Computer Graphics:

It is the use of computers to create and manipulate pictures on a display device. It

comprises of software techniques to create, store, modify, represents pictures.

Interactive computer graphics work using the concept of two-way

communication between computer users. The computer will receive signals from the input
device, and the picture is modified accordingly. Picture will be changed quickly when we
apply command.

Application of Computer Graphics

1. Education and Training: Computer-generated model of the physical, financial and

economic system is often used as educational aids. Model of physical systems,
physiological system, population trends or equipment can help trainees to understand the
operation of the system.

For some training applications, particular systems are designed. For example Flight
Simulator.

Flight Simulator: It helps in giving training to the pilots of airplanes. These pilots spend
much of their training not in a real aircraft but on the ground at the controls of a Flight
Simulator.Advantages:
1. Fuel Saving
2. Safety
3. Ability to familiarize the training with a large number of the world's airports.

2. Use in Biology: Molecular biologist can display a picture of molecules and gain insight
into their structure with the help of computer graphics.

3. Computer-Generated Maps: Town planners and transportation engineers can use

computer-generated maps which display data useful to them in their planning work.

4. Architect: Architect can explore an alternative solution to design problems at an

interactive graphics terminal. In this way, they can test many more solutions that would
not be possible without the computer.

5. Presentation Graphics: Example of presentation Graphics are bar charts, line graphs,
pie charts and other displays showing relationships between multiple parameters.
Presentation Graphics is commonly used to summarize

o Financial Reports
o Statistical Reports
o Mathematical Reports
o Scientific Reports
o Economic Data for research reports
o Managerial Reports
o Consumer Information Bulletins
o And other types of reports
6. Computer Art: Computer Graphics are also used in the field of commercial arts. It is
used to generate television and advertising commercial.

7. Entertainment: Computer Graphics are now commonly used in making motion

pictures, music videos and television shows.

8. Visualization: It is used for visualization of scientists, engineers, medical personnel,

business analysts for the study of a large amount of information.

9. Educational Software: Computer Graphics is used in the development of educational

software for making computer-aided instruction.

10. Printing Technology: Computer Graphics is used for printing technology and textile
design.

Example of Computer Graphics

1. LOGO
2. COREL DRAW
3. AUTO CAD
4. 3D STUDIO
5. CORE
6. GKS (Graphics Kernel System)
7. PHIGS
8. CAM (Computer Graphics Metafile)
9. CGI (Computer Graphics Interface)

Interactive and Passive Graphics

(a) Non-Interactive or Passive Computer Graphics:

In non-interactive computer graphics, the picture is produced on the monitor, and the
user does not have any controlled over the image, i.e., the user cannot make any
change in the rendered image. One example of its Titles shown on T.V.
Non-interactive Graphics involves only one-way communication between the
computer and the user, User can see the produced image, and he cannot make any
change in the image.

(b) Interactive Computer Graphics:

In interactive Computer Graphics user have some controls over the picture, i.e., the user
can make any change in the produced image. One example of it is the ping-pong game.
Interactive Computer Graphics require two-way communication between the
computer and the user. A User can see the image and make any change by sending his
command with an input device.

Advantages :
1. Higher Quality
2. More precise results or products
 3. Greater Productivity
4. Lower analysis and design cost
5. Significantly enhances our ability to understand data and to perceive trends.

Working of Interactive Computer Graphics:

The modern graphics display is very simple in construction. It consists of three
components:
1. Frame Buffer or Digital Memory
2. A Monitor likes a home T.V. set without the tuning and receiving electronics.
3. Display Controller or Video Controller: It passes the contents of the frame
buffer to the monitor.

Frame Buffer: A digital frame buffer is large, contiguous piece of computer memory
used to hold or map the image displayed on the screen.

o At a minimum, there is 1 memory bit for each pixel in the raster. This amount of
memory is called a bit plane.
o A 1024 x 1024 element requires 220 (210=1024;220=1024 x 1024)sq.raster or
1,048,576 memory bits in a single bit plane.
o The picture is built up in the frame buffer one bit at a time.
o ∵ A memory bit has only two states (binary 0 or 1), a single bit plane yields a
black and white (monochrome display).
o As frame buffer is a digital device write raster CRT is an analog device.

