CSC418/2504S: Computer Graphics

Eugene Fiume
Department of Computer Science
University of Toronto
Toronto , Ontario
Canada
M5S 3G4

elf at dgp dot toronto dot edu (e-mail is the best way to reach me ... apologies for the anti-spam e-mail address)

(+1) 416 978-5472

Course Particulars

Lecture Date, Time, Location: MW3:00-4:00pm, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, Room BA1180
Tutorial Date, Time, Location: Wednesdays, 4:00pm, Bahen Centre for Information Technology, Rooms BA 1180
Exam Date, Time, Location: Tuesday 20 April, 9am-12pm, Cartwright Hall, St. Hilda's College, 44 Devonshire Place
Office Hours: To be determined (send me e-mail)
Instructor: Eugene Fiume
Teaching Assistants: Christian Lessig (lessig at dgp.toronto.edu), Louis-Francois Handfield (lfhandfield at gmail.com)

Course Description

This course introduces the fundamental concepts and algorithms of computer graphics. It covers the basic methods needed to model and render 3D objects, including much of the following: graphics displays, basic optics, line drawing, affine and perspective transformations, windows and viewports, clipping, visibility, illumination and reflectance models, radiometry, energy transfer models, parametric representations, curves and surfaces, texture mapping, graphics hardware, ray tracing, graphics toolkits, animation systems.

Prerequisites: CSC336H1/CSC350H1/CSC351H1/CSC363H1/364H1/CSC365H1/CSC373H1/CSC375H1/378HI, MAT137Y1, CSC209H1/proficiency in C or C++ ; CGPA 3.0/enrolment in a CSC subject POSt.

The student is expected to read background material on the hardware and local software, and should be comfortable with elementary linear algebra, geometry, and vector calculus. It is also assumed that the student is comfortable programming in basic C++.

Recommended preparation: MAT237Y1, MAT244H1.

Required Reading

Currently, there is no textbook that reflects all the material covered in this class. In-class lectures will be supplemented by online notes (lecture slides and course notes) as well as portions of the following recommended textbook:

Fundamentals of Computer Graphics, 3rd Edition, A.K. Peters by Peter Shirley.
Be sure to check the online errata and slides available on the above link.

Lecture slides and online notes are required.

You are also encouraged to read and follow the lecture slides of Leonid Sigal, who has been teaching the same course (same material, schedule, assignments, etc.) at UTSc.

Textbook sections listed next to each lecture also constitute required reading.

Recommended References

OpenGL Programming Guide: The official guide to learning OpenGL, version 1.4, By the OpenGL Architecture Review Board, Addison-Wesley.
This book will be a useful reference for getting some of the programming assignments done. (Also available online)
OpenGL Reference Manual, By the OpenGL Architecture Review Board, Addison-Wesley. (Also available online)

Supplementary Textbooks

We will not be using the following books directly, but they offer different perspectives on the topics that will be covered in class. Other books discuss important topics that cannot be covered as deeply in this course.

J. Blinn, Jim Blinn's Corner: A Trip Down the Graphics Pipeline, Morgan Kaufman, 1996.
J. Blinn, Jim Blinn's Corner: Dirty Pixels, Morgan Kaufman, 1998.
D. S. Ebert et al, Texturing and Modeling (Second Edition), Academic Press, 1998.
R. Fosner, OpenGL Programming for Windows95 and NT, Addison Wesley, 1998.
J. Foley et al., Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, Addison Wesley, 1997.
A. Glassner, Principles of Digital Image Synthesis, Volumes 1 and 2, Morgan Kaufman, 1995.
D. Hearn and M. P. Baker, Computer Graphics (Third Edition), Addison-Wesley, 2003.
M. Livingstone, Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing, Abrams, 2002.
A. Watt, 3D Computer Graphics, 3rd edition, Addison-Wesley, 1999.
G. Wolberg, Digital Image Warping, IEEE Computer Society Press, 1990.
R. Zakia, Perception and Imaging (Third Edition), Elsevier/Focal Press, 2007.

Marking Scheme

There will be four assignments worth a total of 50% of the grade, a midterm test worth 15% and a final exam worth 35%. The assignments web page is here. Individual assignments that are available can be clicked on in the table below.

Your written work is due, meaning it must have been submitted electronically, by midnight of the due date. The late policy is:

10% off for the first calendar day it is submitted late.
An additional 20% off for the second calendar day it is late (30% total).
An additional 30% off for the third calendar day it is late (60% total).
An additional 40% off for the fourth calendar day it is late (100% total).

...in other words, don't be late unless you have a very good reason!

Computer Accounts

Everyone successfully enrolled in this class will get a computer login on the Linux-based network of machines operated, and collectively known as, Computing Disciplines Facility, or CDF (see the CDF Welcome page). Some may already know what your logins are. You can always ask me, but the easiest way is to do it online by going to the CDF webfinger, which allows you to search for your login. The form of your login will be c7LLLLLL, where "LLLLLL" is the first letters of your student card.

You won't be doing any programming in this course (unless you want to do it in your project), but you will need regular access to the Internet to look up articles and do research. Also, we are setting up a discussion page that will require your CDF login for access.

Undergraduate Announcements

Please consult the Undergraduate Announcements page regularly. You'll get the scoop on lots of things relevant to Computer Science undergraduates.