Lecture 3

Graphics Systems

Associate Professor
Dr. Ashraf Abdelaziz Taha

Course Title: Computer Graphics

Semester: 1 2024 / 2025
Duration: 12 weeks
 Basics of Computer Graphics
• Computer graphics:
Creating 2D images from a 3D world can be represented in a computer.

• Main tasks:
• Modeling (Shape): Creating and representing the geometry of
objects in the 3D world
• Rendering (Light, Perspective): Generating 2D images of the objects.
• Animation (Movement) describing how objects change in time.

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 Types of Graphics

• Bitmap Graphics

• Vector Graphics

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 Bitmap
• Image is represented as a grid of points (pixels).
• If you start with a small image (100 x 100 px)
Assumption: As the image is made not zooming resizing larger by
• Squares become larger , edges more rough.
• Quality decreases
• File size increase

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 Vector

Vector Graphics
• Image is represented with lines and arcs that have a relationship
• Describing the drawing of the shape

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 Vector
• It doesn’t matter what size the image is !! smaller larger resized
As the image is
• Edges clean

• No distortion going up/down in size

• Quality is maintained

• File size increases (if resized larger)

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 • Vector or Bitmapped?
• Vector-based:
• Suitable for drawings that will be sized often
• Greater control and precision with free-hand tool
• Display more accurately on screen/paper/ads (can be redrawn with accuracy
without loss of quality)
• Download faster because of .svg format (less info recorded smaller file)
• More details can be drawn in vector-based illustrations
• Must use a “Draw” program – draw and edit paths
• Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia FreeHand, Corel Draw
• Common formats: .eps, .cdr (CorelDraw) .dwg (Autocad)

REMINDER: Vector-based is smaller file recording a mathematical relationship

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• Bitmapped- Based:
• Images from - scanners, cameras etc
• Ability to edit an image’s pixels
• Need a “Paint” program
• PhotoShop, PaintShop Pro, PhotoPlus, Corel PhotoPaint, Fireworks
• Photoshop v6.0 – has vector features as well
• Common bitmap file formats: .jpg, .gif, .png, .tiff, and .bmp

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• Remember:

Vector ->Bitmap YES

(bring into a Paint program.. And converted to bitmap)

Bitmap –> Vector NO

“Once a bitmap always a bitmap”

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How does a computer represent numbers and words and images and sound?

2x = Y values
= Maximum number of colors available to
assign to a pixel to represent image

Digitization refers to the process of translating a piece of information (text,

images, sound, video etc) into binary bits. (Binary Digit).

Bit is the fundamental unit of information in a computer system

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 Introduction to Animation
• What is animation?
– A drawing that moves, bringing the drawing to “life”
– A sequence of images that create the impression of movement played in succession.

• Animation is a powerful tool capable of communicating complex ideas

Example: How the heart beats

• In animation, each frame overlaps the previous one.

• Movement is caused by rapidly displaying each
frame in sequence.
• Creates the illusion of a moving object

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Animation - Some Terminology

• 2D computer graphics term for a technique used in creating animated cartoons

and editing movies to see several frames at once.

• Purpose: the animator or editor can make decisions on how to create or change
an image based on the previous image in the sequence.

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 Animation - Some Special Effects

• Morphing :
A special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes (or morphs)
one image or shape into another through a seamless transition.

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 Animation - Some Special Effects

Warping:
• Distorts a single image
• Warp frown into smile

• warping means that points are mapped to points without changing the colors.
• Images may be viewed as if they had been projected onto a curved or mirrored surface
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 Animation - Some Special Effects

Virtual Reality: (VR)

• Creates environment where user becomes part of the experience

• Adventure games – point and go thrugh doors, stairs

• Hand-held equipment allows person to interact with environment

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Vector Graphics

How to generate an image using vectors

• A line is represented by endpoints (10,10) to (90,90)
• The points along the line are computed using a line equation
y = mx + b Computation required

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Raster Graphics

How to generate a line using rasters

• A line is represented by assigning some pixels a value of 1
Lot’s of extra info to communicate
• The entire line is specified by the pixel values No computation
• What do we do to make image larger?

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Display Technologies
• Vector Displays
Advantages:
A CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) has the electron beam to create a line image
on the CRT screen
• Produce smooth line drawings.
• High Resolution
Disadvantages:
Random-Scan monitors cannot display realistic shades scenes.

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Display Technologies

Raster Displays
• Raster: A rectangular array of points or dots
• Pixel: One dot or picture element of the raster
• Scan line: A row of pixels

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 Graphics Software

• Special-purpose programs
• Photoshop, Powerpoint, AutoCAD, StudioMax, Maya, Blender, PovRay, …

• General graphics libraries and standards

• Windows API, OpenGL, Direct3D,…

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Raster-Scan Graphic System

• Frame buffer is anywhere in system memory

• Graphics Hardware : Direct connection to video controller

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Double buffering

The need for synchronization

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Frame Buffer

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