UNIT 1: BASICS OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS

CO1 :
Manipulate visual and geometric information of images

Pixel:
A pixel (short for picture element, using the common abbreviation "pix" for
"picture") is one of the many tiny dots that make up the representation of a
picture in a computer's memory.
The intensity of each pixel is variable; in color systems, each pixel has
typically three or four dimensions of variability such as red, green and blue,
or cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Resolution
• Resolution is the number of rows that appear from top to bottom of a screen
and in turn the number of pixels or pixel elements that appear from left to
right on each scanline.

• Based on this resolution only the effect of picture appears on screen.

1) Image Resolution: It refers to pixel spacing. In normal PC monitor it ranges

between 25 to 80 pixels per inch.

2) Screen Resolution: It is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that

can be displayed.

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Text mode

• Text mode is a personal computer display setting that divides the display
screen into 25 rows and 80 columns in order to display text without images.

• In text mode, each box can contain one character. Text mode is also known as
character mode or alphanumeric mode. In character mode, the display screen
is treated as an array of blocks, each of which can hold one ASCII character.

Graphics Mode

Graphics mode is the more sophisticated. Programs that run in graphics

mode can display an unlimited variety of shapes and fonts.
Programs that run entirely in graphics mode are called graphics- based
programs. In graphics mode, the display screen is treated as an array of
pixels. Characters and other shapes are formed by turning on combinations
of pixels.

Graphics Mode Graphics Function

The graphics-mode functions allow you to draw dots, lines, and shapes (like
circles, rectangles, and ellipse etc.), add color to lines and areas, and
perform many other graphics-related activities.

Setting up Graphics Mode

detectgraph() : This function checks the system and returns two integer
parameters: a value representing the system's graphics driver and a value for the
recommended graphics mode if an adapter is installed.
The mode value is the highest resolution possible with that adapter. Syntax:
detectgraph(int *gdriver, int *gmode);
initgraph (): This library function must be executed before any other graphics
mode functions can be used.
This requires the GRAPHICS.Hheaderfile. Syntax: initgraph(int*driver, int
*mode, char *path);
where *driver is the graphics driver, given by an integer.
*mode is the graphics mode, given by an integer.

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*path is a string indicating where the driver is available

note:The Driver is a file extention BGI.Each type of hardware requires a
different driver.A null string ("") indicates sriver is in the current directory.

Graphics Pipeline

• A graphics pipeline can be divided into three main parts: Application,

Geometry and Rasterization.

The application step is executed by the software on the main processor (CPU), it cannot
be divided into individual steps, which are executed in a pipelined manner. However,
it is possible to parallelize it on multi-core processors or multi-processor systems. In
the application step, changes are made to the scene as required, for example, by user
interaction by means of input devices or during an animation. The new scene with all
its primitives, usually triangles, lines and points, is then passed on to the next step in
the pipeline.

The geometry step (with Geometry pipeline), which is responsible for the majority of
the operations with polygons and their vertices (with Vertex pipeline), can be divided
into the following five tasks. It depends on the particular implementation of how these
tasks are organized as actual parallel pipeline steps.

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The Rasterization step is the task of taking an image described in a vector graphics
format (shapes) and converting it into a raster image (pixels or dots) for output on a
video display or printer, or for storage in a bitmap file format. It refers to both
rasterization of models and 2D rendering primitives such as polygons, line
segments, etc.

Or
following Diagram can be used for above explanation

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Bitmap based Graphics

Bitmap (or raster) images are stored as a series of tiny dots called pixels. Each pixel is
actually a very small square that is assigned a color, and then arranged in a pattern to
form the image. When you zoom in on a bitmap image you can see the individual
pixels that make up that image. The three most popular image formats used on the
Web (PNG, JPEG, and GIF) are bitmap formats. The bitmap format is excellent for
creating backgrounds and overlay elements.

Vector based graphics

Vector images are not based on pixel patterns, but instead use mathematical
formulas to draw lines and curves that can be combined to create an image from
geometric objects such as circles and polygons. All major browsers support the
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format. Vector graphics are more flexible than bit-
maps because they can be easily re-sized. Vector-based graphics can be very useful
when creating large illustrations, as these graphics are resolution independent.

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Applications of Computer Graphics

• Computer graphics user interfaces (GUIs) − A graphic, mouse-oriented

paradigm which allows the user to interact with a computer.
• Business presentation graphics −"A picture is worth a thousand words".
• Cartography − Drawing maps.
• Weather Maps −Real-time mapping, symbolic representations.
• Satellite Imaging − Geodesic images.
• Photo Enhancement − Sharpening blurred photos.
• Medical imaging − MRIs, CAT scans, etc. - Non-invasive internal
examination.
• Engineering drawings − mechanical, electrical, civil, etc. - Replacing the
blueprints of the past.
• Architecture − Construction plans, exterior sketches - replacing the
blueprints and hand drawings of the past.
• Art − Computers provide a new medium for artists.
• Entertainment − Movies and games.
• Simulation and modeling−Replacing physical modeling and enactments

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RASTER-SCAN DISPLAYS

In a raster scan system, the electron beam is swept across the screen,
one row at a time from top to bottom. As the electron beam moves across
each row, the beam intensity is turned on and off to create a pattern of
illuminated spots.
Picture definition is stored in memory area called the Refresh Buffer or
Frame Buffer. This memory area holds the set of intensity values for all the
screen points. Stored intensity values are then retrieved from the refresh
buffer and “painted” on the screen one row (scan line) at a time as shown in
the following illustration.

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Each screen point is referred to as a pixel (picture element) or pel. At the

end of each scan line, the electron beam returns to the left side of the screen
to begin displaying the next scan line.

Random-Scan Display

In this technique, the electron beam is directed only to the part of the screen
where the picture is to be drawn rather than scanning from left to right and
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top to bottom as in raster scan. It is also called vector display, stroke-

writing display, or calligraphic display.
Picture definition is stored as a set of line-drawing commands in an area of
memory referred to as the refresh display file.
To display a specified picture, the system cycles through the set of
commands in the display file, drawing each component line in turn.
After all the line-drawing commands are processed, the system cycles back
to the first line command in the list.
Random-scan displays are designed to draw all the component lines of a
picture 30 to 60 times each second.

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Flat Panel Display

The term flat–panel displays refers to a class of video devices that have
reduced volume, weight, and power requirements compared to a CRT. A
significant feature of flat-panel displayed is that they are thinner than CRTs,
and we can hang them on walls or wear them on our wrists.
Flat-panel displays into two categories: emissive displays and non emissive
displays.
The emissive displays are devices that displays, and light-emitting diodes
are examples of emissive displays.
Non emissive displays use optical effects to convert sunlight or light from
some other source into graphics patterns.

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Light-emitting diode (LED)

A matrix of diodes is arranged to form the pixel positions in the display, and picture
definition is stored in refresh buffer. As in scan- line refreshing of a CRT, information is
read from the refresh buffer and converted to voltage levels that are applied to the
diodes to produce the light patterns in the display.

• The working of the LED depends on the quantum theory.The energy of the
photons is equal to the gap between the higher and lower level.
• The LED is connected in the forward biased, which allows the current to flows
in the forward direction. The flow of current is because of the movement of
electrons in the opposite direction.
• The recombination shows that the electrons move from the conduction band to
valence band and they emit electromagnetic energy in the form of photons. The
energy of photons is equal to the gap between the valence and the conduction
band.

Applications of Light Emitting Diodes

• used as a bulb in the homes andindustries

• used in the motorcycles and cars
• used in the mobile phones to display the message
• At the traffic light signals.

Advantages of LED’s

• The cost of LED’s is less and they are tiny.

• By using the LED’s the electricity is controlled.
• The intensity of the LED differs with the help of the microcontroller.
• The LED are available which emits light in the different colors like red, yellow,
green and amber.
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Disadvantages of LED

• The LED consumes more power as compared to LCD, and their cost is high. Also,
it is not used for making the large display.

Liquid-crystal display (LCD)

• It is combination of two states of matter, the solid and the liquid.

• LCD uses a liquid crystal to produce a visible image.
• LCD commonly used in systems, such as calculators and portable, laptop
computers.
• The basic structure of LCD should be controlled by changing the applied
current.
• We must use a polarized light.
• Liquid crystal should able be to control both of the operation to transmit orcan
also able to change the polarized light.

Advantages of an LCD’s:

• LCD’s consumes less amount of power compared to CRT and LED

• LCDs are of low cost
• Provides excellent contrast
• LCD’s are thinner and lighter when compared to cathode ray tube and LED

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Disadvantages of an LCD’s:

• Require additional light sources

• Range of temperature is limited for operation
• Low reliability
• Speed is very low

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Plasma Display Panel

• A plasma display is a type of flat panel display .

• Plasma displays are also known as gas-plasmadisplays.
• They are fitted with vertical and horizontal electrodes
• A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display common to large
TV displays 30 inches (76 cm) orlarger.
• They are called "plasma" displays because they use small cells
containing electrically charged ionized gases, which are plasmas.
• Plasma displays are thinner than cathode ray tube ( CRT ) displays and brighter
than liquid crystal displays ( LCD).

Touch Screen

• A touch screen is a computer display screen that is also an input device. The
screens are sensitive to pressure; a user interacts with the computer by touching
pictures or words on the screen.
• There are three types oftouch screen technology:

 Resistive
 Surface wave
 Capacitive

Output primitives

• The Primitives are the simple geometric functions that are used to generate
various Computer Graphics required by the User. Some most basic Output
primitives are point-position (pixel), and a straight line.
• Line, polygon , marker , text.
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Line Attributes

• A straight-line segment can be displayed with three basic attributes: color, width,
and style. Additionally, lines may be generated with other effects, such as pen
and brush strokes.
• To set line type attributes in a PHICS application program, a user invokes the
function :setLinetype (It)

Where parameter It is assigned a positive integer value of 1,2,3, or 4 to generate

lines that are, respectively, solid, dashed, dotted, or dash-dotted.