Properties of Video Monitor:

1. Persistence: Persistence is the duration of phosphorescence. Different kinds of

phosphors are available for use in CRT. Besides color, a major difference between
phosphor in their persistence how they continue to emit light after the electron beam is
removed.

2. Resolution: Use to describe the number of pixels that are used on display image.

3. Aspect Ratio: It is the ratio of width to its height. Its measure is unit in length or
number of pixels.
Aspect Ratio =

Display Devices:

The most commonly used display device is a video monitor. The operation of most video
monitors based on CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). The following display devices are used:

1. Cathode Ray Tube

2. Random Scan and Raster Scan
3. Color CRT Monitors
4. Direct View Storage Tubes
5. Flat Panel Display

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT):

CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. CRT is a technology used in traditional computer
monitors and televisions. The image on CRT display is created by firing electrons from the
back of the tube of phosphorus located towards the front of the screen.

Once the electron heats the phosphorus, they light up, and they are projected on a screen.
The color you view on the screen is produced by a blend of red, blue and green light.

Components of CRT:

Main Components of CRT are:

1. Electron Gun: Electron gun consisting of a series of elements, primarily a heating
filament (heater) and a cathode. The electron gun creates a source of electrons which
are focused into a narrow beam directed at the face of the CRT.

2. Control Electrode: It is used to turn the electron beam on and off.

3. Focusing system: It is used to create a clear picture by focusing the electrons into a
narrow beam.

4. Deflection Yoke: It is used to control the direction of the electron beam. It creates
an electric or magnetic field which will bend the electron beam as it passes through the
area. In a conventional CRT, the yoke is linked to a sweep or scan generator. The
deflection yoke which is connected to the sweep generator creates a fluctuating electric
or magnetic potential.

5. Phosphorus-coated screen: The inside front surface of every CRT is coated with
phosphors. Phosphors glow when a high-energy electron beam hits them.
Phosphorescence is the term used to characterize the light given off by a phosphor after
it has been exposed to an electron beam.

Color CRT Monitors:

The CRT Monitor display by using a combination of phosphors. The phosphors are different
colors. There are two popular approaches for producing color displays with a CRT are:
1. Beam Penetration Method
2. Shadow-Mask Method

1. Beam Penetration Method:

The Beam-Penetration method has been used with random-scan monitors. In this method,
the CRT screen is coated with two layers of phosphor, red and green and the displayed
color depends on how far the electron beam penetrates the phosphor layers. This method
produces four colors only, red, green, orange and yellow. A beam of slow electrons excites
the outer red layer only; hence screen shows red color only. A beam of high-speed
electrons excites the inner green layer. Thus screen shows a green color.

Advantages:
1. Inexpensive

Disadvantages:
1. Only four colors are possible
2. Quality of pictures is not as good as with another method.
2. Shadow-Mask Method:

o Shadow Mask Method is commonly used in Raster-Scan System because they

produce a much wider range of colors than the beam-penetration method.
o It is used in the majority of color TV sets and monitors.

Construction: A shadow mask CRT has 3 phosphor color dots at each pixel position.

o One phosphor dot emits: red light

o Another emits: green light
o Third emits: blue light

This type of CRT has 3 electron guns, one for each color dot and a shadow mask grid
just behind the phosphor coated screen.

Shadow mask grid is pierced with small round holes in a triangular pattern.

Figure shows the delta-delta shadow mask method commonly used in color CRT system.
Working: Triad arrangement of red, green, and blue guns.

The deflection system of the CRT operates on all 3 electron beams simultaneously; the 3
electron beams are deflected and focused as a group onto the shadow mask, which
contains a sequence of holes aligned with the phosphor- dot patterns.

When the three beams pass through a hole in the shadow mask, they activate a dotted
triangle, which occurs as a small color spot on the screen.

The phosphor dots in the triangles are organized so that each electron beam can activate
only its corresponding color dot when it passes through the shadow mask.

