualization: Scientific visualization , Medical visualization

Visualize complex software systems Cartography and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Graphical User Interfaces: & everyday Use - Microsofts OS 7 & 8 use graphics Simulation & Graphics visualizations;

Components of Computer Graphics

Rendering:

applying physically based procedures to generate (photorealistic) images from scenes (using lighting and shading) Viewing: displaying images from various viewpoints on various devices

An Example
Where did this image come from?

What hardware/software did we need to produce it?

An Answer
Application: The object is an artists impression

of the sun for an animation Software: used for modeling and rendering Hardware: PC with graphics card for modeling and rendering

Basic Graphics System

Output device

Input devices
Image formed in FB

CRT

Can be used either as a line-drawing device (calligraphic) or to display contents of frame buffer (raster mode)

Computer Graphics: 1950-1960

Computer graphics goes back to the earliest days of

computing

Strip charts Pen plotters Simple displays using A/D converters to go from computer to calligraphic CRT

Cost of refresh for CRT too high Computers slow, expensive, unreliable

Computer Graphics: 1960-1970

Wireframe graphics Draw only lines Sketchpad

Display Processors
Storage tube

wireframe representation of sun object

Sketchpad
Introduced by Ivan Recognized the potential of man-machine interaction Loop
Display something User moves light pen Computer generates new display

Sutherland also created many of the now common algorithms for computer graphics

Display Processor
Rather than have the host computer try to refresh

display use a special purpose computer called a display processor (DPU)

Graphics stored in display list (display file) on

display processor Host compiles display list and sends to DPU

Computer Graphics: 1970-1980

Raster Graphics Beginning of graphics standards IFIPS
GKS: European effort Becomes ISO 2D standard Core: North American effort 3D but fails to become ISO standard

Workstations and PCs

Raster Graphics
Image produced as an array (the raster) of picture

elements (pixels) in the frame buffer

Raster Graphics
Allows us to go from lines and wire frame images to

filled polygons

PCs and Workstations

Although we no longer make the distinction between

workstations and PCs, historically they evolved from different roots

Early workstations characterized by

Networked connection: client-server model High-level of interactivity

Early PCs included frame buffer as part of user memory

Easy to change contents and create images

Computer Graphics: 1980-1990

Realism comes to computer graphics

smooth shading

environment mapping

bump mapping

Computer Graphics: 1980-1990

Special purpose hardware Silicon Graphics geometry engine

VLSI implementation of graphics pipeline

Industry-based standards PHIGS RenderMan

Networked graphics: X Window System Human-Computer Interface (HCI)

Computer Graphics: 1990-2000

OpenGL API Completely computer-generated feature-length

movies (Toy Story) are successful New hardware capabilities

Texture mapping Blending Accumulation, stencil buffers

Computer Graphics: 2000 Photorealism Graphics cards for PCs dominate market Nvidia, ATI, 3DLabs

Game boxes and game players determine direction of

market Computer graphics routine in movie industry: Maya, Lightwave Programmable pipelines

Exercise
List the modern hardware used in Computer

Graphics today and the features that make them suitable for CG List the Modern Softwares for CG and the capabilities they offer What are some challenges inherent in CG to date?