schedule || lectures || assignments || project || policies || resources

comp175 - computer graphics

Course number:COMP 175-01, Fall 2009
Lectures:TR 1:30-2:45pm, in Halligan 106

Instructor:Sara Su

Office hours: M 4:00-6:00pm, in Halligan E011
TA:Matt Menke

Office hours: T 12:30-1:30pm, W 2:00-3:00pm, in Halligan E010
Mailing list:

content

This course explores the fundamentals of computer graphics, including representing digital images, 2D rasterization and anti-aliasing, 3D rendering via ray casting, ray tracing and radiosity, viewing transformations, 3D shape representation, and an introduction to modeling and computer animation. Assignments and projects require a good working knowledge of the C programming language.

Prerequisites: Comp 15 (Data Structures), Math 13 (Calculus III), and Math 46 (Linear Algebra), or permission of instructor.

course policies

See the bottom of this page for textbooks, grading policy, and additional resources.

announcements

schedule

The lecture schedule is subject to change. Please keep checking back over the course of the semester.

date topics readings assignments
08 Sep Introduction / Displays FCG pp. 53-62 (handout)    
10 Sep Images and Color FCG pp. 62-67, 561-565    
15 Sep Rasterization: Lines and Circles optional: Foley pp. 72-87    
17 Sep Rasterization: Region Filling optional: Foley pp. 979-986   Lab 1 out
22 Sep Raster-Based Fill Algorithms optional: Foley pp. 91-99    
24 Sep Coloring and Texturing Polygons FCG pp. 243-259, [Pineda 1988] Lab 1 due Lab 2 out
29 Sep Image Processing FCG pp. 185-211    
01 Oct Antialiasing (Guest: Sylvain Paris) FCG pp. 212-232 Lab 2 due Lab 3 out
06 Oct Math for Graphics FCG pp. 16-29, 91-103    
08 Oct 2D and 3D Transformations FCG pp. 111-140    
13 Oct No class (Columbus Day - Monday schedule)      
15 Oct Polygonal Models / Model and View Transforms   Lab 3 due PSet 1 out
20 Oct Camera Transforms FCG pp.141-158    
22 Oct The Graphics Pipeline / Midterm Review PSet 1 due  
27 Oct Midterm Exam     Lab 4 out
29 Oct GPUs / Project Ideas FCG pp. 445-466, [Fatahalian 2008]    
03 Nov Ray Tracing FCG pp. 69-88    
05 Nov Distribution Ray Tracing / Illumination FCG pp. 303-309, 233-242 Lab 4 due  
10 Nov Project Proposals   Project outlines due
12 Nov Parametric Curves and Surfaces FCG pp. 339-365   PSet 2 out
17 Nov No class      
19 Nov Parametric Curves and Surfaces / Subdivision Surfaces FCG pp. 365-384 PSet 2 due  
24 Nov Implicit Surfaces / Volume Rendering   Project checkpoint
26 Nov No class (Thanksgiving)      
01 DecAnimation (Guest: Daniel Vlasic)
03 DecUser-Centered Design
08 Dec Visualization    
10 Dec Project Presentations (Tufts Viswall - Anderson Hall 101)   Final projects due

lecture notes

Lecture notes and handouts will be posted here.

  1. Introduction / Displays
    handout: extra copies are available outside of Halligan E011
  2. Images and Color
  3. Rasterization: Lines and Circles
    handout: Raster Grid
  4. Rasterization: Region Filling
  5. Raster-Based Fill Algorithms
  6. Coloring and Texturing Polygons
    handout: [Pineda 1988]
  7. Image Processing
  8. Antialiasing
    link: Mipmapping video
    link: Ferrari video
  9. Math for Graphics
  10. 2D and 3D Transformations
  11. Polygonal Models / Model and View Transforms
  12. Camera Transforms
    link: [Bloomenthal and Rokne 1994]
  13. The Graphics Pipeline / Midterm Review
  14. GPUs / Project Ideas
    handout: [Fatahalian and Houston 2008]
  15. Ray Tracing
    handout: Ray-Sphere Intersection
  16. Distribution Ray Tracing / Illumination
  17. Parametric Curves and Surfaces
  18. Parametric Curves and Surfaces / Subdivision Surfaces
  19. Implicit Surfaces / Volume Rendering
  20. Animation
    video: Luxo Jr. [Pixar 1986]
  21. User-Centered Design
  22. Visualization

This class makes use of material developed by Profs. Sarah Frisken and Alexandre François.

assignments

final project

The final project is a chance to extend a technique covered in a homework assignment or explore another area in graphics, such as ray tracing or parametric modeling. This may involve implementation of an existing technique or proposal of a new approach. See the detailed requirements.

course policies

textbooks

  • Required: Peter Shirley and Steve Marschner, Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, 3rd edition, A K Peters, 2009.
  • Recommended: Richard S. Wright, Jr., Benjamin Lipchak, and Nicholas Haemel, OpenGL SuperBible: Comprehensive Tutorial and Reference, 4th edition, Addison-Wesley Professional, 2007.

See the resources section for additional recommended texts.

grading

Approximately:

  • 60% Programming and written assignments
    • Programming assignments will be evaluated on working code, quality of resulting images, and documentation. Assignments will typically be due on Thursdays. Each student will have five "late days" to use over the term.
  • 20% Final project
  • 10% Midterm exam
  • 10% Class participation

Please read the Dean's booklet on academic integrity.

accommodations

Tufts is committed to providing support services and reasonable accommodations to all students with documented disabilities. To request an accommodation, you must register with the Disability Services Office at the beginning of the semester. To do so, call the Student Services Desk at (617) 627-2000 to arrange an appointment with Sandra Baer, Program Director of Disability Services.

resources

supplemental graphics texts

The following references, along with the Shirley and Wright books, are on course reserve at Tisch Library:

  • Edward Angel, Interactive Computer Graphics: A Top-down Approach Using OpenGL, 5th edition, Pearson/Addison-Wesley, 2009.
  • James D. Foley, Andries van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, and John F. Hughes, Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice in C, 2nd edition, Addison-Wesley, 1996.
  • Alan Watt, 3D Computer Graphics, 3rd edition, Addison-Wesley, 2000.

programming references

math references

Updated November 19, 2009