COMPUTER GRAPHICS

MODULE - I

Overview of Computer Graphics System: Video Display Devices – Raster Scan Systems – Random – Scan
Systems - Graphics Monitors and Workstations – Input Devices – Hardcopy Devices – Graphics Software.

Overview of Computer Graphics System

Computer graphics is commonly seen as a computer science branch that deals with the computerized image
fusion theory and technology. As simple as a triangle outline, a computer-generated image may represent a
scene. The computer has become a powerful tool for producing images quickly and economically.

When a computer is used to create images, the same process is followed as creating images manually. The
process’s primary computational steps give a boost to several important computer graphics areas.

Also on computers, the term computer graphics covers almost everything. Here in the computer graphics
program’s classroom, we think of computer graphics as drawing images on machines, often known
as rendering. The images can be photos, sketches, animations, or pictures of items imagined. Or they may
be pictures, we cannot see directly, like internal body parts.

We have put a great deal of our time to develop how computer images can replicate real-world scenes. We
want objects on computers not only to look more real, but also their colors to be more realistic and how
different materials appear. We can call it “real synthesis of the image.”

The term computer graphics has been used to define “almost everything on the computer, including text or
sound.” Generally, the term computer graphics refer to the following things:

 Computer representation and manipulation of image data.

 Various technologies for creating and manipulating images.
 Computer graphics study is a sub-field of computer science that studies methods for digitally
incorporating and manipulating visual content.

The next area of computer graphics that deals with the placement of a triangle is called transformation.
Here we can use matrices to get the mapping of a triangle in image space. We can also set up the
transformation matrix to control the location and orientation of the displayed image. We can also resize the
triangle.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Definition of Computer Graphics-Computer graphics can be a series of images which is most often called
a video or single image. Computer graphics is the technology that concerns with designs and pictures
on computers. That’s why, computer graphics are visual representations of data shown on a monitor made
on a computer.

“Computer graphics is the use of a computer to define, store, manipulate, interrogate, and represent the
pictorial output.” An image in computer graphics is made up of a number of pixels.

Types of Computer Graphics

There are two kinds of computer graphics are–

 Interactive Computer Graphics

 Non-Interactive Computer Graphics

Interactive Computer Graphics

In interactive computer graphics, users have some controls over the image, i.e., the user can make any
changes to the image produced.

Interactive Computer Graphics involves computer-user two-way communication.

For Example:

 Ping-pong game.
 Drawing on touch screens.
 Display weather forecast or other moving charts/graphs on the screen.
 Animating pictures or graphics in movies.
 Graphics animation in video games.

Working of Interactive Computer Graphics

The modern display of graphics is very simple to build. It is composed of three components:

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS
 Display controller or video controller
 Digital memory or frame buffer
 Television monitor

1. Display controller or video controller- It’s a Memory Buffer and TV Monitor interface. Its task is to
pass Frame Buffer’s contents to the monitor. The display controller reads each continuous byte of Memory
frame buffer data and converts 0’s and 1’s into appropriate video signals.

In today’s term, the display controller is recognized as a display card, and one of our choices can be a
VGA(Video Graphics Array) card with a resolution of 640×480. Display Controller is also capable of
displaying the image in colors.

2. Digital memory or frame buffer-This is a place where images and pictures are stored as an array (matrix
of 0 & 1, 0 represents darkness, and 1 represents image or picture). It is also called a frame buffer.

In today’s term frame buffer is called V-RAM (video RAM), and it helps to store the image in bit form. It
helps to increase the speed of graphics.

3. Television monitor- Monitor helps us to view the display, and they make use of CRT(Cathode ray tube)
technology.

Advantages

1. Superior Quality.
2. More accurate outcomes or products.
3. Increased Productivity.
4. Lower cost of development.
5. Increases the ability to understand information and interpret patterns significantly.

Non- Interactive Computer Graphics

Non-interactive computer graphics are also known as passive computer graphics. It is a type of computer
graphics in which the user has no control over the image. The photo is completely controlled by the
instructions of the program, not by the user.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

For Example:

 Screen savers.
 Map representation of the data.
 Graphic elements are used in the text, document, and PDF presentation.
 Static images are used in mobile applications and websites.
 Business graphics are used as brochures, business cards, menu of the hotel.

