CS 184
FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Updated Course Description, Fall 2004

Basic elements of a computer graphics rendering pipeline:

Architecture of modern graphics display devices.
Geometrical transformations such as rotation, scaling, translation, and their matrix representation.
Homogeneous coordinates, projective and perspective transformations.
Algorithms for clipping, hidden surface removal, rasterization, and anti-aliasing.
Scan-line based and ray based rendering algorithms.
Lighting models for reflection, refraction, transparency.

Techniques of modeling objects for the purpose of computer graphics rendering:

Boundary representations, constructive solids geometry, hierarchical scene descriptions.
Mathematical techniques for curve and surface representation.
Graphics Interaction Techniques.

TEXTBOOK:

REQUIRED:
"Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-Down Approach with OpenGL" (3rd Edition) by Edward Angel.
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Publishing; ISBN: 020138597X;
This is typically bundled with:
"OpenGL: A Primer" by Edward Angel.
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ISBN: 0201741865; (2002)

Another good book as a permanent reference:
Foley, vanDam, Feiner, Huges, "Comuter Graphics", 2nd ed. in C, Addison Wesley, 1996.

KEY DATES (tentative):

Take-home Quiz #1: (week 4)
Take-home Quiz #2: (week 7)
Midterm Exam: in class: (week 10 or 11)
Final Project Due: Saturday, Dec. 11; demos: Sat. Dec. 11
Final Exam: (corr. to exam group 7): Thursday, December 16, 2004, 8:00-11:00am.

GRADING:

The course grade will be based on a cumulative weighted score:

5% Take-Home Quiz #1,
5% Take-Home Quiz #2,
15% In-Class Midterm Exam,
25% Final Exam,
20% Total of all Homeworks,
30% Final Course Project.

The point scores will be converted into letter grades on a mostly pre-defined conversion curve that has been established over the last several teachings of this course.

LATE POLICY:

Homeworks and projects have a hard due date (and time).
25% of the maximal score will be deducted for every day after the deadline.

There are no make-up opportunities for the exams.