Comprehensive Notes on CG Design and Production

Introduction to CG Design

CG Production Basics

• This book serves as an introductory textbook for CG (Computer Graphics) design and production.
• It is designed for learners preparing for the CG Creator Certification Basic exam, offered by the CG-ARTS Association.
• The book aims to help learners grasp fundamental knowledge, assess their understanding, and aid in academic or career pursuits.

Contents Overview

• Chapter 1: What is CG? - Explores the characteristics, history, industrial applications, and workflow of CG.
• Chapter 2: Basics of Expression - Covers the relationship between drawing and CG, fundamental properties of color and motion, and typography.
• Chapter 3: 2D CG and Photography - Discusses 2D CG fundamentals, digital camera photography, and photo retouching.
• Chapter 4: 3D CG Production - Explains the production of 3D CG video works.
• Chapter 5: Fundamentals of Technology - Covers hardware, software, and digital data basics for CG production.
• Chapter 6: Intellectual Property Rights - Focuses on understanding copyright among intellectual property rights.

Chapter 1: What is CG?

Overview

• CG (Computer Graphics) refers to the technology of generating images and videos on displays using computers, as well as the images and videos produced this way.
• CG has evolved with contributions from military, academic research, industrial applications, and entertainment fields.

1-1 What is CG?

• 2D CG includes real-life images taken with digital cameras, retouched images, and illustrations drawn directly on computers.
• 3D CG refers to three-dimensional images often used in video games and movies.
• Characteristics of CG:
  • Accurate and high-quality images can be obtained.
  • Images can be edited freely (e.g., deformation, addition, deletion, copying, color change).
  • Clear and understandable representation is possible (e.g., visualizing internal organs, surface temperatures).
  • Formalized tasks can be aided (e.g., DTP, model production).
  • Images can be transmitted easily as digital data.

1-2 History of CG

• CG emerged with the development of computers and has evolved alongside them.
• Developed with military, academic research, industrial applications, and entertainment backgrounds.
• Early developments include the SAGE system, which laid the conceptual groundwork for GUI.
• Numerical Control (NC) machine tools enabled the automated processing of complex 3D shapes.
• ARPA played a significant role in the development, research and utilization of computers, leading to various applications in industry, art and entertainment.
• Establishment of 3D CG Basic Technology:
  • Research on surface processing such as hidden surface removal, shading, and texture mapping.
  • Ray casting method devised by A. Appel.
  • Ray tracing method developed by D. Kay and T. Whitted.
• High Performance of Computers and Industrial Application of CG:
  • The 1970s and 1980s saw remarkable advancements in computer performance and miniaturization, making the industrial application of CG a reality.
  • The introduction of workstations (WS) allowed many research institutions and companies to introduce small, inexpensive, high-performance computers.
  • J. Clark developed the world's first graphics processor, and Silicon Graphics sold IRIS 1400 as GWS (Graphic Work Station).
  • This created an environment where 3D CG could be created in real time on the desktop.
  • The digitalization of animation and the use of CG in the film industry, realized by E. Catmull, became widespread.
  • In the 1990s, cheaper and more powerful computers made CG indispensable.
  • High-performance integrated 3D CG software for PCs was also released.
• Evolution of CG in movies and animation:
  • G. Lucas established a computer division within Lucasfilm in 1980, creating three project teams: sound, editing, and CG.
  • Lucasfilm's CG project director was E. Catmull.
  • CG utilization in films included compositing (adding CG parts without any sense of incongruity to live-action parts) and full 3D CG production.
  • Digitalization of video editing (non-linear editing system) developed by this computer division has become essential in later video production.
  • Having achieved great success with "Terminator 2" (1991) and "Jurassic Park" (1993), ILM set up a CG development group within Lucasdigital's VFX division, ILM.
  • Lucasfilm's computer division was dissolved in 1985, and the CG team became independent and established Pixar.
• Popularization of 2D CG:
  • Xerox PARC made significant research achievements related to computers and CG.
  • J.E. Warnock et al. developed the page description language Interpress in 1978.
  • Warnock et al. then founded Adobe Systems and completed PostScript in 1985.
  • Adobe Illustrator, a draw-based software for describing illustrations in PostScript, was released in 1987.
  • Adobe Systems released the high-performance paint-based software Adobe Photoshop in 1990, and Illustrator and Photoshop became widely used among graphic designers and illustrators as image software running on PCs.
  • With the development of a digital printing system using PostScript and the spread of high-performance and inexpensive PCs, the use of 2D CG in printed materials became widespread.