Representation of graphics

We can represent the graphics by following two ways:

1. Raster (Bitmap) Graphics

2. Vector Graphics

1. Raster Graphics: In raster graphics, the image is presented as a rectangular grid of colored squares.

Raster images are also called bitmap images. Bitmap images are stored as the collection of small individual
dots called pixels.

Bitmap images require high resolution and anti-aliasing for a smooth appearance.

For example– Paint, Photoshop, etc.

2. Vector Graphics: In vector graphics, the image is represented in the form of continuous geometric
objects: line, curve, etc.

Vector images are not based on pixel pattern. They use mathematical formulas to draw line and curves. The
lines and curves can be combined to create an image.

For Example– PowerPoint, Corel Draw, etc.

Fig: Raster (Composition of Paths) Vector (Composition of Pixels)

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Difference between Raster and Vector Graphics:

Raster Graphics Vector Graphics

Raster images are the collection of the The Vector images are composed of
pixel. paths.

Scan conversion is required. Scan Conversion is not required.

Vector Graphics are more costly

Raster Graphics are less costly.
compared to raster graphics.

Raster image takes less space to store. Vector image takes more space.

Raster graphics can draw mathematical Vector graphics can only draw
curves, polygons, and boundaries. continuous and smooth lines.

File Extension: .BMP, .TIF, .JPG etc. File Extension: .SVG, .PDF, .AI etc.

Computer graphics is an art of drawing pictures on computer screens with the help of programming. It
involves computations, creation, and manipulation of data. In other words, we can say that computer
graphics is a rendering tool for the generation and manipulation of images.

Video Display Devices

Cathode Ray Tube

CRT stands for Cathode ray tube. It is a technology which is used in traditional computer monitor and
television.

Cathode ray tube is a particular type of vacuum tube that displays images when an electron beam collides
on the radiant surface.

The primary output device in a graphical system is the video monitor.

Component of CRT:

 Electron Gun: The electron gun is made up of several elements, mainly a heating filament (heater)
and a cathode.

The electron gun is a source of electrons focused on a narrow beam facing the CRT.

 Focusing & Accelerating Anodes: These anodes are used to produce a narrow and sharply focused
beam of electrons.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

 Horizontal & Vertical Deflection Plates: These plates are used to guide the path of the electron
the beam. The plates produce an electromagnetic field that bends the electron beam through the area
as it travels.
 Phosphorus-coated Screen: The phosphorus coated screen is used to produce bright spots when the
high-velocity electron beam hits it.

The main element of a video monitor is the Cathode Ray Tube CRT, shown in the following illustration.

The operation of CRT is very simple −

 The electron gun emits a beam of electrons cathode rays.

 The electron beam passes through focusing and deflection systems that direct it towards specified
positions on the phosphor-coated screen.
 When the beam hits the screen, the phosphor emits a small spot of light at each position contacted
by the electron beam.
 It redraws the picture by directing the electron beam back over the same screen points quickly.

There are two ways Random scan and Raster scan by which we can display an object on the screen.

Raster Scan

In a raster scan system, the electron beam is swept across the screen, one row at a time from top to bottom.
As the electron beam moves across each row, the beam intensity is turned on and off to create a pattern of
illuminated spots.

Picture definition is stored in memory area called the Refresh Buffer or Frame Buffer. This memory area
holds the set of intensity values for all the screen points. Stored intensity values are then retrieved from the
refresh buffer and “painted” on the screen one row scan line at a time as shown in the following illustration.

Each screen point is referred to as a pixel picture element or pel. At the end of each scan line, the electron
beam returns to the left side of the screen to begin displaying the next scan line.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Random Scan /Vector Scan

In this technique, the electron beam is directed only to the part of the screen where the picture is to be drawn
rather than scanning from left to right and top to bottom as in raster scan. It is also called vector display,
stroke-writing display, or calligraphic display.

Picture definition is stored as a set of line-drawing commands in an area of memory referred to as the refresh
display file. To display a specified picture, the system cycles through the set of commands in the display
file, drawing each component line in turn. After all the line-drawing commands are processed, the system
cycles back to the first line command in the list.

Random-scan displays are designed to draw all the component lines of a picture 30 to 60 times each second.