Inline arrangement: Another configuration for the 3 electron guns is an Inline

arrangement in which the 3

electron guns and the corresponding red-green-blue color dots on the screen, are
aligned along one scan line rather of in a triangular pattern.

This inline arrangement of electron guns in easier to keep in alignment and is commonly
used in high-resolution color CRT's.

Advantage:
1. Realistic image
2. Million different colors to be generated
3. Shadow scenes are possible
Disadvantage:
1. Relatively expensive compared with the monochrome CRT.
2. Relatively poor resolution
3. Convergence Problem

Random Scan and Raster Scan Display:

Random Scan Display:

1. Random Scan System uses an electron beam which operates like a pencil to create
a line image on the CRT screen.
2. The picture is constructed out of a sequence of straight-line segments.
 3. Each line segment is drawn on the screen by directing the beam to move from one
point on the screen to the next, where its x & y coordinates define each point.
4. After drawing the picture,the system cycles back to the first line and design all the
lines of the image 30 to 60 time each second.
5. Random-scan monitors are also known as vector displays or stroke-writing displays
or calligraphic displays.
6. The process is shown in fig:

Advantages:
1. A CRT has the electron beam directed only to the parts of the screen where an
image is to be drawn.
2. Produce smooth line drawings.
3. High Resolution

Disadvantages:

1. Random-Scan monitors cannot display realistic shades scenes.

Raster Scan Display:

1. A Raster Scan Display is based on intensity control of pixels in the form of a

rectangular box called Raster on the screen.
2. Information of on and off pixels is stored in refresh buffer or Frame buffer.
3. Televisions in our house are based on Raster Scan Method. The raster scan system
can store information of each pixel position, so it is suitable for realistic display of
objects. Raster Scan provides a refresh rate of 60 to 80 frames per second.
4. Frame Buffer is also known as Raster or bit map. In Frame Buffer the positions
are called picture elements or pixels.
5. Beam refreshing is of two types. First is horizontal retracing and second is vertical
retracing. When the beam starts from the top left corner and reaches the bottom
right scale, it will again return to the top left side called at vertical retrace. Then it
will again more horizontally from top to bottom call as horizontal retracing shown
in fig:
Types of Scanning or travelling of beam in Raster Scan

1. Interlaced Scanning
2. Non-Interlaced Scanning

In Interlaced scanning, each horizontal line of the screen is traced from top to bottom.
Due to which fading of display of object may occur.

This problem can be solved by Non-Interlaced scanning. In this first of all odd numbered
lines are traced or visited by an electron beam, then in the next circle, even number of
lines are located.

For non-interlaced display refresh rate of 30 frames per second used. But it gives flickers.
For interlaced display refresh rate of 60 frames per second is used.

Advantages:
1. Realistic image
2. Million Different colors to be generated
3. Shadow Scenes are possible.
Disadvantages:
1. Low Resolution
2. Expensive
Differentiate between Random and Raster Scan Display:
 Random Scan Raster Scan

1. It has high Resolution 1. Its resolution is low.

2. It is more expensive 2. It is less expensive

3. Any modification if needed is easy 3.Modification is tough

4. Solid pattern is tough to fill 4.Solid pattern is easy to fill

5. Refresh rate depends or resolution 5. Refresh rate does not depend on

the picture.

6. Only screen with view on an area is displayed. 6. Whole screen is scanned.

7. Beam Penetration technology come under it. 7. Shadow mark technology came
under this.

8. It does not use interlacing method. 8. It uses interlacing

9. It is restricted to line drawing applications 9. It is suitable for realistic displa

Direct View Storage Tubes:

DVST terminals also use the random scan approach to generate the image on the CRT
screen. The term "storage tube" refers to the ability of the screen to retain the image
which has been projected against it, thus avoiding the need to rewrite the image
constantly.

Function of guns: Two guns are used in DVST

1. Primary guns: It is used to store the picture pattern.

2. Flood gun or Secondary gun: It is used to maintain picture display.
Advantage:

1. No refreshing is needed.
2. High Resolution
3. Cost is very less
Disadvantage:
1. It is not possible to erase the selected part of a picture.
2. It is not suitable for dynamic graphics applications.
3. If a part of picture is to modify, then time is consumed.