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Lesson 1: Introduction to
Computer Graphics
Shima Mohammad Ghafor
UHD
College Of Science & Technology
Computer Science Department
Computer Graphics - Theory
What is Computer Graphics?
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Computer graphics is the study of creating,
manipulating, and using visual images in the
computer.
Computer graphics is a cross-disciplinary field in
which physics, mathematics, human perception,
human-computer interaction, engineering, graphic
design, and art all play important roles.
Applications of Computer Graphics
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Entertainment
Animation, advertisement, movies & games
Science and engineering
computer-aided design
visualization (scientific, information)
Training and simulation
Graphic arts, fine art
User interface & communication
Virtual & augmented reality
Applications of CG – Entertainment
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Entertainment
Animation
Advertisement
Movies
Games
Applications of CG – Science & Engineering
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Science and engineering
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Visualization (Scientific, Information)
Applications of CG – Simulation & Training
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Applications of CG – Fine Art
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Applications of CG –
User Interface & Communication
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Applications of CG –
Virtual & Augmented Reality
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Environmental Evolution
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Character Displays (1960s – now)
Display: text plus (ASCII art)
Command-line typing
Vector Displays (Line Drawing) (1963 – 1980s)
Display: line drawings and stroke text.
Command-line typing, function keys, menus
2D bitmap raster displays for PCs and
workstations (1972 at Xerox PARC - now)
Display: windows, icons, legible text
Environmental Evolution (Cont.)
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3D graphics workstations (1984 – now)
could cost up to $1M for high-end!
Display: real-time, pseudo-realistic images
of 3D scenes
2D, 3D and N-D input devices
High-end PCs with hot graphics cards
Also build GPU-clusters
Graphics System
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A computer graphics system has all the components of a
general-purpose computer system. Major elements in
graphics system:
Input devices
Central Processing Unit
Graphics Processing Unit
Memory
Output devices
Input Devices
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Keyboard
Mouse
Touch screen
Joystick
Data glove
.
.
.
Output Devices
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Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Display
Flat-Panel Display: reduced volume, weight, and power
requirements compared to a CRT.
Liquid-CrystalDisplays (LCDs)
Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLED)
Plasma Displays
A simplified picture of CRT
Output Devices (Cont.)
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Color CRT Monitors Flat-Panel Monitors
Use RGB color model Two glass plates with parallel grids of wire
Produce more colors Middle layer
Each pixel composed of three phosphor Light emitting diode
color dots (RGB) Liquid crystal or
3 electronic guns are used Mixture of gases
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlT- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7xGQK
seESkj0 pQAWw
The CPU and the GPU
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Central Processing Unit (CPU)
In a simple system, there may be only one processor
The CPU must do both the normal processing and the
graphical processing.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Today all graphics systems are characterized by
special-purpose GPUs
Graphics processing is done by GPU.
GPU can be either on the mother board or on a
graphics card.
Recent GPUs contain over 100 processing units
Computer Graphics Software
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Two classifications for computer-graphics software:
Special-purpose packages:
Designed for nonprogrammers.
Examples: artists' painting programs and various architectural,
business, medical, and engineering CAD systems.
General programming packages
Providesa library of graphics functions that can be used in a
programming language such as C, C++, Java.
Examples: OpenGL, Java 2D, Java 3D.
Graphics Library
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Examples: OpenGL, DirectX, Windows
Presentation Foundation (WPF) , RenderMan,
HTML5 + WebGL, JavaFX.
Primitives (characters, lines, polygons,
meshes,…)
Attributes
Color, line style, material properties for 3D
Transformations
Lights
Conceptual Framework for Interactive Graphics
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Graphics library/package is intermediary between
application and display hardware (Graphics System)
Application program maps application objects to views
(images) of objects by calling on graphics library.
Software Hardware
Graphics
System/
GPU
Application Application Graphics
Model / database
program Library
References
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John F. Hughes, Andries Van Dam, Morgan Mcguire, David F. Sklar,
James D. Foley, Steven K. Feiner and Kurt Akeley,"Computer Graphics:
Principles and Practice", 3th Ed., 2014, Ch. 1, P. 1.
Edward Angel and Dave Shreiner, “Interactive computer graphics: A
Top-Down Approach With Shader-Based OpenGL”, 6th Ed., 2012,
Ch.1, P. 5.
Hearn Baker Carithers, "Computer Graphics with OpenGL", 4th Ed.,
Ch. 1, P. 28.
Introduction to computer graphics lecture notes by Andries Van Dam,
Brown University.
Introduction to Computer Graphics lecture notes by Steve Marschner,
Cornell University.
Difference between CRT LCD and LED: ..\Videos\Intro\CRT LCD &
LED[via torchbrowser.com].mp4
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