2016-17 Academic Catalog

Scientific simulations, movies, and video games often incorporate computer-generated images of fictitious worlds. How are these worlds modeled inside a computer? How are they "photographed" to produce the images that we see? What performance constraints and design trade-offs come into play? In this course we learn the basic theory and methodology of computer graphics, following the historical development of the field, from software implementations to fixed-function hardware, shader programs, and recent lower-level interfaces. Collaborative final projects allow students to pursue special topics in greater depth. Familiarity with vectors, matrices, and the C programming language is recommended but not required. Prerequisite: Computer Science 208 or instrutor consent