CS 4390
Computer Graphics

Summer 1997
College of Computing 102
MWF 10:00-11:00

Description
This course introduces techniques for 2D and 3D computer graphics, including graphics hardware, 2D and 3D primitives and transformations, and basic illumination and shading.

Instructor

Dr. Nancy S. Pollard
nsp@cc.gatech.edu
219 College of Computing
894-7243
Office Hours: Drop by room 219 or send email to schedule an appointment.

Teaching Assistant

G. Drew Kessler
drew@cc.gatech.edu
262A College of Computing
894-5622
Office Hours: Monday, 11-noon Rm 262A, CoC
Thursday, 5-6 SGI lab, Rm 130, CoC
or send email to schedule an appointment.

Newsgroup

Here's a link to the class newsgroup.

Textbook
There are two versions of the text for the class: You will need to choose one of these books. The first is more comprehensive and a better reference text. If you are planning to take additional courses in computer graphics I would strongly recommend this book, because you will need it in later courses. If CS4390 will be your only foray into computer graphics, however, you may want to take a look at Introduction to Computer Graphics. This text is a good resource for most of the topics that will be covered in class, and it can be a little bit easier reading. The syllabus will contain reading assignments for both texts.

Optional course notes will also be available in the bookstore by the end of the week of June 23rd. These will not follow the lectures exactly, but provide an overview of most of the topics that will be covered.

Syllabus

An approximate syllabus for the class appears below.

Date Topic Reading Assignments
June 25 Introduction - -
June 27 Graphics hardware P&P: Ch 4
Intro: Ch 4 		Homework
Solutions
June 30 Drawing lines P&P: Ch 3.1-3.3
Intro: Ch 3.1-3.3 		Homework
Solutions
July 2 Drawing Polygons P&P: Ch 3.5-3.6
Intro: Ch 3.4-3.5 		Assignment 1 out
July 4 Holiday - -
July 7 Patterns, style, and anti-aliasing P&P: Ch 3.8-3.10,3.15,3.17
Intro: Ch 3.6-3.7,3.12-3.14 		Homework
Solutions
July 9 2D transformations P&P: Ch 5.1-5.3
Intro: Ch 5.1-5.4 		Homework
Solutions
July 11 Windows and viewports P&P: Ch 5.4
Intro: Ch 5.5 		Homework
Solutions
July 14 Clipping P&P: Ch 3.11-3.14
Intro: Ch 3.8-3.11 		Homework
Solutions
July 16 Quiz 1 - -
July 18 Intro 3D Graphics - Assignment 1 due
July 21 3D transforms P&P: Ch 5.6-5.8
Intro: Ch 5.7-5.9 		Homework
Solutions
July 23 Projection P&P: Ch 6.1-6.3
Intro: Ch 6.1-6.4 		Homework
Solutions
July 25 Projection P&P: Ch 6.4-6.6
Intro: Ch 6.5-6.7 		Assignment 2 out
July 28 Projection and clipping - Homework
Solutions
July 30 Visible Surfaces P&P: Ch 15.1-15.4
Intro: Ch 13.1-13.3 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 1 Visible surfaces P&P: Ch 15.5-15.8
Intro: Ch 13.3-13.5 		-
Aug 4 Guest Lecture: Drew Kessler
Color and human perception 		P&P: Ch 13.2-13.4
Intro: Ch 11.2-11.4 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 6 Guest Lecture: Drew Kessler
Color and human perception 		- Assignment 2 due
Homework
Solutions
Aug 8 Quiz
Review topics 		- -
Aug 11 Illumination P&P: Ch 16.1
Intro: Ch 14.1 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 13 Shading P&P: Ch 16.2-16.3
Intro: Ch 14.2-14.3 		Assignment 3 out
Homework
Solutions
Aug 15 Shadows P&P: Ch 16.4-16.6, 16.14.1
Intro: Ch 14.4-14.5, 14.9.1 		-
Aug 18 Curves / curve patches P&P: Ch 11.2
Intro: Ch 9.2 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 20 Curves / curve patches P&P: Ch 11.3
Intro: Ch 9.3 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 22 Object modeling P&P: Ch 12
Intro: Ch 10 		Homework
Solutions
Aug 25 Ray tracing P&P: Ch 15.10, 16.12
Intro: Ch 13.4, 14.7 		-
Aug 27 Animation P&P: Ch 21
Intro: Ch 12.6		 Assignment 3 due
Aug 29 Summary / review - -
Sept 5 Final exam 11:30-2:20
room 102 CoC

Review topics 		- -

Programs and Grading

Grading will be based on

There will be three programming assignments (due on the dates listed on the syllabus). The three programming assignments will be on the following topics:

Here are some pointers to information that may be helpful in getting started:

Programs must run on the Indys or the O2s in the SGI lab (CoC room 130).

Late projects will be penalized by 2n points, where n is the number of late days. Weekends count as 1 day. Projects that are more than 5 days late will not be graded.

Useful Links

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