Computer Graphics

Instructor

• Office: Steinmetz Hall 221
• Email: tartaroa@union.edu
• Office hours: Mondays and Thursdays 11-1 or by appointment

General Information

• Meeting time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:55-3:40
• Meeting place: Olin 102
• Description: Implementation and use of algorithms for 3D graphics. Rendering and representation of 3D objects. Lighting, shading and texture mapping surfaces of 3D objects. Programming interactive graphics applications. Constructing 3D models of real-world objects. Prereq: CSc 150(140).
• Class format: Interactive lectures, in-class exercises, projects.

Book

OpenGL Programming Guide Version 1.4. by Woo, Neider, Davis, Shreiner (available online)

or an earlier version is available here: http://www.glprogramming.com/red/

Assignments & Grades

In this class, we study the fundamental concepts and processes that drive 3D computer graphics. We begin with a study of digital images and digital image processing. Next we study rendering techniques; rendering is the process by which a 3D model is converted to a 2D image. We cover ray tracing and the graphics pipeline process. Finally we look at some methods for modeling 3D objects. You will implement various graphics algorithms through in-class lab exercises and three programming projects.

Class attendance and participation is a critical component of the course. Please discuss any necessary absences with me.

Handing in assignments: Assignments (projects and lab exercises) will be handed in as one .zip file on blackboard through the "Send File" option of the "Digital Drop Box" (on the "Control Panel"). The zip file should include your complete Visual Studio project directory for that assignment. If you work on your project on your personal computer, be sure to test that it runs in Visual Studio installed in Olin 102.

If lab exercises are not completed in class, they are due before class on Tuesday the following week.

Policies, etc.

Basic Course Requirement

In order to pass the class you must earn a passing grade. In addition, however, you must meet the following basic requirement. Before the final exam time for the course, you must submit a solution to each of the course projects that earns at least 50% of the possible points (prior to removal of late points, see below). In other words, you cannot blow off an entire project and pass the class! Note that this basic requirement is necessary but not sufficient to pass the class.

Attendance

Class participation is a critical component of the course and attendance is mandatory. Please discuss any necessary absences (eg. athletics, religious holidays, emergency, illness) with me. You may be asked to make up for missed material. You will not receive credit for make-up material if you did not discuss your absence with me prior to class.

Late Assignments

Assignments turned in late will drop your grade for that assignment by 10% per day. For example, an assignment worth 100 points handed in after 1:30 on the due date, but before 1:30 the next day will have a max grade of 90 points.

Students with Disabilities

It is the policy of Union College to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. I encourage students wtih disabilities to make an appointment to meet with me as soon as possible to discuss accommodations that might help facilitate your learning. You will need appropriate documentation from the Student Support Office. All discussions will remain confidential.

Academic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty is misrepresenting someone else's work as your own, which is a form of stealing, and will not be tolerated. You are responsible for reading and understanding Union's policies regarding Academic Conduct in the student handbook (http://www.union.edu/StudentLife/Handbook/) and Union's statement on plagarism (http://www.union.edu/Library/refroom/statement.htm).

Skeleton code is available for most of the assignments. Any additional code you submit must be designed and written by you unless you obtain prior approval from me. You may discuss algorithms relevant to given assignments with each other. Typically collaboration is acceptable for lab exercises, but students must complete and hand-in their own programming solution, and indicate who they worked with (eg. in the header comment of the code).

Schedule

Note: Subject to change. Be sure to check for updates at: http://cs.union.edu/~tartaroa/CSC385/