What is Computer Graphics?

• The creation, manipulation and storage of visual content (pictures, drawings, diagrams, 3D models, etc.)
• Technically, from modeling to animations/renderings to displaying on screens or other devices
• Practically, it is about movies, games, VR, art, advertising, design, communication, visualization, robotics, etc.

History

• 1950: The first graphic images are created by Ben Laposky
• 1960s
  • The term "computer graphics" is coined by William Fetter
  • World first video game "Spacewar!" is created by Steve Russell
  • Theoretical work on CG techniques.
• 1970s: Practical implementation of computer graphics techniques.
  • Gouraud (1971) - diffuse lighting
  • Phong (1974) - specular lighting
  • Blinn (1974) - curved surfaces, texture
  • Catmull (1974) - Z-buffer, hidden-surface algorithm
  • Crow (1977) - anti-aliasing
• 1980s
  • Global illumination and photorealism advancements
  • Modernization and commercialization of computer graphics
  • Development of computer graphics systems
  • Emergence of computer graphics-based movies such as "Star Wars"
  • Golden era of video games with companies like Atari, Nintendo, and Sega
• 2000s
  • 3D modeling became widely accessible for commercial use.
  • The invention and popularization of 3D video games.
  • Increased adoption of computer graphics in TV commercials, cinema, and other media.
  • Advancements in GPUs and sophisticated computational hardware.

Computer Graphics vs. Computer Vision

Why learning Computer Graphics?

• CG is Pervasive.
• We don't want a boring text only interface when using computers.
• Graphics is fascinating!

Important topics

Geometry

• Curves and Surfaces
• Shape Representation
• Surface Reconstruction
• Geometry Processing
  • Convex Decomposition
  • Mesh Simplification
  • Surface Subdivision
  • Surface Editing
  • Surface Parameterization and Texture Mapping

Rendering

• Image Formation: In computer graphics, we form images which are generally two dimensional using a process analogous to how images are formed by physical imaging systems
  • Cameras
  • Microscopes
  • Telescopes
  • Human visual system
• Elements of Image Formation
  • Objects
  • Viewer
  • Light Sources
  • Attributes that govern how light interacts with the materials in the scene
• Light Types
  • Directional Light
  • Point Light
  • Spot Light (angular subset of point light)
• Texture and Shading
• Rasterization
  • Project onto the screen
  • Break projected primitives into fragments (pixels)
  • Gold standard in Video Games (Real-time Applications)
• Ray Tracing
  • Shoot rays from the camera though each pixel
    • Calculate intersection and shading
    • Continue to bounce the rays till they hit light sources
  • Gold standard in Animations / Movies (Offline Applications)
• Non-Photorealistic Rendering (NPR)

Simulation / Animation

• Performance Capture
• Character Animation
• Keyframing
• Physically Based Animation

Graphics + AI