module 1: introduction

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Questions and Answers

What process is responsible for generating the final visual output from 2D and 3D models?

Modeling

Rendering (correct)

Rasterization

Texturing

Which geometric transformation involves changing an object's size?

Reflection

Scaling (correct)

Rotation

Translation

What is the purpose of hierarchical modeling?

To simulate different surfaces

To chunk primitives into reusable components (correct)

To change lighting within a scene

To create random textures

What stage in the rendering pipeline is responsible for transforming vertices to their final positions?

Vertex Processing Signup and view all the answers

Which property controls how light interacts with the surface of a model?

Material Signup and view all the answers

What type of lighting provides a basic level of illumination in a scene?

Ambient lighting Signup and view all the answers

What technique is often used to create realistic lighting effects such as shadows and highlights?

Phong Reflection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about textures is true?

Textures can provide details like bumpiness and reflectivity. Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of the rendering pipeline involves applying shading and texturing to pixels?

Fragment Processing Signup and view all the answers

What common effect do shaders enable in a rendering process?

Advanced visual effects like realistic lighting Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of vertex shaders?

To process vertex data Signup and view all the answers

Which animation technique involves defining keyframes for important positions?

Keyframe animation Signup and view all the answers

Which display type is known for good color accuracy and low motion blur but is also bulky and power-consuming?

CRT monitors Signup and view all the answers

What do liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors use to produce images?

Liquid crystals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a popular software tool for 2D image editing?

Adobe Photoshop Signup and view all the answers

What type of monitor is essentially a type of LCD but uses LEDs for backlighting?

LED monitor Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of software is crucial for rendering graphics and handling multimedia tasks?

Graphics rendering APIs Signup and view all the answers

Which type of animation generates movements through algorithms?

Procedural animation Signup and view all the answers

Which component provides the computational power necessary for performing numerous calculations in parallel?

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Signup and view all the answers

What disadvantage do LCD monitors typically have in comparison to CRT monitors?

Limited viewing angles Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the RGB color space?

An additive color space that combines red, green, and blue light. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of vector graphics over raster graphics?

Vector graphics can be scaled without losing quality. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following compression methods results in a loss of image quality?

JPEG compression Signup and view all the answers

What do meshes consist of in computer graphics?

Vertices, edges, and faces defining the shape of a 3D object. Signup and view all the answers

In computer graphics, what is the primary role of models?

To serve as the fundamental building blocks for scenes and objects. Signup and view all the answers

Which technique is primarily used to manage the complexity and detail of scenes in computer graphics?

Level of detail (LOD) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of raster graphics?

Composed of pixels where each pixel has a specific color value. Signup and view all the answers

Which geometric primitive represents the simplest form of a 3D object?

Point Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the purpose of animation in computer graphics?

To bring models to life through movement and time-based changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the HSL color space known for?

Offering an intuitive way to manipulate colors based on hue, saturation, and lightness. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of pixels in images?

They represent the smallest unit of an image that can be individually processed. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of color space uses inks to produce colors in print media?

CMYK Signup and view all the answers

What defines the coordinate system commonly used in computer graphics?

A three-dimensional space characterized by x, y, and z axes for defining positions. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes drawing from painting in computer graphics?

Painting applies colors using brushes, while drawing focuses on lines and shapes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Graphics

Computer graphics is the technology of using computers to create, manipulate, and display visual content.
It encompasses image creation from mathematical models, known as rendering, and processing images from real-world sources like cameras and scanners.

Computer Imagery

Images are the core of computer graphics, serving as a medium for visual communication.
Images consist of pixels, representing individual units of colour and intensity.
Each pixel carries information about its colour and brightness.

Colour Spaces

Colour spaces define the range of colours that can be represented in an image.
Common colour spaces:
- RGB: Red, Green, Blue. Used for digital screens; an additive colour space where combining light of these colours produces others.
- CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black. Used in printing; a subtractive colour space where combining these inks creates colours.
- HSL: Hue, Saturation, Lightness. Defines colours intuitively and provides a way to manipulate them.
- HSV: Hue, Saturation, Value. Often called HSB (b for brightness).
- Grayscale: Represents colour using a single value indicating the amount of light or intensity of a pixel.

Raster vs. Vector Graphics

Raster graphics are composed of pixels, suitable for complex images with fine detail.
Vector graphics are based on mathematical equations, ideal for scalable images like logos and illustrations.
Common raster formats: GIF, PNG, JPEG, WebP.
Common vector format: SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) - an XML-based language for defining 2D vector graphics.

