CSC 240: Computer Graphics (Fall 2006)

Instructor:  Joseph O'Rourke
Textbook: None!  This course is somewhat unusual and is not approximated by any existing textbook. This saves you money but puts a demand on your attendance, attention, and note-taking.
Location: Burton 209.
Time: TR 9:00-10:20AM.
Prerequisites: How the Internet Works (CSC102) or equivalent knowledge; Computer Science I (CSC 111); Four yrs of HS math.
Two Tracks: The course has two tracks in the assignments: (1) for those counting it for Computer Science major programming or theory credit, or (2) for those counting it a generic "elective," e.g., for the Digital Arts Minor.   Computer Science majors are welcome to follow Track 2 if it is not fulfilling the programming or theory requirements. And anyone nominally in Track 2 can select the Track-1 assignment any week.
Programming Language: I am assuming only exposure to Python from Computer Science I. Programming experience in C or C++ is not required. One-course experience in C++ or Java will suffice to supplant experience with Python.
Software:

• Postscript. The language used to drive most printers.
• OpenGL, a state-of-the-art graphics API, developed originally by Silicon Graphics, but now an open standard. We will use it via Python, PyQt, and PyOpenGL.
• GameMaker. A program to design games.
• Adobe Illustrator, used for just one week for Bezier curves.
• Adobe PhotoShop, introduced very lightly.
• Google's SketchUp, 3D-design software, just a brief one-week exposure.
• Mathematica used for just one week or so, for perspective exploration.
• POV-Ray, 3D rendering software, will dominate the last part of the course.

Course Structure:  We meet two times a week; there is no lab, although we will do many "minilabs" during class time.  There will be one assignment per week, due (generally) each Wednesday at midnight. Collaboration is permitted, even encouraged, on assignments.  See schedule below for details.

Exams:  There will be two one-week take-home "exams," which are very much like assignments except that (a) they focus more on theory whereas the assignments focus on programming, and (b) unlike assignments, there is no collaboration permitted. There is also a final (structured) project, due on the last day of the exam period.

Grades:

