1. CSc 4820/6820 Computer Graphics Algorithms Lecture 2
Overview of 3D Computer Graphics

2. Outline A brief history of 3D computer graphics
Computer graphics applications
Major topics in 3D computer graphics

3. What is Computer Graphics?
The word “Computer Graphics” means different things to different people.
We will focus on 3D interactive computer graphics:
How to create and store geometry objects (Modeling)
How to manipulate geometry objects (Animation)
How to generate and display images of geometry objects (Rendering)
User interaction
Images courtesy Discreet
Lord of the Rings

4. Major Topics in Computer Graphics
Modeling
How to create and store geometry objects
Animation
How to manipulate geometry objects
Rendering
How to generate and display images of geometry objects

5. General Goals of CG
Modeling & rendering: create photo-realistic images
Is it real or is it CG?
Animation: create visually realistic simulation
Towards true real-time performance
60 frames per second
Flexible user interaction
Use CG techniques to advance other research fields
Scientific visualization and engineering simulation

6. Computer Graphics: A Brief History
William Fetter of Boeing coins the term “Computer Graphics” (1960)
Basic computer graphics algorithms/concepts are introduced: hidden line detection, homogeneous coordinates, line drawing, back-face culling, parametric curves & surfaces, etc.
Spacewars, first video game, is developed at MIT (1961)
SketchPad: first interactive computer graphics software (1962)
Bell Labs builds first frame buffer (3 bits)
First use of CGI for commercials – MAGI for IBM (1969)
Spacewars
Image courtesy MIT Media Lab

7. Computer Graphics: A Brief History
Many fundamental computer graphics algorithms/technologies are introduced: visible surface detection, Gouraud shading, Phone shading, Z-buffer, curved surface rendering, texture mapping, reflectance and environment mapping, anti-aliasing, curved shadow, bump mapping, ray tracing, keyframe based animation, etc.
First SIGGRAPH conference (1973)
Microsoft is founded (1974); Special effects powerhouse, Industrial Light & Magic, is founded (1975)
The first flight simulator for Apple II is released (1978) (later purchased by Microsoft)
First flight simulator
Image courtesy simflight.com

8. Computer Graphics: A Brief History
Many major companies in the graphics field are founded: Silicon Graphics Inc., ATI, SUN, Pixar, Adobe, AutoDesk, Alias, Softimage, Side Effects, etc.
More graphics algorithms are introduced: radiosity, motion capture, motion blur, morphing, etc.
The birth of RenderMan (1988)
Wavefront – the first commercially available 3D software package (1984)
AutoCAD 1.0 (1982)
Tron (1982): 1st film to make extensive use of computer graphics
Tron

9. Computer Graphics: A Brief History
The release of major 3D graphics libraries: OpenGL, DirectX, Java3D
The release of major 3D modeling & animation packages: 3D Studio, 3D Studio Max, Maya, etc.
The rise and fall of SGI
NVIDIA releases first Graphics Processing Unit (1999)
Increasing use of 3D special effects in feature films: Terminator 2, Titanic, etc.
First 3D computer animated feature film: Toy Story by Pixar
The release of Doom and Quake
Titanic

10. Computer Graphics: A Brief History
2000 – present
Powerful Graphics Processing Units on PC graphics card: NVIDIA Geforce, ATI Radeon
High level shading languages: Cg, HLSL, GLSL, etc.
New generation game console: Xbox/360, Playstation 2/3, Nintendo Wii, etc.
Widespread use of CGI special effects in feature films: War of the Worlds, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, Matrix, Finding Nemo, Shrek, The Cars, Wall-E, etc.