Painting vs. Drawing

Painting involves applying colours digitally using brushes.
Drawing focuses on creating images using lines and shapes.

Compression

Reduces image file sizes for storage and transmission.
Lossy compression: Reduces size by removing data, resulting in quality loss. (Example: JPEG).
Lossless compression: Reduces size without quality loss. (Example: PNG).

Models

Fundamental building blocks used to represent 3D objects.
Mathematical representations encompassing geometry, appearance, and behaviour.

3D Space (World)

A virtual environment where models exist.
Defined by coordinate systems that specify positions and orientations.
Cartesian coordinate system (X, Y, Z axes) is most common.

Geometric Modelling

Creates a scene by defining geometric objects, their transformations, and appearance attributes.
Starts with simple geometric shapes (primitives), arranged in 3D space.
Primitives:
- Points: Simplest form of a 3D object, representing a single location in space.
- Lines: Connect two points to create edges.
- Polygons: Flat shapes with three or more sides, used to construct surfaces.
- Faces: Flat surfaces bounded by edges, typically triangles or quadrilaterals.

Meshes

A collection of vertices, edges, and faces that defines a 3D object's shape.
Used to approximate complex shapes with simpler primitives.
Detail and quality depend on the complexity of the mesh.
Level of Detail (LOD) is a technique to manage complexity and maintain visual fidelity while optimising performance.

Geometric Transformations

Operations that modify position, orientation, and scale of models.
Translation: Moving an object.
- Rotation: Spinning an object around an axis.
- Scaling: Changing an object's size.

Hierarchical Modelling

Organizes complex models into a hierarchy of simpler components while enabling easier manipulation and animation.

Rendering

Generates final visual output from 2D & 3D models.
Uses algorithms to simulate appearance, considering:
- Lighting: Creates effects like shadows, reflections, and highlights.
- Shading: Defines surface colour, texture, and reflectivity.
- Perspective: Creates depth and realism.

Rendering Pipeline

A sequence of steps transforming 3D models into 2D images.
Key stages:
- Vertex Processing: Positions vertices.
- Rasterization: Converts geometric data into pixels.
- Fragment Processing: Applies shading & texturing to pixels.
- Output Merging: Combines pixels for the final image.

Colour/Materials

Define the appearance of 3D models.
Materials simulate different surfaces, adjusting properties like reflectivity, transparency, and texture.

Texture

Images applied to surfaces, adding realism and detail.
Represent surface properties: colour, bumpiness, reflectivity.
Procedural generation techniques are used to create dynamic textures.

Lighting

Important for creating realistic images by simulating light interaction with objects.
Common techniques:
- Ambient Lighting: Provides a base light level.
- Diffuse Lighting: Simulates light scattering.
- Specular Lighting: Creates highlights on shiny surfaces.
- Phong Reflection combines ambient, diffuse, and specular lighting.

Shaders

Small programs running on the GPU, controlling how vertices and pixels are processed.
Enable advanced effects:
- Realistic lighting
- Shadows
- Surface details
Common types:
- Vertex Shaders: Process vertex data.
- Fragment Shaders: Process pixel data.
- Geometry Shaders: Generate new geometry on the fly.

Animation

Brings models to life by changing their properties over time.
Techniques:
- Keyframe Animation: Important positions (keyframes) are defined, and the computer interpolates the frames between them.
- Procedural Animation: Movements are generated algorithmically.

Hardware & Software

Computer graphics rely on dedicated hardware and software.
Hardware:
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): Specialized for rendering images quickly and efficiently.
- Display Devices: Show the final output.
  - CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors: Use electron beams to illuminate phosphors, known for good colour accuracy and low motion blur.
  - LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors: Use liquid crystals to modulate light, offering slim design and low power consumption.
  - LED (Light Emitting Diode) monitors: Use LEDs for backlighting, improving colour accuracy and contrast.
Software:
- Adobe Photoshop: 2D image editing.
- Blender: Open-source 3D modelling and animation tool.
- Autodesk Maya: Profesional 3D modelling and animation software.
- Graphics Rendering API’s: DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan – Frameworks for rendering graphics and handling multimedia tasks.

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Description

Explore the world of computer graphics, including essential concepts like image creation, manipulation, and display. This quiz covers crucial topics such as computer imagery, pixels, and various colour spaces like RGB and CMYK crucial for digital screens and printing.