School of Informatics Teaching Modules: Computer Graphics

Inf4/Inf5 Computer Graphics - 2011/12

The course description outlines the context, syllabus and activities. You will find course prerequisites and course recommended texts there too.

The course covers the fundamental algorithms associated with line drawing, polygonal decriptions for 3D objects, curve and surface representation, object transformations and viewing transformations and projections, shading and illumination techniques.

Lecture series.

Probable timetable for lectures. For each lecture there will be links to the webpage containing a copy of the lecture slides and a link to a printer-friendly version. Lectures take place F21, 7 George Square on Friday and Robson Building LT on Tuesdays at 1110-1200 hrs. The course begins with the first lecture on Tuesday 20th September 2011.

Lecture 1, 20/9/2011 - Introduction to Computer Graphics: lecture slides (google doc)
Lecture 2, 23/9/2011 - Transformation: lecture slides , In PDF format, and handouts (2x6)
Lecture 3, 26/9/2011 - Drawing Lines: lecture slides , In PDF format, and handouts (2x6)
Lecture 4, 30/9/2011 - Geometry of 3D objects: lecture slides topological surgery
Lecture 5, 4/10/2011 - Local illumination and shading : lecture slides
Lecture 6, 7/10/2011 - View transformation and Rasterization : lecture slides
Lecture 7, 11/10/2011 - Scanline algorithm and clipping : lecture slides
Lecture 8, 14/10/2011 - Hidden surface removal : lecture slides In PDF format, and handouts (2x3)
Lecture 9, 21/10/2011 - Texture Mapping and Anti-aliasing : lecture slides The demo program of MIPMAP I presented during the lecture
Lecture 10, 25/10/2011 - Bump mapping and Transparency : lecture slides
Lecture 11, 27/10/2011 - Environment Mapping, Mirroring: lecture slides (google docs) pdf
Lecture 12, 1/11/2011 - Shadows: lecture slides
Lecture 13, 4/11/2011 - Global Illumination 1: lecture slides
Lecture 14, 8/11/2011 - Global Illumination 2: lecture slides
Lecture 15, 11/11/2011 - Curves and Surfaces 1: lecture slides
Lecture 16, 18/11/2011 - Curves and Surfaces 2: lecture slides
Lecture 17, 22/11/2011 - Bspline, NURBS, Subdivision Surface: lecture slides (PDF) lecture slides (PPT)
Lecture 18, 25/11/2011 - Complex reflectance models, Image based lighting : lecture slides (PDF) lecture slides (PPT)

Coursework

Inf4: There are two coursework submissions, one from each of the two sections of the course. Both exercises will be programmed in C++. All work is submitted electronically using the Informatics generic electronic submission procedure.

submit cg {1|2} file1, file2, etc.
- or -
submit cg {1|2} directory - to give the directory name to submit (submits all below it, so be careful).

The program must be compiled and run on DICE, and you must submit your work through the above route. Work will not be accepted otherwise.

Coursework #1 - The practical work for the first part of the course requires you to draw a wireframe model of a teapot. Computer Graphics Practical 2011

Coursework #2 - The practical work for the second part of the course requires you to enhance your first practical such that it renders a shaded teapot. Computer Graphics Practical 2, 2011

Inf5(MSc): - The MSc students need to implement at least one of the extra functions in the list for bonus marks.

submit cg {1|2} file1, file2, etc.
- or -
submit cg {1|2} directory - to give the directory name to submit (submits all below it, so be careful).

General Graphics.

Lecture notes from the Hypergraph (local copy). These notes cover a good deal of the course and some other related material. Recommended reading!

Some useful articles from SIGGRAPH.

SIGGRAPH courses.

There are an enormous number of excellent SIGGRAPH courses given over many years and you can find a course on anything related to Computer Graphics. We have most of the recent years' courses on DVD and all are available online from SIGGRAPH.

Miscellaneous

I mention several times throughout the course that we should be sufficiently aware of how the human vision system works so that we may use that knowledge in the computer graphics effects we create. That is, work with the system. Much of what we see is perceived and may not physically exist. Again we must work with these features of our vision system. Certain artefacts can cause confusion. Look at http://www.scientificpsychic.com/graphics/ where you will see many example issues in perception. I suggest that you look at the following in particular:
- Anything to do with colour.
- Grey spots between black squares.
- White circles between black squares.
- Afterimage
- All the bumps are identical. This is a good example showing that in general we expect light from above: the sun, the room lighting. Flat discs with grey patterns will be perceived as convex or concave depending on the pattern yet they are flat disc images.
I have copies of SIGGRAPH CDs, DVDs, Proceedings and course notes going back several years. These may be borrowed. To find out if there may be something interesting or useful to you, check out the information on topics covered at the conferences from the SIGGRAPH site

Taku Komura tkomura@ed.ac.uk
September 2010.

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