Principles of Computer Graphics

Principles of Computer Graphics: Theory and Practice Using OpenGL and Maya® helps readers understand the principles of interactive computer graphics. Hands-on examples developed in OpenGL illustrate key concepts, and readers develop a professional animation, following traditional processes used in production houses. By the end of the book, readers will be experts in the principles of computer graphics and OpenGL. They will be able to develop their own professional quality games or graphics for any other 3-D, interactive domain, such as scientific/medical visualization.

Computer graphic books tend to focus on either the theory of computer graphics or the use of a particular graphics application program interface (API) This book is unique in its holistic approach, which teaches the principles of computer graphics first and then uses hands-on examples to demonstrate the concepts, using OpenGL and Maya®. After reading this book, the reader will be well-grounded in the principles and will be able to transfer the knowledge to any graphics API Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Principles of Computer Graphics: Theory and Practice Using OpenGL and Maya® helps readers understand the principles of interactive computer graphics. Hands-on examples developed in OpenGL illustrate key concepts, and readers develop a professional animation, following traditional processes used in production houses. By the end of the book, readers will be experts in the principles of computer graphics and OpenGL. They will be able to develop their own professional quality games or graphics for any other 3-D, interactive domain, such as scientific/medical visualization.

Klappentext

Computer graphics continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, fueled by modern uses in health, biotechnology, business, and entertainment (feature films and the gaming industry). It is important for those in the business to have a solid grounding inand holistic view ofthe fundamentals of this exciting discipline.

Providing an integrated balance of underlying theory and real-life practicality, Principles of Computer Graphics is a uniquely comprehensive introduction to the concepts, core principles, and methodologies employed in the graphics endeavor. Concepts are defined and explained in an easy-to-understand manner, and the reader learns progressively from basic algorithmic components to elaborate and stunning visual displays. The text uses C (a standard programming language) and OpenGL (a standard graphics library) to teach illustratively, and it introduces the powerful 3D capability of Maya. Readers need only a basic education in math and programming.

Topics and Features:

-Provides a full introduction to computer graphics concepts, principles, methods, and applications

-Concentrates on core principles, thereby allowing readers to readily utilize any graphics API upon completion

-Reinforces its theme with heavy use of examples, exercises, and figures and images

-Discusses the processes, tricks, and techniques used at professional production houses

-Uses a step-by-step, teach-by-example approach, whereby readers end up creating their own game and movie (much like real graphics production houses)

-Supplies a full treatment of all key elements of graphics study and the results and products derived from it

This all-encompassing and well-organized textbook/reference is ideally suited to both students and professionals interested in developing or honing their skills in computer graphics. Its clarity of approach and wealth of examples andlearning aids will also be helpful for vocational training courses or self study, and will empower readers to further study of graphics.

Shalini Govil-Pai has used her imaging and animation expertise to develop virtual reality games and military training simulators. She was technical director on the films, Toy Story and A Bug's Life, and is a co-author of Learning Computer Graphics.

Inhalt
The Basics.- From Pixels to Shapes.- Making Them Move.- Pixels, Images and Image Files.- Let The Games Begin.- It's 3D Time!.- 3D Modeling.- Rendering: Shading and Lighting.- Advanced Techniques.- And Finally, Introducing Maya.- Making Them Move.- Animation.- Viewpoint Animation.- Lights, Camera, Action!.