CS 4610 Computer Graphics I

Contact Information:

Course instructor:
Dr. K. Palaniappan
Dept. of Computer Science
329 Engineering Building West
Univ. of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
palani@cecs.missouri.edu
(573) 884-9266, (573) 882-6265 (Lab)

F2011 TA: TBD
Email: TBD
Assignment Submission: MU Blackboard

Office Hours: 1:00-2:00 T, R; EBW 205

Course Catalog

Basic concepts and techniques of interactive computer graphics including hardware, software, data structures, mathematical manipulation of graphical objects, the user interface, and fundamental implementation of algorithms.

Goals

Study of hardware and software components of graphics systems including features of graphics processors and i/o devices, algorithms for generating graphics display, design implementation and application of graphics algorithms, libraries and packages. Graphics software standards such as OpenGL will be covered in detail and used as an integral part of the programming assignments. A course project with several team members, will focus on a substantial graphics implementation.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to computer graphics and survey of applications
2. Components of a graphics system including display technologies
3. Basic graphics rasterization algorithms for displaying primitives (lines, circles)
4. The OpenGL rendering interface (GLU toolkit, glut windows and menus, libraries)
5. Overview of human computer interaction and user interfaces
6. Graphics rasterization algorithms for displaying more complex primitives (ellipses, conics, splines, etc.)
7. Recursive filling and interpolative shading
8. Scan-line filling of polygons and regions
9. Structure of graphics packages, graphical user interfaces and interactive input methods
10. The graphics rendering pipeline
11. Two-dimensional geometric transformations and affine representation (translation, scaling, rotation, shear, reflection)
12. Two-dimensional viewing pipeline - window to viewport transformation
13. Three-dimensional geometric, modelling and viewing transformations
14. Line and region clipping rasterization stage
15. Representation and description of color models
16. Illumination and shading models
17. Texture mapping
18. Hidden surface and hidden line removal
19. Curve and surface representation

The latter three advanced topics will be covered as time permits and based on the class interests.

Mandatory and Desirable Prerequisites

• Mandatory: CS 2050
• Knowledge of these topics will be very helpful:
  
• CS 3050: Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• Math: Calculus II or III
• CS: Unix Operating System (especially the SGI IRIX flavor)
  
• C or C++ programming languages and object oriented design
  
• Matrix Algebra (i.e. matrix & vector algebra for geometric transformations)
  
• Calculus in Three Dimensions (i.e. planes, quadric surfaces, 3-D geometry)

Required Text

• Computer Graphics, C Version , by D. Hearn, M. P. Baker, W. R. Carithers Prentice-Hall, 4th edition, 2010. This book starts with grounding in 2D rasterization algorithms for drawing curve primitives then gradually moves to 3D rendering.

Recommended Text for Learning OpenGL

• OpenGL Programming Guide, 4th Edition: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Version 1.4 by M. Woo, J. Neider, T. Davis, D. Shreiner, Addison Wesley, 2004. The online version of the the OpenGL Programming Guide can be accessed using the "insight" command on the SGI workstations. Excellent tutorial guide on the OpenGL subroutine library for 3-D interactive graphics, highly recommended. The companion volume, OpenGL Reference guide contains a summary of functions.

Other Texts and Sources

• Interactive Computer Graphics, by E. Angel, Addison-Weley, 5th edition, 2009. This text was previously used for CS 4610 and starts directly with 3D drawing in a windowing system with a detailed presentation of 2-D and 3-D geometric tansformations.

• Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, by Peter Shirley, AK Peters Ltd, 2nd edition, 2005.
• Real-Time Rendering, by Tomas Akenine-Moller and Eric Haines, A.K. Peters Ltd., 3rd edition, 2008. Covers more advanced material on rendering techniques, graphics algorithms and data structures. The link provides pointers to recent graphics textbooks also.

• Computer Graphics Using OpenGL, , by F.S. Hill, Jr. Prentice-Hall, 2nd edition, 2001. This text was previously used for CS 4610 and contains good examples of OpenGL programming and rasterization algorithms, along with a review of mathematics required for graphics.

• Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, by J. D. Foley, A. van Dam, S. K. Feiner, F. J. Hughes, Addison-Wesley, 2nd edition in C, 1996. Ignore the SRGP and PHIGS parts since we will be using OpenGL. This text was previously used for CS 4610.

• OpenGL Programming for the X Window System, M. J. Kilgard, Addison-Wesley, 1996. Focuses on windowing system, event handling, and user interface issues for using OpenGL with the X Window System and Motif and GLUT. GLUT is a simple portable windowing tookit library that is highly portable across various native window systems (ie Linux, Windows98/NT/2000/XP, MacOS, X-Windows).

• Advanced Animation and Rendering Techniques, A. Watt and M. Watt, Addison-Wesley, 1992. Covers more advanced topics such as texture mapping, ray tracing, radiosity, volume rendering.

• An Introduction To Ray Tracing, A. Glassner (ed.), Academic Press, 1989.

• Mathematical Elements for Computer Graphics, 2nd Edition. Rogers and Adams, McGraw-Hill, 1990. Has lots of examples and a good discussion of spline curves.

• Procedural Elements for Computer Graphics, 2nd edition, Rogers, McGraw-Hill, 1998.

Final Group Project and Presentation. Students will be required to do a capstone computer graphics semester project. This will be a group project, with each group consisting of 2-3 students. The project will involve the students' execution of the following primary steps: select topic, identify computer graphics goals, software design, software engineering for project implementation, debugging and refinement. Your group will be required to write an HTML report with imagery, animations, and text (see previous years' project Web pages for ideas on topics and scope of implementation). Your group will also give an oral presentation of your project.