UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

DEFINITION:-
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.
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.

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.

In computer graphics, two or three-dimensional pictures can be created that are used
for research. Many hardware devices algorithm has been developing for improving the
speed of picture generation with the passes of time. It includes the creation storage of
models and image of objects. These models for various fields like engineering,
mathematical and so on.

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
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

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 Packages:

 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO 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)

Computer Graphics File Format

describes how data related to the image will be stored. Data can be stored in
compressed, Uncompressed, or vector format. Each format of the image has a different
advantage and disadvantage. Image types such as TIFF are good for printing while JPG
or PNG, are best for the web.
 TIFF(.tif, .tiff) Tagged Image File Format this format store image data
without losing any data. It does not perform any compression on images,
and a high-quality image is obtained but the size of the image is also large,
which is good for printing, and professional printing.
 JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) Joint Photographic Experts Group is a loss-prone (lossy)
format in which data is lost to reduce the size of the image. Due to
compression, some data is lost but that loss is very less. It is a very common
format and is good for digital cameras, nonprofessional prints, E-Mail,
Powerpoint, etc., making it ideal for web use.
 GIF (.gif) GIF or Graphics Interchange Format files are used for web
graphics. They can be animated and are limited to only 256 colors, which
can allow for transparency. GIF files are typically small in size and are
portable.
 PNG (.png) PNG or Portable Network Graphics files are a lossless image
format. It was designed to replace gif format as gif supported 256 colors
unlike PNG which support 16 million colors.
 Bitmap (.bmp) Bit Map Image file is developed by Microsoft for windows. It
is same as TIFF due to lossless, no compression property. Due to BMP being
a proprietary format, it is generally recommended to use TIFF files.
 EPS (.eps) Encapsulated PostScript file is a common vector file type. EPS
files can be opened in applications such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW.
 RAW Image Files (.raw, .cr2, .nef, .orf, .sr2) These Files are unprocessed
and created by a camera or scanner. Many digital SLR cameras can shoot in
RAW, whether it be a .raw, .cr2, or .nef. These images are the equivalent of a
digital negative, meaning that they hold a lot of image information. These
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

images need to be processed in an editor such as Adobe Photoshop or

Lightroom. It saves metadata and is used for photography.

GRAPHICS STANDARDS:-

Graphical Kernel System is software which used for two-dimensional graphics.

It was adopted as first graphics software standard by International Standard
Organization (ISO). It has features for drawing in 2-dimensional vector graphics which
is suitable for charting and similar purpose. The 2-dimensional computer
graphics which is closely related to six output functions of Graphical Kernel System
(GKS). These are as follows :

1. Polyline –
As from the name ‘poly’ means ‘many’. Polyline is function which has ability
to draw one or more straight lines through coordinates` which user has
given to them.
2. Polymarker –
This function is used to draw a symbol at coordinate which user has
provided. There are 5 types of symbols which is used by this software
namely : x + * 0.
3. Text –
This function is used to add text at given coordinates by user.
4. Fill-area –
In this feature, it allows a polygon to be draw and it can be filled with
coordinates which are given. There is variety of fill-area which
includes hollow, solid and there is also variety of hatching and patterns.
5. Cell-array –
In this firstly pattern is defined by user and it outputs in
rectangle according to given coordinates by user.
6. Generalized Drawing Primitives –
It provides user various kinds of facilities. Mostly all of systems has various
kinds of software for arcs of circle or ellipse and also drawing of a smooth
curve with set of given points.
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Open Graphics Library (OpenGL) is a cross-language (language independent),

cross-platform (platform-independent) API for rendering 2D and 3D Vector
Graphics(use of polygons to represent image). OpenGL API is designed mostly in
hardware.
 Design : This API is defined as a set of functions which may be called by the
client program. Although functions are similar to those of C language but it
is language independent.
 Development : It is an evolving API and Khronos Group regularly releases
its new version having some extended feature compare to previous one.
GPU vendors may also provide some additional functionality in the form of
extension.
 Associated Libraries : The earliest version is released with a companion
library called OpenGL utility library. But since OpenGL is quite a complex
process. So in order to make it easier other library such as OpenGL Utility
Toolkit is added which is later superseded by free glut. Later included
library were GLEE, GLEW, and gliding.
 Implementation : Mesa 3D is an open source implementation of OpenGL. It
can do pure software rendering and it may also use hardware acceleration
on BSD, Linux, and other platforms by taking advantage of Direct Rendering
Infrastructure.

