Computer-Graphics-Handout-1

Computer Graphics

The use of computers to create and manipulate images.

Modeling

Mathematical specification of an object’s shape and appearance properties.

Rendering

Process of generating shaded images from 3D models.

Animation

Technique of creating an illusion of motion through a sequence of images.

Raster

A 2D array of pixels that represents an image on a screen.

Pixel

Smallest picture element of a raster, defined by color values.

RGB Values

Triple of numbers (0 to 1) representing the intensity of red, green, and blue light in a pixel.

Resolution

Number of pixels in an image/raster.

Precision

Number of bits used to store each pixel’s color data.

Buffer

Temporary memory storage for moving data.

Framebuffer

Memory region where pixel data is stored. Contains multiple buffers (color, depth, stencil).

Color Buffer

Stores RGB values of pixels.

Depth Buffer (Z-buffer)

Stores distances from scene objects to the virtual camera, used to determine visibility.

Stencil Buffer

Stores values for advanced effects like shadows, reflections, or portals.

Frame

A single image in an animation.

Frame Rate (FPS)

Number of frames shown per second.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

Specialized hardware for parallel graphics rendering.

Shaders

Programs that run on the GPU to perform rendering computations.

API (Application Programming Interface)

Set of commands and protocols to interact with the GPU.

HLSL (High-Level Shading Language)

Shader language for Microsoft DirectX.

Metal Shading Language

Shader language for Apple’s Metal API.

GLSL (OpenGL Shading Language)

Shader language for OpenGL, a cross-platform graphics library.

Application Stage

Runs on CPU; sets up window, reads vertex data, loads textures/shaders, and sends data to GPU.

VBO (Vertex Buffer Object)

Stores vertex attribute data in GPU memory.

Texture Buffers

Store images used as textures.

VAO (Vertex Array Object)

Stores associations between vertex data and shader variables.

Geometry Processing

Determines positions of vertices using vertex shaders.

Mesh

A collection of points grouped into lines or triangles representing an object’s shape.

Vertex

Data structure containing position, color, texture coordinates (UV), and normal vector.

Normal Vector

Perpendicular vector to a surface, used in lighting calculations.

Model Transformation

Moves, rotates, scales object in world space.

View Transformation

Places scene relative to the camera (view space).

Projection Transformation

Clips/discards points outside the view; coordinates in clip space.

Rasterization

Converts geometric shapes into pixels.

Primitive Assembly

Groups points into geometric primitives (points, lines, triangles).

Fragment

Data used to determine a pixel’s final color (contains raster position, etc.).

Pixel Processing

Determines final color of each pixel using fragment shaders.

Base Color

Overall color applied to a shape.

Interpolated Colors

Colors blended from vertex colors.

Texture Mapping

Applying images (textures) onto shapes using UV coordinates.

Lighting Effects

Adjusting color based on light sources and surface orientation.