PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Sciences

IT3/L – GRAPHICS AND

VISUAL COMPUTING

Introduction to
Graphics and
Visual System

Computer Graphics and

Graphics System
MODULE 1
 Learning Objectives

After going through in this module, you should be able to:

✓ Define Computer Graphics and Graphics System

✓ Discuss the evolution of computer graphics

✓ Describe the various technique and terminologies in graphics

✓ Recall the uses of 3D graphics

✓ Describe the 3D Programming principles

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 Overview

To display a picture of any size on a computer screen is a difficult

process. Computer graphics are used to simplify this process. Various algorithms and
techniques are used to generate graphics in computers. This module will help you
understand how all these are processed by the computer to give a rich visual
experience to the users.

This module has been prepared for students who wants to know how
graphics are used in computers. It explains the basics of graphics and how they are
implemented in computers to generate various visuals.

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 Initial Activity

Fill out the hexagons as many as you can with the common uses of computer
graphics.

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 Discussion
Common Uses of 3D Graphics

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Real-time 3D - military flight simulators

Computer Aided Design

Architectural or Civil Planning

Medical Imaging

Scientific Visualization

Entertainment - games
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Discussion

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 Discussion

Computer Graphics

It is difficult to display an image of any size on the computer

screen. This method is simplified by using Computer graphics. Graphics on
the computer are produced by using various algorithms and techniques.

Computer Graphics involves technology to access. The Process

transforms and presents information in a visual form. The role of computer
graphics insensible. In today life, computer graphics has now become a
common element in user interfaces, T.V. commercial motion pictures.

Computer Graphics is the creation of pictures with the help of a

computer. The end product of the computer graphics is a picture it may be a
business graph, drawing, and engineering.

Brief History

First computers consisted of rows and rows of switches and lights.

• Patterns of illuminated bulbs conveyed useful information

• First form of computer graphics was a panel of blinking lights

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Programmable devices that printed on rolls of paper using a mechanism
similar to a teletype machine.

• Data are stored in magnetic tapes, disk, or row of hole-punched paper

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 Discussion

Going Electric

• Color laser and ink jet printer replaced ASCII art

• Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) are terminals used to display ASCII text.
• It is capable of drawing points, lines and alphabetic characters
• Programmers create graphics supplemented textual and tabular output
• First algo in creating lines and curves were developed and published
• Computer graphics became science rather than pastime.

2D / Two-dimensional

• First graphics displayed in terminals.

• Flat lines, circles, and polygon were used to create graphics.
• Graphs and plots display scientific or statistical data.
• Lunar Lander and Pong are arcade games developed using simple graphics.

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 Discussion

3D / Three-dimensional

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 Discussion

3D / Three-dimensional

How you see 3D?

To truly see in 3D, you need to

actually view an object with both
eyes or supply each eye with
separate and unique images of
the object.

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 Discussion

3D Graphic Techniques and

Terminology

Rasterization – actual drawing or

filling in the pixels between each
vertex to make the lines.

Wireframe rendering – drawing

with lines.

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Figure shows filling in geometry with solid

colors but hardly convincing

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 Discussion

3D Graphic Techniques and

Terminology

Shaders - individual programs that

execute on the graphics hardware to
process vertices and perform
rasterization tasks.

Texture mapping – a picture that

we map to the surface of a triangle
or polygon.

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 Learning Check

Check the box if the statement is TRUE, and write X in the box if the statement is
false.

❑ Bulbs are part of the early generations of graphics.

❑ ASCII Art was replaced by typewriters.
❑ Flat lines and circles are used in creating 3D graphics.
❑ It requires only one eye to view a 3D object.
❑ Actual drawing or filling in the pixels between each vertex to make lines.
❑ A picture that uses ma to the surface of a triangle or polygon is called texture
mapping.

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 Discussion

Blending – mix different colors

together. How to make things look
transparent.

Common Uses of 3D Graphics

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Real-time 3D - military flight simulators

Computer Aided Design

Architectural or Civil Planning

Medical Imaging

Scientific Visualization

Entertainment - games Page #

 Discussion

Basic 3D Programming Principles

OpenGL - Low-level rendering API.

- You have to put together a model yourself by loading triangles and applying the
necessary transformations as well as the proper textures, shaders, and if necessary
blending modes.

Coordinate System – position (x,y)

2D Cartesian Coordinates
X coordinate – horizontal direction
Y coordinate – vertical direction

Origin x=0,y=0

Plane – flat surface

In any coordinate system, two axes (or two lines) that intersect at right angles define a
plane
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 Discussion

Viewports: Mapping Drawing Coordinates to Window

Coordinates

Viewport – is a region within the window’s client area that is

used for drawing a clipping area.
A viewport is defined as twice the size of the clipping area.

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 Discussion

Basic 3D Programming Principles

• The Vertex – A position in Space

• Object is composed of smaller shapes called primitives.

• Primitives are one- or two-dimensional entities or surfaces such as

points, lines, and triangles that are assembled in 3D space to
create 3D objects.

• Vertex – coordinate in 2D or 3D space

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 Discussion

Basic 3D Programming Principles

• 3D Cartesian Coordinates (x,y,z)

• Add a depth (z) in 2D coordinate system.

• Z-axis is perpendicular to both the x- and y-axes.

• Drawn from center to the screen heading toward a viewer.

Orthographic / Parallel Projections

• Specify the viewing volume in an orthographic projection by

specifying the far, near, left, right, top, and bottom clipping planes.

• Objects and figures are then projected to a 2D image that appears

on your screen.

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 Discussion

Perspective Projections

Adds the effect that distant objects appear smaller than nearby objects.
This type of projection gives the most realism for simulation and 3D animation.

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 Evaluation

Kindly go to our canvas classroom to take your quiz, QUIZ 1 – Introduction to

Graphics and Visual Computing.

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 Reflection

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. Thus, the role of computer graphics is insensible. Wherever
today life, computer graphics has now become a common element in user interfaces,
T.V. commercial motion pictures for everyone's entertainment. Have you observed
from your surrounding

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 References

Online References:

• https://www.includehelp.com/computer-
graphics/introduction.aspx#:~:text=Definition%20of%20Computer%20
Graphics.%20Computer%20Graphic%20is%20the,create%2C%20sto
re%2C%20modify%2C%20and%20represent%20pictures%20for%20
everyone.

• https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_graphics/computer_graphics
_tutorial.pdf
• https://www.lix.polytechnique.fr/~nielsen/VisualComputing-
TOCPrefaceBiblio.pdf
• https://www.smartzworld.com/downloads/download/cg-unit-1-notes/

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