INTRODUCTION TO

COMPUTER GRAPHICS
FACULTY : Dr. Reshu Agarwal

AMITY UNIVERSITY, NOIDA

INDIA

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 OUTLINE

o Introduction to Computer Graphics

o Classification of Computer Graphics
o Application areas
o Advantages of computer graphics
o Disadvantages of computer graphics

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 What is Computer Graphics?
• One of the most effective and commonly used
way to communicate the processed
information to the user.
• Displays the information in the form of
graphics object such as pictures, charts,
graphs & diagrams.
• It is field of computer science in which we are
interested in generating objects and images
such as pictures, charts, graphs and
diagrams using pixels. Chapter 1
• Graphics means creation and Manipulation of the images. The term
manipulation includes changing the position of the image, changing the
orientation of the image, changing the shape and size of the image etc.

• Computer Graphics means performing the above task with the aid of a
computer.

• Graphical representation of anything helps in its easy mathematical

analysis and decision making. As it is a well known saying that “A picture
is worth a hundred words”, therefore by a graphical representation we can
eliminate the complexity of intensive text processing.

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Manual Drafting Versus Computer Graphics
Manual Drafting
• It starts right away.
• Corrections are time consuming
& the results are not neat.
• Special effects such as color &
shading requires specialists.
• Enormous amount of time is
required.
• Each different view needs to be
redrawn as if it is a fresh
drawing.
• It involves relatively low
investment.
Computer Graphics
• It needs considerable time.
• Corrections are fast and the result
is another original.
• All such enhancements are given
as a function of the s/w & h/w.
• It require very little additional time
& effort.
• All modifications are done through
a few commands.
• Enormous amount of money is
required.
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 How pictures or graphics objects are
presented in computer graphics?

• Pictures or graphics objects are presented as a collection

of discrete picture elements called pixels.
• The pixel is the smallest addressable screen element.
• A pixel is also known as a picture element (pix = picture,
el = element).
• These pixels are arranged in a row & column fashion to
form a rectangular picture area.

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 How pictures are presented in computer
graphics(Contd…)?
• Individual pixels in an image can be referred by their
coordinates.
• Each pixel on the graphics display does not represent
mathematical point. Rather, it represents a region
which theoretically can contain an infinite number of
points.
• For e.g if we want to display point P1 whose coordinates are
(4.2, 3.8) and point P2 whose coordinates are (4.8, 3.1) then P1
& P2 are represented by only one pixel(4,3).

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 Terminologies Related to Computer Graphics

RESOLUTION

•The maximum number of points that can be

displayed without overlap on a CRT is
referred to as the resolution. A more precise
definition of resolution is the maximum
number of points that can be plotted per unit
area on the screen without overlapping.
•Image size is given as the total number of
pixels in the horizontal direction times the
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 ASPECT RATIO

• This number gives the ratio of vertical points to

horizontal points necessary to produce equal
length lines in both directions on the screen.
(Sometimes aspect ratio is stated in terms of the
ratio of horizontal to vertical points ). An aspect
ratio of ¾ means that a vertical line plotted with
three points has the same length as a horizontal
line plotted with four points.

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 ASPECT RATIO

• Standard TV has 480 scan lines. If the aspect

ratio is ¾, what is the capacity of frame buffer
needed if 2 bits per pixel are used?

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 Numerical

• Find out the aspect ratio of the raster system

using 8 x 10 inches screen and 100 pixel/inch.

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 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS

Computer Graphics can be classified as

• Passive Computer Graphics

• Interactive Computer Graphics

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 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)
Passive computer graphics
• This is called offline graphics.
• Once the graphic program is developed the user
has no control over it even if he wants to change the
display.
• Development takes place independently.
• The displays are generally by line printers,
plotters etc.

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• In non interactive or passive CG, the user has no control over the
image. He just sits back and observes what has been shown.
There is no facility to manipulate the sequence i.e we have to
view it from the starting till end we have no control over the
sequence and we cannot randomly process to view a particular
clip from the sequence. Example of this form include the titles
shown on TV and other forms of computer art.

• Non-interactive Graphics involves only one-way communication

between the computer and the user, User can see the produced
image, and he cannot make any change in the image.

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 CLASSIFICATION OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)
Interactive computer graphics
• This is also called online graphics.
• Users can dynamically control the display.
• Displays are controlled by mouse, joystick etc.
This is termed as ICG because the user can interact
with the machine.
• Video games and websites are all making use of
ICG.

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In contrast in interactive computer graphics we give the
observer some control over the image by providing him
with an input device such as the lever of the ping pong
game, so that he can signal his requests to the
computer. Interactive CG involves two way
communication between computer and user. The
computer, upon receiving signals from the input device
can modify the displayed picture appropriately.
Interactive Computer Graphics require two-way
communication between the computer and the user. A
User can see the image and make any change by
sending his command with an input device.
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 APPLICATION AREAS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS
1.User Interfaces
• The graphical interfaces provide an attractive and easy
interaction between users and computers.
• The built-in graphics provided with user interfaces use
visual control items such as buttons, menus, icons,
scroll bar etc. which allows user to interact with
computer only by mouse – click.
• Typing is necessary only to input text to be stored and
manipulated.
• Word Processing, Spreadsheets etc. also take
advantage of user interface techniques
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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)

2.Plotting of graphics and chart:

• In industry, business, government and educational
organizations, computer graphics is most commonly used to
create 2D and 3D graphs of mathematical, physical and
economic functions in form of histograms, bars and pie-charts.
• These graphs & charts are useful for decision making.

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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)

3.Art and Commerce

•This allows user to create artistic
pictures which express messages
and attract attentions.
•Such pictures are very useful in
advertising.

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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)
4.Computer-aided Drafting and Design

• Designing of buildings, automobile, aircraft is done with

the help of computer aided drawing, this helps in
providing minute details to the drawing and producing
more accurate and sharp drawings with better
specifications.
.

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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)
5.Simulation and Animation

• Used for creating motion pictures , music video,

television shows, cartoon animation films. In the game
industry where focus and interactivity are the key
players, computer graphics helps in providing such
features in the efficient way.

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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)

6.Cartography:

Computer graphics is also used to represent geographic

maps, weather maps, oceanographic charts, population
density maps and so on.

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 APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER
GRAPHICS(Contd…)

6.Image Processing:

Various kinds of photographs or images require editing in order to

be used in different places. Processing of existing images into
refined ones for better interpretation is one of the many
applications of computer graphics.

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Advantages of computer graphics

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Disadvantages of computer graphics

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THANK YOU

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 Solution

• Aspect Ratio = Number of Vertical

Points/Number of Horizontal Points

• 480/x = ¾
• X=480 * 4/3 = 620
• Total Points = 480 * 620 pixels
• Capacity of frame buffer = 480 * 620 * 2 bits

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 Solution

We know that, Aspect ratio = Width /Height

= 8 x 100 /10 x 100 = 4/5
Aspect ratio = 4 : 5

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