Cathode Ray Tube

The primary output device in a graphical system is the video monitor. The main element
of a video monitor is the Cathode Ray Tube CRTCRT, shown in the following
illustration.
The operation of CRT is very simple −
 The electron gun emits a beam of electrons cathoderayscathoderays.
 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.
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

There are two ways RandomscanandRasterscanRandomscanandRasterscan 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 scanlinescanline at a time as shown in the following illustration.
Each screen point is referred to as a pixel pictureelementpictureelement 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.

Random Scan and Raster Scan Display:

Random Scan Display:

Random Scan System uses an electron beam which operates like a pencil to create
a line image on the CRT screen. The picture is constructed out of a sequence of
straight-line segments. 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. 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. The process is
shown in fig:
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Random-scan monitors are also known as vector displays or stroke-writing displays

or calligraphic displays.

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:

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

rectangular box called Raster on the screen. Information of on and off pixels is
stored in refresh buffer or Frame buffer. 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.

Frame Buffer is also known as Raster or bit map. In Frame Buffer the positions are
called picture elements or pixels. 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:
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

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.

 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

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 display.

Random Scan or VectorScan

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.

Before we begin with what vector graphics and raster graphics are, we must
understand a few basic terms:
Pixel: In Computer graphics, a pixel, dot, or picture element is a physical point in a
picture. A pixel is simply the smallest addressable element of a picture represented on
a screen. A majority of pictures that we see on our computer screen are raster images.
The selfie that you click with your mobile phone is another example of a raster image.
An image is made up using a collection of pixels referred to as a bitmap.
Bitmap: In computer graphics, a bitmap is a mapping from some domain (for example,
a range of integers) to bits, that is, values which are zero or one. It is also called a bit
array or bitmap index. The more general term pixmap refers to a map of pixels, where
 UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS

each one may store more than two colors, thus using more than one bit per pixel.
Often bitmap is used for this as well. In some contexts, the term bitmap implies one bit
per pixel, while pixmap is used for images with multiple bits per pixel.
Raster Graphics
Raster images use bit maps to store information. This means a large file needs a large
bitmap. The larger the image, the more disk space the image file will take up. As an
example, a 640 x 480 image requires information to be stored for 307,200 pixels,
while a 3072 x 2048 image (from a 6.3 Megapixel digital camera) needs to store
information for a whopping 6,291,456 pixels. We use algorithms that compress
images to help reduce these file sizes. Image formats like jpeg and gif are common
compressed image formats. Scaling down these images is easy but enlarging a bitmap
makes it pixelated or simply blurred. Hence for images that need to scale to different
sizes, we use vector graphics.
File extensions: .BMP, .TIF, .GIF, .JPG
Vector Graphics
Making use of sequential commands or mathematical statements or programs which
place lines or shapes in a 2-D or 3-D environment is referred to as Vector Graphics.
Vector graphics are best for printing since it is composed of a series of mathematical
curves. As a result vector graphics print crisply even when they are enlarged. In
physics: A vector is something that has a magnitude and direction. In vector graphics,
the file is created and saved as a sequence of vector statements. Rather than having a
bit in the file for each bit of line drawing, we use commands which describe a series of
points to be connected. As a result, a much smaller file is obtained.
File extensions: SVG, EPS, PDF, AI, DXF
Conversions:
1. Vector to Raster: Printers and display devices are raster devices. As a
result, we need to convert vector images to raster format before they can be
used i.e displayed or printed. The required resolution plays a vital role in
determining the size of the raster file generated. Here it is important to note
that the size of the vector image to be converted always remains the same.
It is convenient to convert a vector file to a range of bitmap/raster file
formats but going down the opposite paths is harder. ( because at times we
need to edit the image while converting from raster to vector)
2. Raster to Vector: Image tracing in computing can be referred to as
vectorization and it’s simply the conversion of raster images to vector
images. An interesting application of vectorization is to update images and
recover work. Vectorization can be used to retrieve information that we
have lost. Paint in Microsoft Windows produces a bitmap output file. It is
easy to notice jagged lines in Paint. In this kind of conversion, the image size
reduces drastically. As a result, an exact conversion is not possible in this
scenario. Due to various approximations and editing that are done in the
process of conversion the converted images are not of good quality.
Differences between Vector and Raster graphics
The main difference between vector and raster graphics is that raster graphics are
composed of pixels, while vector graphics are composed of paths. A raster graphic,
such as a gif or jpeg, is an array of pixels of various colors, which together form an
image.
UNIT:- 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS