CAP103 Final

Computer Graphics Technology

The use of computers to create, store, and manipulate visual images and animations.

Kinetoscope

An early motion picture viewing device invented by Thomas Edison that allowed one person at a time to view moving images.

Luxo Jr.

A 1986 Pixar short film that demonstrated emotional storytelling through computer animation and became Pixar’s mascot.

Sketchpad

The first computer graphics program created by Ivan Sutherland in 1963 that allowed drawing directly on a screen.

Pixar’s Toy Story

The first full-length feature film made entirely with 3D computer animation in 1995.

Production Process of Computer Animation

The three stages of animation production: pre-production, production, and post-production.

Polygons

The basic flat shapes that make up 3D models.

Faces

The flat surfaces of a 3D object.

Edges

The lines that connect vertices.

Vertices

The points where edges meet.

Deformers

Tools that bend, twist, or change the shape of a 3D model.

Animation Controls

Handles or sliders used to control animation movement.

Character Rigging

The process of adding a skeleton and controls to a 3D model.

Set Driven Key

A system where one attribute controls another automatically.

Attributes

Adjustable properties such as position, rotation, and scale.

Reflection

The bouncing of light off a surface.

Refraction

The bending of light through transparent objects.

Global Illumination

A lighting technique that simulates how light bounces between surfaces.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photographs

Images with a wide range of brightness values used for realistic lighting.

Image-Based Lighting

Lighting a 3D scene using photographs or HDR images.

Ray Tracing

A rendering technique that simulates light rays for realistic shadows and reflections.

Radiosity

A lighting method that calculates how light transfers between surfaces.

The Pyramid of Vision

The visible area a camera can see.

Line of Sight

The direction the camera is facing.

Point of Interest

The main subject the camera focuses on.

Depth of Field

The distance range that remains in focus in a scene.

Key Light

The main light source in a scene.

Tinted Light

A light that has color added to it.

Focal Light

A light used to draw attention to a specific subject.

Fill Light

A softer light that reduces shadows.

Area Light

A light that emits from a flat surface producing soft shadows.

Spot Light

A cone-shaped light beam.

Point Light

A light that shines in all directions from one point.

Directional Light

A light with parallel rays like sunlight.

Projection Methods

Ways textures are applied to 3D objects.

Planar Projection

A flat texture projection from one direction.

Cylindrical Projection

A projection that wraps texture around a cylinder.

Cubic Projection

A projection from six sides like a cube.

Specular Shading Models

Models that control how shiny a surface appears.

12 Principles of Animation

The basic rules of realistic motion created by Disney animators.

Cel Animation

Traditional hand-drawn animation on clear sheets.

Keyframe Animation

Animation created using important pose points.

Visual Effects Animation for Live Action

Adding CGI into real filmed footage.

Spline Tangents

Curved animation transitions for smooth motion.

Auto Tangents

Automatically smoothed animation curves.

Stepped Tangents

No motion between keyframes.

Linear Tangents

Straight-line motion at constant speed.

Potentiometers

Devices used in motion capture to measure rotation.

Dynamic Simulation Techniques

Simulations of real-world forces like gravity and wind.

Rigid Body Dynamics

Physics simulations for solid, non-bending objects.

Visual Effects (VFX)

Digital effects added in post-production.

Practical Effects

Physical effects created on set.

Resampling

Changing the pixel dimensions of an image.

Image Editing

Altering images using software.

Matting Techniques

Methods for separating subjects from backgrounds.

Garbage Matte

A rough matte used to remove unwanted parts.

Stationary Matte

A matte that does not move.

Traveling Matte

A matte that moves with the subject.

Color Resolution

The number of colors an image can display.

Image Resolution

The amount of detail in an image measured in pixels.