Realtime 3D Computer Graphics Computer Graphics Computer Graphics Software & Hardware Rendering Software & Hardware Rendering 3D APIs 3D APIs Pixel & Vertex Shaders Pixel & Vertex Shaders Conclusion Conclusion

Computer Graphics All 3D graphics are represented by the computer as sets of triangles in 3D space All 3D graphics are represented by the computer as sets of triangles in 3D space These triangles are rendered to the screen by correcting for perspective, and then filling with solid, smoothshaded, or lit colors or textures These triangles are rendered to the screen by correcting for perspective, and then filling with solid, smoothshaded, or lit colors or textures

Software Rendering All the work of rendering done by the CPU All the work of rendering done by the CPU Consequently, generally slower and lower quality Consequently, generally slower and lower quality The original method of producing realtime graphics The original method of producing realtime graphics No longer commonly used No longer commonly used

Hardware Rendering Most of the work of rendering done by a specialized hardware device, such as a 3D accelerated video card Most of the work of rendering done by a specialized hardware device, such as a 3D accelerated video card Consequently, often faster and higher quality than software Consequently, often faster and higher quality than software Most common in newer applications and games Most common in newer applications and games

3D APIs: Direct3D Part of Microsoft’s DirectX API Part of Microsoft’s DirectX API Supports Windows 9x, 2000, and XP only Supports Windows 9x, 2000, and XP only Somewhat more complicated than OpenGL for the programmer Somewhat more complicated than OpenGL for the programmer Often better supported by low-end video cards Often better supported by low-end video cards

3D APIs: OpenGL Open standard originally created by SGI for high-end graphics workstations Open standard originally created by SGI for high-end graphics workstations Supported by many operating systems, including Windows, various Unix systems, Mac OS, and BeOS Supported by many operating systems, including Windows, various Unix systems, Mac OS, and BeOS More high-level API, easier to create nice effects with less experience More high-level API, easier to create nice effects with less experience

Vertex & Pixel Shaders Allow the programmer to gain much greater control of the hardware rendering system, to create otherwise difficult effects Allow the programmer to gain much greater control of the hardware rendering system, to create otherwise difficult effects Can allow for much improved rendering speed on supporting hardware Can allow for much improved rendering speed on supporting hardware Supported by the latest NVidia and ATI graphics cards Supported by the latest NVidia and ATI graphics cards

Conclusion Computer Graphics Computer Graphics Software Rendering Software Rendering Hardware Rendering Hardware Rendering 3D APIs: Direct3D, OpenGL 3D APIs: Direct3D, OpenGL Pixel & Vertex Shaders Pixel & Vertex Shaders