1-3 Industrial Applications of CG

• CG is utilized across various industries and is integral to modern life.
• Entertainment:
  • TV programs, movies, animation, and games.
  • Theme parks, exhibitions, and museums.
  • Program titles, station IDs, commercials, and motion graphics use CG extensively.
  • Virtual sets replace studio sets in education, variety, and news programs.
  • Virtual characters interact with real-time.
  • News and weather forecasts incorporate CG for maps, reconstructions, and data visualization.
  • Movies and TV dramas use CG for VFX (visual effects), replacing traditional techniques.
  • Animation uses CG for both digitizing traditional cel animation and creating full 3D animated works.
  • Documentaries utilize CG to depict space, the microscopic world, prehistoric creatures, and historical reconstructions.
  • Games employ CG for realistic and stylized visuals, pushing the boundaries of real-time graphics.
  • Theme parks, events, exhibitions, and museums use CG for immersive attractions, simulations, and displays.
  • Music uses CG in promotional videos and concert visuals, with VJs creating live performances using real-time CG.
  • Projection mapping is an expression technology that projects images onto existing buildings and objects using high-brightness projectors..
  • CG is used in pachinko and pachislot machines to enhance visuals and create engaging experiences.
• Simulation and Visualization:
  • Training simulators for vehicles (aircraft, cars, ships, trains) use CG for realistic environments and scenarios.
  • Physics simulations are used for weather forecasting, disaster prediction, and scientific research.
  • Medicine utilizes CG for visualizing medical images, surgical simulations, and creating custom prosthetics.
  • Map information services provide 3D cityscapes and interactive navigation.
• Design:
  • Architecture uses CG for design visualization, simulations, and walk-throughs.
  • Product design uses CG to create realistic renderings and prototypes.
  • CG is used to create web, graphic and illustration designs.

1-4 CG Video Production Workflow

• The CG video production process consists of pre-production, production, and post-production.
• Pre-production involves:
  • Planning and design.
  • Script development.
  • Character and environment design.
  • Storyboarding.
  • Pre-visualization (pre-viz).
• Production includes:
  • Layout and scene composition.
  • Modeling.
  • Material creation.
  • Animation.
  • Camera work and lighting.
  • Rendering.
• Post-production includes:
  • Compositing.
  • Sound design (dialogue, sound effects, BGM).
  • Editing.

Symbols and Equations Used

• $NC$: Numerical Control.
• $CAM$: Computer-Aided Manufacturing.
• $CAD$: Computer-Aided Design.
• $Gui$: Graphical User Interface.
• $VFX$: Visual Effects.
• $S3D$: Stereo 3D.
• $WS$: Work Station.
• $PC$: Personal Computer.
• $HDD$: Hard Disk Drive.
• $DTP$: Desk Top Publishing.
• $ARPA$: Advanced Research Projects Agency.
• $ILM$: Industrial Light & Magic.
• $PARC$: Palo Alto Research Center.
• $VP$: Vanishing Point.
• $EL$: Eye Level.
• $fps$: frame per second
• $RGB$: Red, Green, Blue
• $CMY$: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow
• $CMYK$: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
• $HSV$: Hue, Saturation, Value
• $SDRAM$: Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory
• $DDR$: Double Data Rate
• $HD$: High Definition
• $HD-SDI$: High Definition Serial Digital Interface
• $DLP$: Digital Light Processing
• $LCOS$: Liquid Crystal on Silicon
• $HMD$: Head Mounted Display
• $dpi$: dots per inch
• $ppi$: pixels per inch