Lec 1. Introduction
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2025-09-22
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)
- Shoot rays from the camera though each pixel
- Non-Photorealistic Rendering (NPR)
Simulation / Animation
- Performance Capture
- Character Animation
- Keyframing
- Physically Based Animation