11. Major applications Entertainment Training and simulation
Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
Medical applications
Scientific visualization
CG art

12. Medical Visualization
Human body modeling
3D medical image visualization
Volume rendering
Virtual surgery simulation
Computer Assisted surgery
Virtual Reality for patient care
E.g. Immersive Virtual Reality for pain control
Modeling human head
Images courtesy Stanford University
Volume Rendering
Images courtesy GE

13. Scientific Visualization
Visualizing and analyzing engineering & scientific data
Bioinformatic visualization
Molecular Modeling
Fluid Dynamics simulation and analysis
3D structure electromagnetic field simulator
E.g. visualization for Data Mining
Collaborative visualization
CAVE: immersive virtual environment
2003 Hurricane Season Forecast
Images courtesy NASA
Collaborative Visualization
Images courtesy SGI

14. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)
Computer assisted engineering analysis
Finite Element Analysis
Images courtesy SGI

15. Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Manufacture (CAM)
Widespread use of CAD and CAM in manufacture industry
E.g. Automobile design and manufacture
Geometric Modeling
Product design and analysis
Computer Aided Manufacturing
Images courtesy SGI
Computer Aided Design
Images courtesy SGI

16. Visual Simulation
Simulate real world experience using graphics software and hardware
Used for civil or military training, mission planning, etc.
E.g. flight, ground, space, maritime simulation
Flight Simulation
Images courtesy Link Simulation & Training
Marine Simulation
Images courtesy SGI

17. Architectural Visualization & Simulation
Urban simulation for city planning
Real estate preview
Urban Simulation
Images courtesy MultiGen-Paradigm
Real Estate Preview
Images courtesy SGI

18. Art Computer Graphics Art Art preservation
Digital Michelangelo Project
Computer Graphics Art
Images courtesy Dan Raabe, Toolbox Films
Michelangelo’s David
Images courtesy Stanford University

19. 3D computer graphics industry
3D Graphics related industry is huge and growing
By 2010, U.S. sales of video games are expected to grow to $15 billion.
Video gaming is expected to generate more than 250,000 jobs by 2009
The average age of gamers was 33 years, and 25% of players were older than 50.
In general, the video game industry is one of the few bright spots in the current economic recession.

20. Hardware and software Graphics hardware is advancing rapidly
Creating CG content no longer requires expensive hardware
Most of the development is done on PC now
CG software packages (Maya, 3DS Max, DirectX, OpenGL) has matured
Open source tools like Blender have also matured

21. Hardware Advances SGI InfiniteReality Server (1998)
NVIDIA GeForce Ultra
(2004)
Triangles/sec
13 Million
600 Million
Cost
$100,000
$500

22. Web sites for CG information
Major companies’ web sites (nVidia, AMD, Autodesk, Discreet, etc.)
News:

23. How to search and find papers?
The most comprehensive database of CG publications
Most of the recent journal papers are online
Find them through GSU library web page: E-journal Locator
SIGGRAPH papers since 1974 are also online
Go to and search for “computer graphics” and then click on “computer graphics proceedings …”
Search by paper title on Google.
Find one of the authors’ homepage. They often have links to their papers.

24. Notable companies Software Hardware NVIDIA (GeForce card, Cg)
ATI (Radeon card), acquired by AMD
Intel (integrated graphics chipset)
Software
Microsoft (DirectX, games)
AutoDesk (3D Studio Max, AutoCAD, Maya)
SoftImage (SoftImage)

25. Notable companies Animation film studio Visual special effects
Pixar, DreamWorks, etc.
Visual special effects
Industrial Light & Magic, Rhythm and Hues, etc.
e_visual_effects_companies

26. Notable companies Game Other
Electronic Arts
Sony
Microsoft
Other
Adobe
Apple
For a more comprehensive list, visit SIGGRAPH exhibitor directory at ibition/

27. How to develop 3D graphics applications
Write programs
Use modeling and animation tools
Combine both programming and modeling/animation tools

28. 3D Graphics Programming APIs
OpenGL
Microsoft DirectX

29. Shading languages and tools
OpenGL Shading Language
High Level Shading Language in DirectX Cg
Shading language development tools
RenderMonkey
CgFX viewer

30. Modeling and animation tools
Maya, 3DS Max, and Softimage
All three are now owned by Autodesk
Blender
The leading open source tool
For a list of major packages, check out phics_software

31. Blender Blender (www.blender.org)
A free 3D modeling, animation, and rendering tool

32. Next lecture
Introduction to 3D graphics programming