Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

Chapter 1
Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics
Brief History of Computer Graphics – 3D graphics Techniques and terminology – Common use
of Computer Graphics – Examples of application areas

Reference: Richard S. Wright et.el. OpenGL® SuperBible: Comprehensive Tutorial and Reference

1.1 Introduction
Graphics is the familiar word for all. Graphics means visual representation of
things that mean giving the visual representation of whatever you are thinking. Very
simple example for graphics is: which you are using in your daily life; visuals in mobile
phone and computer display. Why you have to study graphics as part of in your
curriculum. Graphics is the part of all computer software and applications. So can
conclude without graphics there is no computer software and application. So graphics
is important for computer science. One more thing computer is the one of the system for
graphics so it’s must for computer science.
Early people used drawings to communicate even before they started to speak
and write. Computer graphics is an art of drawing pictures, lines, charts, etc
using computer with the help of programming. Computer graphics is made up of
number of pixels. Pixel is the smallest graphical picture or unit represented on
the computer screen. Computer involves display, manipulation and storage of picture
and experimental data for proper visualization using computer. Typical graphic system
is consists of host computer with fast processor, large memory, frame buffer, input
devices, output devices and interface devices.
Interactive Computer Graphics involves a two way communication between
computer and user. Here the observer is given some control over the image by
providing the input by input devices. For example the video game controller of the ping
pong game. This helps him to signal his request to the computer. The computer on
receiving signals from the input device can modify the displayed picture appropriately.
To the user it appears that the picture is changing instantaneously in response to his
commands. User can give a series of commands, each one generating a graphical
response from the computer. In this way user can maintains a conversation, or dialogue,
with the computer.
Interactive computer graphics affects our lives in a number of indirect ways. For
example, it helps to train the pilots of our airplanes. We can create a flight simulator
which may help the pilots to get trained not in a real aircraft but on the grounds at the
control of the flight simulator. The flight simulator is a model of an aircraft flight deck,
containing all the usual controls and surrounded by screens on which we have the
projected computer generated views of the terrain visible on takeoff and landing
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

From the below diagram, you can understand the concept and framework of
graphics system. In the above figure left side: application model and application
program are belongs to the developer side. Software developers are developing the
programs and application. That programs and applications are running in the graphics
systems. Can get the output in devices like monitors and can give the input to the
system using input devices like keyboard.

Framework of Graphics
One small example for the graphics system: calculator application in computer.
That calculator application is programed and developed by the software developer.
That calculator application is running in the computer graphics system and it is
producing then the result based on the inputs.

Finally can conclude about computer graphics that computer graphics involves
display, manipulation and storage of pictures and experimental data for proper
visualization using a computer as a rendering tool

creation of, manipulation of, analysis of, and interaction with pictorial

representations of objects and data using computers
 displays or animates real or imaginary objects from their computer-based
models
 scientific study of techniques & methods for computer-generating images
or sequences of images (i.e., animations, movies)
Computer graphic is concerned with all aspects of producing pictures or images.
Also pictorial synthesis or real or imaginary objects from their computer based model
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

1.2 Brief History of Computer Graphics

The first computers consisted of rows and rows of switches and lights.
Technicians and engineers worked for hours, days, or even weeks to program these
machines and read the results of their calculations. Patterns of illuminated bulbs
conveyed useful information to the computer users, or some crude printout was
provided. So that the first form of computer graphics was a panel of blinking lights.
Times have changed. From those first “thinking machines,” as some called them,
sprang fully programmable devices that printed on rolls of paper using a mechanism
similar to a teletype machine. Data could be stored efficiently on magnetic tape, on disk,
or even on rows of hole-punched paper or stacks of paper-punch cards. The “hobby” of
computer graphics was born the day computers first started printing. Because each
character in the alphabet had a fixed size and shape, creative programmers in the 1970s
took delight in creating artistic patterns and images made up of nothing more than
asterisks

Going Electric
Paper as an output medium for computers is useful and persists today. Laser
printers and color inkjet printers have replaced crude ASCII art with crisp presentation
quality and photographic reproductions of artwork. Continuously using paper and ink
is wasteful of our natural resources, especially because most of the time we don’t really
need hard-copy output of calculations or database queries.
The cathode ray tube (CRT) was a tremendously useful addition to the computer.
The original computer monitors, CRTs were initially just video terminals that displayed
ASCII text. CRTs were perfectly capable of drawing points and lines as well as
alphabetic characters. Soon, other symbols and graphics began to supplement the
character terminal. Programmers used computers and their monitors to create graphics
that supplemented textual or tabular output. The first algorithms for creating lines and
curves were developed and published
The first computer graphics displayed on these terminals were two-dimensional,
or 2D. These flat lines, circles, and polygons were used to create graphics for a variety of
purpose. Graphs and plots could display scientific or statistical data in a way that tables
and figures could not.

Going 3D
The term three-dimensional or 3D means that an object being described or
displayed has three dimensions of measurement: width, height, and depth. An example
of a two-dimensional object is a piece of paper on your desk with a drawing or writing
on it, having no perceptible depth. A three-dimensional object is the can of soda. The
soft drink can is round (width and depth) and tall (height).
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

The first computer graphics no doubt appeared similar to what’s shown in the
below figure, here can see a simple three-dimensional cube drawn with 12 line
segments. What makes the cube look three-dimensional is perspective, or the angles
between the lines that lend the illusion of depth.

