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Lecture No.1 Introduction to Computer Graphics
1.1 Definition
Computers accept process, transform and present information.
Computer Graphics involves technology to accept, process, transform and present information in a visual form that also concerns with producing images (or animations) using a computer.
1.2 Why Study Computer Graphics?
There are certain important reasons to study computer graphics. We will discuss them under certain heads:
Visualization I like to see what I am doing. Many a times it happens that you perform certain tasks which you cannot visualize; for example as a student of data structures, you implement trees, graphs and other Abstract Data Types (ADTs) but you cannot visualize them whereas you must be having an inner quest to see what these actually look like.
I like to show people what I am doing. Similarly at certain times you would be performing certain tasks which you know but it would be difficult for others to understand them so there is very important requirement of showing the things in order to make them understandable.
Graphics is interesting We are visual creatures and for us a picture is worth a thousand words. If we can get rid of text based static screen and get some graphics; it’s always interesting to see things in colours and motion on the screen. Therefore graphics is interesting because it involves simulation, algorithm, and architecture.
Requirement Well there are certain areas which require use of computer graphics heavily. One example is drawing of machines. It is required to prepare drawing of a machine before the actual production. The other heavy requirement is for architects as they have to prepare a complete blue print of the building they have to build long before the actual construction work gets underway. AutoCAD and other applications of the kind are heavily used today for building architecture.
Entertainment Merely a couple of decades back, the idea of a 24 hours Cartoons Network was really a far fetched one. That was the time when one would wait for a whole week long before getting an entertainment of mere 15 minutes. Well thanks to computer graphics that have enabled us to entertain ourselves with animated movies, cartoons etc.
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1.3 Some History
The term “computer graphics” was coined in 1960 by William Fetter to describe the new design methods that he was developing at Boeing. He created a series of widely reproduced images on a plotter exploring cockpit design using a 3D model of a human body.
Whirlwind: early graphics using Vector Scope (1951)
Spacewars: first computer graphics game (MIT 1961)
First distributed ray traced image (Cook 1984)
First ray traced image (Whitted 1980)
1.4 Graphics Applications
Due to rapid growth in the field of computing, now computer is used as an economical and efficient tool for the production of pictures. Computer graphics applications are found in almost all areas. Here we will discuss some of the important areas including:
i. User Interfaces ii. Layout and Design iii. Scientific Visualization and Analysis iv. Art and Design v. Medicine and Virtual Surgery vi. Layout Design & Architectural Simulations vii. History and cultural heritage viii. Entertainment ix. Simulations x. Games
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User Interfaces
Almost all the software packages provide a graphical interface. A major component of graphical interface is a window manager that allows a user to display multiple windows like areas on the screen at the same time. Each window can contain a different process that can contain graphical or non-graphical display. In order to make a particular window active, we simply have to click in that window using an interactive pointing device.
Graphical Interface also includes menus and icons for fast selection of programs, processing operations or parameter values. An icon is a graphical symbol that is designed to look like the processing option it represents.
B205 Control Console (1960)
Impressive and Interactive 3D environment
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Scientific Visualization and Analysis
Computer graphics is very helpful in producing graphical representations for scientific visualization and analysis especially in the field of engineering and medicine. It helps a lot in drawing charts and creating models.
ART AND DESIGN
Computer graphics is widely used in Fine Arts as well as commercial arts for producing better as well as cost effective pictures. Artists use a variety of programs in their work, provided by computer graphics. Some of the most frequently used packages include: Artist’s paintbrush Pixel paint Super paint
Room Layout Design and Architectural Simulations
Layout Design & Architectural Simulations
Movies Computer graphics methods are now commonly used in making motions pictures, music videos and television shows. Sometimes the graphics scenes are displayed by themselves and sometimes graphics objects are combined with the actors and live scenes. A number of hit movies and shows are made using computer graphics technology. Some of them are:
Star Trek- The Wrath of Khan Deep Space Nine Stay Tuned Reds Dreams She’s Mad
Tron (1980) First time computer graphics were used for live action sequences.
Star Wars (1977)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, genesis
The Last Starfighter (15 minutes) (1982)
The Last Starfighter (15 minutes) (1982)
“Traditional” Animated Features… Some examples:
- Automating Keyframing in many Disney-type animations
- The flocking behaviour of the wild beast in Lion King
- Non photorealistic rendering: 3D effects in Futurama
Behind the scenes on Antz Production
Number of frames in the movie (^) 119,
Number of times the movie was rendered during production (^) 15 (approx.)
Number of feet of approved animation produced in a week (^) 107 ft.
Total number of hours of rendering per week (^) 275,000 hrs.
Average size of the frame rendered (^) 6 MB
Total number of Silicon Graphics servers used for rendering (^) 270
Number of desktop systems used in production (^) 166
Total Number of processors used for rendering (^) 700
Average amount of memory per processor (^) 256 MB
Time it would have taken to render this movie on 1 processor (^) 54 yrs., 222 days, 15 mins., 36
Amount of storage required for the movie (^) 3.2 TB
Amount of frames kept online at any given time (^) 75000 frames
Time to re-film out final cut beginning to end (^) 41.5 days (997 hrs.)
