Interactive Computer Graphics

To enable this approach, the book first describes an important application programmer's interface-OpenGL-a graphics library now available on most platforms, from high-end graphics workstations to PCs. This high-level interface, plus a basic knowledge of C programming, allows you to generate complex interactive applications, even applications involving 3D viewing and event-driven input. OpenGL's well-defined architecture also facilitates the book's technical discussions of algorithm implementations.

Professor Angel has based this text on his extensive experience teaching computer graphics to students and professionals in computer science, engineering, and other fields. In emphasizing applications programming, his presentation is both practical and enjoyable. At the same time, he covers all the topics required for a fundamental understanding of computer graphics, such as light-material interactions, shading, modeling, curves and surfaces, antialiasing, texture mapping, and compositing, as well as important hardware issues.

The four images that appear on this cover are from a computer-generated video created by University of New Mexico students James Pinkerton and Brian Jones, and artists Thomas Keller and John Bell. The story of a robot named Ed and his discovery of self, the video was produced with a variety of graphics and robotic software, including OpenGL, Alias, WaveFront, Igrip, and ProEngineer. The images here show Ed in his work cell, the factory where robots work, a flower that Ed finds, and Ed's reassembly.