CMSC 212a: Computer Graphics

Relevant Links for CS212

Pictures from the Fall 1996 and Fall 1998 offerings of this course are available.

Instructor: John P. Dougherty

Semester & Year: Fall 2003

Text: Hill, F.S. "Computer Graphics using OpenGL, second edition." Prentice Hall, 2001. (available in the bookstore)

Requirements: weekly labs, midterm & final examinations, and a final (group) programming project

Prerequisites: CMSC 206 and MATH 215 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor

Description: This course covers the fundamental principles of computer graphics: data structures for representing objects to be viewed, and algorithms for the generating images from these representations. This course presupposes experience with the geometric interpretation of matrix operations, which may be obtained in Math 215 or other courses.

Topics include:

• Computer Graphics Basics
  • raster displays
  • OpenGL primitives
  • interaction with mouse/keyboard (event-driven programming)
  • mapping world to viewport
• Two-dimensional systems
  • Representations
    • bitmaps and pixel maps
    • lines and curves (of both integral and fractional dimension)
  • Algorithms
    • drawing and clipping lines and curves
    • transformations (scaling, translation, rotation)
• Three-dimensional systems
  • Representations
    • polygonal surfaces in three dimensional space
    • descriptions of camera position and orientation
    • curved surfaces
    • surface properties (reflection and texture)
  • Algorithms
    • projection of "wire-frame" images from arbitrary viewpoint
    • clipping in 3D
    • hidden surface removal
    • finding shadows
    • rendering effects of ambient, diffuse, and specular reflection
    • ray tracing
    • texture mapping
• Animation (time permitting)