Code

COMPGV10 (Also taught as: COMP3080 Computer Graphics)

Year

MSc

Prerequisites

Term

1

Taught By

Jan Kautz (100%)

Aims

To introduce the fundamental concepts of 3D computer graphics and give the students all the knowledge needed for creating an image of a virtual world from first principles.

Learning Outcomes

The students will be able to define a virtual world and create images of it. They will know how to write a basic ray tracer, and use a graphics library such as OpenGl (or equivalent).

Introduction

The painter's method

Creating an image using ray tracing

Ray casting using a simple camera
Local illumination
Global illumination with recursive ray tracing

Specifying a general camera

World / image coordinates
Creation of an arbitrary camera
Ray tracing with an arbitrary camera

Constructing a scene

Definition of polyhedra
Scene hierarchy
Transformations of objects / rays
Other modelling techniques

Acceleration Techniques

Bounding volumes
Space subdivision

From ray tracing to projecting polygons

Graphics pipeline
Transforming the polygons to image space
Sutherland-Hodgman clipping
Weiler-Atherton clipping

Polygon rasterization /Visible surface determination

Scan conversion
Z-buffer
Interpolated shading
Texture mapping
OpenGL
Back face culling

Shadows

Shadow volumes
Shadow buffer

The nature of light

Transport theory, Radiance, luminance, radiosity
The radiance equation

Radiosity method

Classical radiosity
Substructuring
Progressive refinement

Parametric surfaces

Bezier Curves
B-Splines Curves

Lecture presentations, and lab-classes.There are 2 courseworks, equally weighted.

The course has the following assessment components:

• Written Examination (2.5 hours, 75%)
• Coursework Section (2 pieces, 25%)

To pass this course, students must:

• Obtain an overall pass mark of 50% for all sections combined

The examination rubric is:
Answer THREE questions out of FIVE. All questions carry equal marks.

Computer Graphics And Virtual Environments - From Realism to Real-Time. Mel Slater, Yiorgos Chrysanthou, Anthony Steed, ISBN

0201-62420-6, Addison-Wesley, 2002.

Lecture notes, and coursework exercises.