CS155: Computer Graphics

In CS155, 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 including polygon meshes, spline curves and surfaces, and subdivision surfaces.

Image Gallery

We've collected images and movies from past semesters in our Online Gallery. Take a look to see what sorts of things we do in this class, or for motivation when the projects get difficult.

Projects

Your grade will be based on four projects, labs, and class participation as described below.

  1. Image Processing            15%

  2. Ray Tracing                 25%

  3. OpenGL Application          20%

  4. Final Project               25%

  5. Labs/Class Participation    15%

For information on how to submit projects, check out the Homework Submission FAQ.

Late Policy

You begin the semester with 5 one-day extensions that may be used to extend programming assignment deadlines. You earn an additional one-day extension each time you submit a programming assignment 24 (or more) hours before its due time. Assignment submitted after the due time plus extensions will lose points for each late day. Each project description includes the number of extension days that can be used for the assignment and its late day penalties.

Grades

Provided you meet the basic course requirement described in the following section, your grade will be assigned based on the percentage of possible points you receive as shown below:

  A       >95%

  A-      >90%

  B+      >87%

  B       >84%

  B-      >80%

  C+      >77%

  C       >74%

  C-      >70%

  D+      >67%

  D       >64%

Basic Course Requirement

In order to pass the class you must earn a passing grade, as described above. In addition, however, you must meet the following basic requirement. Before the final exam time of the course, you must submit a solution to each programming assignment that successfully implements at least 50% of the assigned features. In other words, you cannot blow off an entire assignment and pass the class! Note that this basic requirement is necessary but not sufficient to pass the class. Note also that late penalties are used to calculate your grade but are not used with respect to this basic requirement.

Honor Code

We provide skeleton code for most of the assignments. Any additional code you submit must be designed and written by you unless you obtain prior approval from me. Any violation of this policy will result in (at least) course failure. If in doubt, ask.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Date	Topic	Project assignment
9/3/03	Introduction
9/8/03	Image Processing I Simple pixel transformations Interpolation/Extrapolation Compositing Convolution	Project 1: Image Processing
9/8/03	Intro Lab
9/10/03	Image Processing II Uniform quantization Dithering Warping
9/15/03	Image Processing III Morphing Morph Demo Morph Instuctions Image 1 Image 2
9/15/03	Filter Lab
9/17/03	Modeling transforms and Hierarchical Coordinates
9/22/03	Ray Tracing I Ray Casting Intersection tests
9/22/03	Morphing lab
9/24/03	Ray Tracing II Lighting Model	Project 2: Ray Tracing
9/29/03	Ray Tracing III Recursive Ray Tracing
9/29/03	Scene graph lab	tests
10/1/03	Ray Tracing IV Cheap Tricks Morph film
10/01/03	No Lab	tests

10/6/03	Ray Tracing V Optimizations

10/8/03	Ray Tracing wrapup
10/13/03	Project help
10/15/03	Graphics Pipeline I Modeling/View Transforms
10/20/03	Fall break
10/22/03	Graphics Pipeline II Projection Transforms main.cpp compilation instructions	Project 3: Robot
10/27/03	Graphics Pipeline III Clipping
10/27/03	Materials Lab
10/29/03	Pipeline IV Scan Conversion
11/3/03	Textures
11/3/03	OpenGL lab billboard main.cpp image.h image.cpp checkerboard.bmp compile instructions
11/5/03	Shadows shadow lab	Final Project
11/10/03	Curves I
11/10/03	Maya lab
11/12/03	Curves II
11/17/03	Surfaces
11/17/03	Maya Lab
11/19/03	Subdivision Surfaces
11/24/03	NURBS
11/26/03	Fractals
12/1/03	TBD
12/3/03	TBD
12/8/03	TBD
12/10/03	TBD

Last updated: August 2003