Application of Computer Graphics

Computer Graphics has numerous applications, some of which are listed below −

 Computer graphics user interfaces GUIs − A graphic, mouse-oriented paradigm which allows the
user to interact with a computer.
 Business presentation graphics − "A picture is worth a thousand words".
Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL
COMPUTER GRAPHICS

 Cartography − Drawing maps.

 Weather Maps − Real-time mapping, symbolic representations.
 Satellite Imaging − Geodesic images.
 Photo Enhancement − Sharpening blurred photos.
 Medical imaging − MRIs, CAT scans, etc. - Non-invasive internal examination.
 Engineering drawings − mechanical, electrical, civil, etc. - Replacing the blueprints of the past.
 Typography − The use of character images in publishing - replacing the hard type of the past.
 Architecture − Construction plans, exterior sketches - replacing the blueprints and hand drawings
of the past.
 Art − Computers provide a new medium for artists.
 Training − Flight simulators, computer aided instruction, etc.
 Entertainment − Movies and games.
 Simulation and modeling − Replacing physical modeling and enactments

Color CRT Monitor: It is similar to a CRT monitor.

The basic idea behind the color CRT monitor is to combine three basic colors- Red, Green, and Blue. By
using these three colors, we can produce millions of different colors.

The two basic color display producing techniques are:

1. Beam–Penetration Method: It is used with a random scan monitor for displaying pictures. There are
two phosphorus layers- Red and Green are coated inside the screen. The color shown depends on how
far the electron beam penetrates the phosphorus surface.

A powerful electron beam penetrates the CRT, it passes through the red layer and excites the green layer
within. A beam with slow electrons excites only the red layer. A beam with the medium speed of electrons,
a mixture of red and green light is emitted to display two more colors- orange and yellow.

Advantages:

1. Better Resolution
2. Half cost
3. Inexpensive
Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL
COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Disadvantages:

1. Only four possible colors

2. Time Consuming

2. Shadow–Mask Method: It is used with a raster scan monitor for displaying pictures. It has more range
of color than the beam penetration method. It is used in television sets and monitors.

Structure:

1. It has three phosphorus color dots at each position of the pixel.

First Dot: Red color

Second Dot: Green color
Third Dot: Blue color

1. It has three different guns. Each for one color.

2. It has a metal screen or plate just before the phosphorus screen, named “Shadow-Mask.”
3. It also has a shadow grid just behind the phosphorus coated screen with tiny holes in a triangular
shape.

Working: A Shadow Mask is a metal plate with tiny holes present inside a color monitor.

A Shadow Mask directs the beam by consuming the electrons so that the beam hits only the desired point
and displays a resulting picture.

It has three different guns. These guns direct their beams to shadow mask, which allows them to pass. It is
a task of a shadow mask to direct the beam on its particular dot on the screen and produce a picture on the
screen.

A Shadow Mask can display a wider range of pictures than beam penetration.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL

COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Advantages:

1. Display a wider range picture.

2. Display realistic images.
3. In-line arrangement of RGB color.

Disadvantages:

Difficult to cover all three beams on the same hole.

Poor Resolution.

Liquid crystal display (LCD): The LCD depends upon the light modulating properties of liquid crystals.
LCD is used in watches and portable computers. LCD requires an AC power supply instead of DC, so it is
difficult to use it in circuits. It generally works on flat panel display technology. LCD consumes less power
than LED. The LCD screen uses the liquid crystal to turn pixels on or off. Liquid Crystals are a mixture of
solid and liquid. When the current flows inside it, its position changes into the desired color.

For Example: TFT(Thin Film Transistor)

Advantages:

1. Produce a bright image

2. Energy efficient
3. Completely flat screen

Disadvantages:

1. Fixed aspect ratio & Resolution

2. Lower Contrast
3. More Expensive

Light Emitting Diode (LED): LED is a device which emits when current passes through it. It is a
semiconductor device. The size of the LED is small, so we can easily make any display unit by arranging a
large number of LEDs. LED consumes more power compared to LCD. LED is used on TV, smartphones,
motor vehicles, traffic light, etc. LEDs are powerful in structure, so they are capable of withstanding
mechanical pressure. LED also works at high temperatures.

Advantages:

1. The Intensity of light can be controlled.

2. Low operational Voltage.
3. Capable of handling the high temperature.

Disadvantages:

More Power Consuming than LCD.

Dr. D. UDAYA / Assistant Professor AAGASC / Department of Computer Science / KKL