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Marker Attributes

 A marker symbol display single character in a different color and in different

sizes.
 We select marker type using the function. setMarkerType (mt)
 Where marker type parameter mt set to an integer code.
 Typical codes for marker type are the integers 1 through 5, specifying,
respectively, a dot (.), a vertical cross (+), an asterisk (*), a circle (o), and a
diagonal cross (x). Displayed marker types centered on the marker coordinates.

Text Attributes

The attributes that can be assigned to text are common knowledge nowadays: Font
(e.g. Courier, Arial, Times, Broadway, …), style (normal, bold, italic, underlined,
…), size, text direction, color, alignment (left, right, centered, justified) and so on.

Attributes of Polygons

 A set of line segments joined end to end.

 Attributes: Fill color, Thickness, Fill pattern

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Graphics Functions

Standard graphics formats allow images to be moved from machine to machine,

while standard graphics languages let graphics programs be moved from machine to
machine. For example, GKS, PHIGS and OpenGL are major graphics languages .
GDI and DirectX are the graphics languages in Windows.

Putpixel function is to draw the pixel on the screen. Pixel is small dot on the screen.

Syntax:-putpixel(x co-orinate, y co-ordinate,COLOR);

Example: – putpixel(100,100,BLUE);

Rectangle function is used to draw the rectangle on the screen. X1,y1 are the lower
left co-ordinates of the rectangle and the x2,y2 are the upper right co- ordinates of
the rectangle.

Syntax:– rectangle(x1,,y1,x2,y2); Example:–

rectangle(100,100,200,200);

Linefunction is used to draw the line on the screen.

Syntax: line(x1,y1,x2,y2);

Example:-line(100,100,200,100);

Circle function is used to draw the circle on thescreen

Syntax:– circle(x,y,radius);

Example:-circle(100,100,50);

ellipse function is used to draw the ellipse on the screen.

Syntax:-ellipse(x, y, starting angle, ending angle, xradius, yradius);

Example:-ellipse(100,100,90,200,20,20);

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Virtual reality

• Virtual reality (VR) means experiencing things through our

computers that don't really exist.

• A believable, interactive 3D computer-created world that you can explore so

you feel you really are there, both mentally and physically.

• Virtual reality essentially to make world Believable, Interactive, Computer-

generated, Explorable and Immersive(to be both believable and
interactive).

Types of Virtual reality (VR) System

1. Windows on World(WoW)

– Also called Desktop VR.

– Using a conventional computer monitor to display the 3D virtual world.

2. Immersive VR

– Completely immerse the user's personal viewpoint inside the virtual

3D world.

– The user has no visual contact with the physical word.

– Often equipped with a Head Mounted Display (HMD).

3. Telepresence

– A variation of visualizing complete computer generated worlds.

4. Mixed Reality(Augmented Reality)

- The seamless merging of real space and virtual space

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Architecture of VR System

 Input Processor
– Control the devices used to input information to the computer. The
object is to get the coordinate data to the rest of the system with
minimal lagtime.

– Keyboard, mouse, 3D position trackers, a voice recognition system,

etc.

 Simulation Processor

– Core of a VR system.

– Takes the user inputs along with any tasks programmed into the world
and determine the actions that will take place in thevirtual world.

 Rendering Processor
– Create the sensations that are output to the user.

– Separate rendering processes are used for visual, auditory, haptic and
other sensory systems. Each renderer takes a description of the world
stat from the simulation process for each time step.

 World Database (World Description Files)

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– Store the objects that inhabit the world, scripts that describe actions of
those objects.

What equipment do we need for virtual reality?

 Head-mounted displays (HMDs)

 Data gloves
 Binocular Omni-Orientation Monitor (BOOM)
 Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE)

Applications

 Entertainment
 Medicine
 Manufacturing
 Education & Training

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality combines real and computer-based scenes and images to

deliver a unified but enhanced view of the world.

• There are three components needed in order to make an augmented- reality

system work:

– Head-mounted display

– Tracking system

– Mobile computing power

• Future of Augmented Reality

• Military:

– The Office of Naval Research has sponsored AR research

– AR system could providetroops with vital information about their

surroundings.

• Medical:
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– Superimpose an image from an MRI onto a patient’s body.

– This might allow surgeons to pinpoint a tumor to remove.

• Education:

– Used in labs where students can learn more about the

experiments they are participatingin.

• Gaming:

– ARQuake is an AR version of the popular game Quake.

Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality

 Need for Standards

ell as, a compatible hardware.

The needs are as follows

1. Software portability.
2. Image data portability.
3. Text data portability.
4. Model database portability.

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Standards for Computer Graphics

1. CORE (Core of a Graphics System)
2. GKS (Graphics kernel system)
3. IGES(Initial Graphics Exchange Specifications)
4. PHIGS(Programmer’s Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System)
5. CGM(Computer Graphics Metafile)
6. CGI(Computer Graphics Interface)

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