Computer graphics is an art of drawing pictures, lines, charts, etc using computers 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 screen. Basically
there are two types of computer graphics namely.
Interactive Computer Graphics: Interactive Computer Graphics involves a two way
communication between computer and user. Here the observer is given some control
over the image by providing him with an input device 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. He can give a series of commands, each one generating a
graphical response from the computer. In this way he 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 mock up 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 take off and landing.

Flight simulators have many advantages over the real aircrafts for training purposes,
including fuel savings, safety, and the ability to familiarize the trainee with a large
number of the worlds airports.

Non Interactive Computer Graphics: In non interactive computer graphics
otherwise known as passive computer graphics. it is the computer graphics in which
user does not have any kind of control over the image. Image is merely the product of
static stored program and will work according to the instructions given in the program
linearly. The image is totally under the control of program instructions not under the
user. Example: screen savers.

Applications of Computer Graphics:


Paint programs: Allow you to create rough freehand drawings. The images are stored
as bit maps and can easily be edited. It is a graphics program that enables you to draw
pictures on the display screen which is represented as bit maps (bit-mapped graphics).
In contrast, draw programs use vector graphics (object-oriented images), which scale
better.

Most paint programs provide the tools shown below in the form of icons. By selecting an
icon, you can perform functions associated with the tool.In addition to these tools, paint
programs also provide easy ways to draw common shapes such as straight lines,
rectangles, circles, and ovals.

Sophisticated paint applications are often called image editing programs. These
applications support many of the features of draw programs, such as the ability to work
with objects. Each object, however, is represented as a bit map rather than as a vector
image.
Illustration/design programs: Supports more advanced features than paint
programs, particularly for drawing curved lines. The images are usually stored in vector-
based formats. Illustration/design programs are often called draw programs.
Presentation graphics software: Lets you create bar charts, pie charts, graphics, and
other types of images for slide shows and reports. The charts can be based on data
imported from spreadsheet applications.
A type of business software that enables users to create highly stylized images for slide
shows and reports. The software includes functions for creating various types of charts
and graphs and for inserting text in a variety of fonts. Most systems enable you to
import data from a spreadsheet application to create the charts and graphs.
Presentation graphics is often called business graphics.

Animation software: Enables you to chain and sequence a series of images to
simulate movement. Each image is like a frame in a movie. It can be defined as a
simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures, or frames. A cartoon
on television is one example of animation. Animation on computers is one of the chief
ingredients of multimedia presentations. There are many software applications that
enable you to create animations that you can display on a Computer monitor.
There is a difference between animation and video. Whereas video takes continuous
motion and breaks it up into discrete frames, animation starts with independent
pictures and puts them together to form the illusion of continuous motion.
CAD software: Enables architects and engineers to draft designs. It is the acronym for
computer-aided design. A CAD system is a combination of hardware and software that
enables engineers and architects to design everything from furniture to airplanes. In
addition to the software, CAD systems require a high-quality graphics monitor; a mouse,
light pen, or digitizing tablet for drawing; and a special Printer or plotter for printing
design specifications.
CAD systems allow an engineer to view a design from any angle with the push of a
button and to zoom in or out for close-ups and long-distance views. In addition, the
computer keeps track of design dependencies so that when the engineer changes one
value, all other values that depend on it are automatically changed accordingly. Until the
mid 1980s, all CAD systems were specially constructed computers. Now, you can buy
CAD software that runs on general-purpose workstations and personal computers.

Desktop publishing: Provides a full set of word-processing features as well as fine
control over placement of text and graphics, so that you can create newsletters,
advertisements, books, and other types of documents. It means by using a personal
computer or workstation high-quality printed documents can be produced. A desktop
publishing system allows you to use different typefaces, specify various margins and
justifications, and embed illustrations and graphs directly into the text. The most
powerful desktop publishing systems enable you to create illustrations; while less
powerful systems let you insert illustrations created by other programs.

As word-processing programs become more and more powerful, the line separating
such programs from desktop publishing systems is becoming blurred. In general,
though, desktop publishing applications give you more control over typographical
characteristics, such as kerning, and provide more support for full-color output.

A particularly important feature of desktop publishing systems is that they enable you to
see on the display screen exactly how the document will appear when printed. Systems
that support this feature are called WYSIWYGs (what you see is what you get). Until
recently, hardware costs made desktop publishing systems impractical for most uses.
But as the prices of personal computers and printers have fallen, desktop publishing
systems have become increasingly popular for producing newsletters, brochures, books,
and other documents that formerly required a typesetter.

Once you have produced a document with a desktop publishing system, you can output
it directly to a printer or you can produce a PostScript file which you can then take to a
service bureau. The service bureau has special machines that convert the PostScript file
to film, which can then be used to make plates for offset printing. Offset printing
produces higher-quality documents, especially if color is used, but is generally more
expensive than laser printing.

In general, applications that support graphics require a powerful CPU and a large
amount of Memory. Many graphics applicationsfor example, computer animation
systemsrequire more computing power than is available on personal computers and
will run only on powerful workstations or specially designed graphics computers. This is
true of all three-dimensional computer graphics applications.