Grading Numerology

Late Policy

Resubmission Policy

O'Rourke Office Hours & Schedule

Syllabus

Week/ Notes	Dates	Software	Topics (general)	Topics (specific)	Links	Animations	Labs & Assignments
1 Notes1	7 Sep	Postscript	Introduction, overview	Stack, Ops, Coord system, path, stroke, ...	First Guide to Postscript ; Postscript Tutorial ; PostScript Language Tutorial & Cookbook ; PS Blue book examples	Luxo Jr.	Lab1 Lab2 A1 due 14 Sep BOTW
2 Notes2 Notes3	12,14 Sep	Postscript	2D Transformations	Variables, Procedures gsave; grestore Boolean, If, For Text Transformations: translate, rotate, scale	Windows: GSview; [also: emacs] Mac OS X: Ghostscript S.ps circles.ps fonts.ps spiral.ps	Red's Dream	Lab3 Lab4 Lab5
3 Notes4 Notes5	19,21 Sep	OpenGL	Graphics hardware; 2D Transformations; Event programming	OpenGL basics, graphics primitives OpenGL hardware pipeline Python, PyQt, PyOpenGL LUT, video cards, raster scans. Liquid crystal displays glPushMatrix(), Pop Matrix stack OpenGL pipeline	Python PyQt PyOpenGL (PyOpenGL- 2.0.2.01.py2.4- numpy23.exe) glrectangle.py		A2 due 21 Sep BOTW Lab6
4 Notes6	(26)MtDy, 28 Sep	OpenGL	Animation in OpenGL	Misc. Python/OpenGL Animation revisited A3 preview	glcircrot.py	Tin Toy	Lab7 Lab8 A3 due 29 Sep BOTW
5 Notes7 Notes8	3,5 Oct	Mathematica GameMaker	Mathematics of transformations Game programming: basic components	Transformation matrices Composition of; Homogenous coords Mathematica GameMaker Resources: Rooms, Objects, Sprites, Events, Actions, etc.	2D.Matrix.nb	Knick Knack	Lab9 A4 due 12Oct BOTW Lab10
	10 Oct		[Fall Break ]
6 Notes9	12 Oct	GameMaker	Game programming	Events & Actions Spites Collisions Transform Sprites Drawing Events; Drawing Text Collision effects	Hit.the.Rock.0.gm6 Hit.the.Rock.1.gm6	Ice Age: The Meltdown	Lab11 A5 due 20Oct BOTW
7 Notes10 Notes11	17,19 Oct	GameMaker; Illustrator	Game programming: advanced effects Bezier curves	Scripts GameMaker Language Particle Systems: Effect; system, types, emitters, deflectors, destroyers, etc. 2D Curves GM Paths: definition & use Bezier curves: Intro Adobe Illustrator	Hit.the.Rock.2.gm6 Hit.the.Rock.3.gm6 Hit.the.Rock.4.gm6	Toy Story I: Opening Scene	Lab12 A6 Take-Home due 26Oct BOTW/Answers
8 Notes12 Notes13	24,26 Oct	Illustrator SketchUp	Bezier curves & surfaces 3D design; 3D printing	Parametric representations Bezier Curves: G.M.T Bezier Surfaces [Subdivision surfaces] 3D-Printing Z-corp Printer	Bezier.GMT.nb Bezier curve applet (UNC) Bezier surfaces: applet1 (OGI); applet2 (Cornell) Teapot	Toy Story I: Toys alive	Lab13 [no assignment] Lab14
9 Notes14	31,(2) Nov	SketchUp	3D file structures Subdivision surfaces [2 Nov: NSF Advisory Mtg-- no class!]	3D file types: .stl, .obj, VMRL Normal vectors; Reversing in SketchUp Subdivision surfaces	Subdiv. Surf (UW) Catmull-Clark; Wiki	Geri's Game	Lab15 A7 due 9 Nov BOTW
10 Notes15 Notes16	7,9 Nov	Mathematica	Perspective math	Perspective: Brunelleschi Vanishing pts, lines, horizon Perspective math; 4x4 Matrix; Homog. Coords.	Perspective.Graphics.nb Perspective.Homogenous.nb	Toy Story II: Geri; Al	Lab16 A8 due 16 Nov BOTW
11 Notes17 Notes18	14,16 Nov	POV-Ray	Ray-tracing renders: Introduction	POV-Ray: Intro Coord system, camera, lights, colors Shapes: Sphere, plane "Textures" Reflectance Models: ambient, diffuse, specular. The Phong Reflectance model POV-ray: texture{}; pigment{}; finish{}.	POV-Ray Tutorial ball5.pov	Monster's Inc: Sully's fur	Lab17: balls Lab18: tori
11+ Notes19 Notes20	21 Nov	POV-Ray	Ray-tracing project	global ambient light Scene descrip. lang.: #declare identifiers; #local #if () ... #end float expressions, opers golds.inc, etc. Project Preview	Project Links: 2005, 2004, 2003 chain.pov	Monster's Inc: Boo	Lab19: chain
	23		[Thanksgiving]
11 Notes21 Notes22	28,30 Nov	POV-Ray	Ray Tracing	Shading; bumping normals Ray-object intersections CSG: Constructive Solid Geometry Lathe objects; splines	Beene's Shading Notes bumps.pov difference.pov lathe.pov disk.pov		Lab20: bumps A9 Take-Home due 14 Dec BOTW/Answers
12 Notes23 Notes24	5,7 Dec	POV-Ray	Ray Tracing algorithm; Radiosity	Depth of tracing Ray tracing complexity Accelerating ray tracing Weaknesses in RT Bounding Box Hierarchy RT-ing CSG Antialiasing: supersampling Extended light sources [Atmospheric effects] Radiosity	Xmas.pov towers.pov	Incredibles: Hair	Lab: Project
13 Notes25	12,14 Dec	POV-Ray	Texture mapping	Texture mapping: color Bump mapping: normals image_maps: planar, spherical, cylindrical uv_mapping: sphere, box	Texture Library ball.imagemap.pov box.imagemap.pov		Lab21: image_map Project Specs
	22 Dec		[last day of final exam period]				Project due 2006 Projects!

Five College Graphics Courses