To truly see in 3D, need to view an object with both eyes or supply each eye with
separate and unique images of the object. Look at below Figure each eye receives a two-
dimensional image that is much like a temporary photograph displayed on each retina
These two images are slightly different because they are received at two different
angles. Then the brain combines these slightly different images to produce a single,
composite 3D picture in your head.
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

Perspective alone is enough to create the appearance of three dimensions. Note

the cube shown previously in Figure. Even without coloring or shading, the cube still
has the appearance of a three-dimensional object. Most of the 3D objects are viewed as
the 2D object only when seeing by one eye. But using the perspective effect is called
foreshortening can see as the 3D object. This effect and color changes, textures, shading,
and variations of color intensities together add up to our perception of a three-
dimensional image.

1.2 3D Graphics Techniques and Terminology

Rendering is a process that image data is transformed into 3D dimensional by
using mathematical operations. When used the word rendering as a verb, it is the
process that your computer goes through to create the three dimensional image. Let see
some of the other terms and processes that take place during rendering.

Transformation and Projections

In fig 1 shows a line drawing of a cube on a table or platform. By transforming or
moving the points around, and drawing lines between them we can produce the
illusion of a 3D world on a flat 2D screen. The points themselves are called vertices (or
vertex in the singular), and they are moved around in space with a convenient
mathematical construct called a transformation matrix. A projection matrix takes care of
the mathematics necessary to turn our 3D coordinates into two-dimensional screen
coordinates, where the final line drawing actually takes place. Simply can tell as
projection means the transformation of 3D coordinates to 2D coordinates

Rasterization
Filling in of the pixels between each vertex to make the lines is called
rasterization. It is the task of taking an image described in a vector graphics format
(shapes) and converting it into a raster image (pixels or dots) for output on a video
display or printer.

Shading
In computer graphics, shading refers to the process of altering the color of an
object/surface/polygon in the 3D scene, based on its angle to lights and its distance
from lights to create a photorealistic effect. Shading is performed during the rendering
process by a program called a shader.
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

Texture Mapping
Texture mapping is a graphic design process in which a two-dimensional (2-D)
surface, called a texture map, is "wrapped around" a three-dimensional (3-D) object. A
texture is simply a picture that we map to the surface of a triangle or polygon.

Blending
Fig shows the effects of blending. Blending allows mixing different colors
together. In the figure reflection effect is done simply by drawing the cube upside down
First. Then draw the floor blended over the top of it, followed by the right side up cube.
Now see the figure your brain just says, “a reflection.”

Connecting the Dots

That is pretty much computer graphics in a nut shell. Solid 3D geometry is
nothing more than connecting the dots between vertices and then rasterizing the
triangles to make objects solid. Transformations, shading, texture, and blending: Any
computer rendered scene you see in a movie, video game, or scientific simulation is
made up of nothing more than various applications of these four things

1.3 Examples of Application areas

Computer 3D graphics is involved in wide applications. It has two different
categories that real time 3D and Non-real time 3D. Real time 3D is takes more
processing time to generate higher quality 3D graphics. Typically for design models
and scenes, and a ray tracer or scan-line renderer processes. The typical process is that
some modeling application uses real-time 3D graphics to interact with the artist to
create the content. The process of rendering and saving many thousands of frames
generates an animated sequence for playback. Although the playback might appear
real-time, the content is not interactive, so it is not considered real-time
 Entertainment
One of the main fields of application of computer graphics is Entertainment
industry that in particular movies and computer games.

 Presentation Graphics
Graphics supports for the report presentation and data presentation
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

 Graphs and Charts

Graphs and charts are used for visualising data. These are particularly
used for visualising relationships and trends in scientific, mathematical, financial
and economic data. To display graphs and charts not need advanced graphics
algorithm mostly visualisation packages are uses 3-D effects such as shadowing to
make the graph/chart more visually appealing.

 GUI
GUI is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic
devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation,
instead of text-based user interfaces. Windows, frame, button, checkbox, list and
etc are the example of some GUI

 CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing)

It is computer software that is used to both design and manufacture
products. CAD involves using a computer application to enable designers to
construct and visualise 3-D models. Mostly it used in fields such as architecture,
engineering and circuit design. One of the most common CAD applications is
AutoCADCAD is the use of computer technology for design and design
documentation. CAM software uses the models and assemblies created in CAD
software. CAD/CAM software is most often used for machining of prototypes
and finished parts.
Chapter 01 Introduction to Interactive Computer Graphics Computer Graphics CoSc3121

 Image Processing
It helps to modify and interpret the existing image. Manipulation of image
is divided into three categories:
 Image Processing
 Image Analysis
 Image Understanding
 Simulation and Training
Simulation is one of the main applications of computer graphics. It is
involved in engineering, education, medical, science, production etc.

 Scientific and Medical Visualization

 Huge data (Dataset) and processes
 Scientific data representation
 Aircraft, spacecraft, automobile, surgery simulator etc
 Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) typically refers to computer technologies that
use software to generate the realistic images, sounds and other sensations that
replicate a real environment (or create an imaginary setting), and simulate a
user's physical presence in this environment. VR has been defined as "a realistic
and immersive simulation created using interactive software and hardware,
 Medical Application
In medical field also graphics is involved for teaching, practical and
operation training