Introduction to Computer Graphics CS 445 645

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Introduction to Computer GraphicsCS 445 / 645

• David Brogan
• dbrogan_at_cs.virginia.edu

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Class Web Page

• http//www.cs.virginia.edu/gfx/Courses
• Class lectures posted
• Assignments distributed

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Instructor/TA Coordinates

• David Brogan
• Olsson 216
• dbrogan_at_cs.virginia.edu
• Julian Dymacek
• Olsson 233
• jmd7b_at_cs.virginia.edu

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Prerequisites

• CS 216 You will be writing programs
• Non-trivial data structures, pointers
• An ability to learn a programming library on your
  own
• OpenGL
• Comfortable with matrix algebra and calculus
• Basic linear algebra used

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Text

• Computer Graphics with OpenGL
• Third Edition
• Hearn and Baker

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Work

• Five programming assignments (50)
• C/C using OpenGL, GLUT, and UI libraries
• Source will be read and documentation is reqd
• Three homework assignments (10)
• Intended to support lecture material
• Midterm and Final (20 each)

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Honor Code

• Specific honor code instructions will be provided
  with each assignment
• When in doubt
• Dont use resources other than class notes and
  textbook
• Typically
• Using examples from the web is a great way to
  learn and it is encouraged reference what you
  use
• Never
• Share code with another student or debug code
  together

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Topics

• Core graphics pipeline
• Modeling transformation, viewing transformation,
  hidden surface removal, illumination / shading /
  textures, scan conversion / clipping
• OpenGL
• Morphing, curves and surfaces, animation
• Not a course about graphic design, using graphics
  tools like PhotoShop or Maya

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Impact of Computers

• Moores Law
• Power of a CPU doubles every 18 months / 2 years

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Impact of Video Games (Nvidia)

• Number of transistors on GPU doubles each 6 mos.
• Three times Moores Law
• Good article on Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia CEO
  http//www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.07/Nvidia_pr
  .html

Worldwide revenues
Retro flashback???
7 Billion Man
5.6 Billion Man
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Impact of Video Games

• But
• Video game sales is roughly same as Hollywood box
  office
• Americans bought 3.2 billion in VCRs and DVDs in
  2002
• Total revenues to movie studios is 5 times total
  video game revenues

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Future of Consoles

• 33 million PS2s (in 2002)
• 3.9 million Xboxes (in 2002)
• MSFT still losing lots of per console
• Predicted 200 million PDA/Cell game players in
  2005
• Do you believe it?

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Graphics Applications

• Entertainment Cinema

Square Final Fantasy
Pixar Monsters Inc.
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Entertainment
Final Fantasy (Square, USA)
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Entertainment
A Bugs Life (Pixar)
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Graphics Applications

• Medical Visualization

The Visible Human Project
MIT Image-Guided Surgery Project
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Graphics Applications

• Everyday Use
• Microsofts Whistler OS will use graphics
  seriously
• Graphics visualizations and debuggers
• Visualize complex software systems

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Everyday use
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Everyday use
Window system and large-screen interaction
metaphors (François Guimbretière)
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Graphics Applications

• Scientific Visualization

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Scientific Visualization
Airflow around a Harrier Jet (NASA Ames)
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Graphics Applications

• Computer Aided Design (CAD)

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Graphics Applications

• Training

Designing Effective Step-By-Step Assembly
Instructions (Maneesh Agrawala et. al)
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Graphics Applications

• Entertainment Games

GT Racer 3
Polyphony Digital Gran Turismo 3, A Spec
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Games
Circus Atari (Atari)
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Education
Outside In (Geometry Center, University of
Minnesota)
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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

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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

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Can we learn from history?

• Among the studies of natural causes and laws, it
  is light that most delights its students. Among
  all the great branches of mathematics, the
  certainty of its demonstrations pre-eminently
  elevates the minds of its investigators.
  Perspective, therefore, should be preferred above
  all mans discourses and disciplines. In this
  subject the visual rays are elucidated by means
  and demonstrations which derive their glory nor
  only from mathematics but also from physics the
  one is adorned equally with the flowers of the
  other.

Leonardo da Vinci (1400s) quoting John Pecham
(1200s)
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Perspective
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Machines
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Leonardo Again

• There are some who look at the things produced by
  nature through glass, or other surfaces or
  transparent veils. They trace outlines on the
  surface of the transparent medium But such an
  invention is to be condemned in those who do not
  know how to portray things without it, no how to
  reason about nature with their minds They are
  always poor and mean in every invention and in
  the composition of narratives, which is the final
  aim of this science

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Perspective

• Lorenzetti
• Birth of the Virgin
• 1342

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• Leonardo
• The Last Supper
• 1498

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Shape
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We Labor On
Light Stage 2002 USC, Institute for Creative
Technologies
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More, more, MORE!

• Sequence of advanced graphics courses at UVA
• CS 446 Real Time Rendering (Dave Luebke)
• Building interactive graphics systems (games!)
• Right now and Fall 2005
• CS 447 Image Synthesis (Greg Humphreys)
• Modeling light and materials (Rendering)
• Fall 2004
• CS 448 Animation (me)
• Modeling movement
• Spring 2005