3D Concepts

Three-dimensional Graphics
3D computer graphics involves the additional dimension of depth, allowing us to make more realistic and higher fidelity representations of 3D objects in the real world Paradoxically in most cases this is still represented in 2D output devices utilising techniques to render these objects with the illusion of depth 3D Graphics is characterised more by the 3D nature of the Models (input into rendering) rather than the final display (output) modeling world

3D Coordinate Systems
We add a third dimension to our real-world or modeling coordinate system by adding a z-axis to our 2D system There are two possible ways of attaching the Zaxis This gives rise to a left-handed or a right-handed system. Imagine that the thumb and finger of each hand is the x and y axis resp. The direction of your middle finger shows the direction of the z-axis in each system

y z
(1,-1,-1) (1,-1,1)

x
Left Handed Right Handed

x z

The Right-handed system is the most commonly used.

Object Representation
Graphics scenes can contain many different kinds of objects and material surfaces
Trees, flowers, clouds, rocks, water, bricks, wood paneling, rubber, paper, marble, steel, glass, plastic and cloth

So it may not be surprising that there is no single method that we can use to describe all the characteristics of these different shapes/materials

Object Representation
Scene = an assembly of one or more models A model contains
Structural description: Geometry of the shape Surface description: Appearance and light

3D Object Representation
Object Boundaries:
Plane, Curved Surfaces

Object Interiors: Solid Objects:

Boundary Representation Space-partition Representation

3D Object Representations
Boundary representation
A set of surfaces that separate the object interior from the environment Eg) Polyhedra, curved boundary surfaces

Space-partitioning
Partitioning the spatial region into a set of small, nonoverlapping, contiguous solids (usually cubes) Eg) Volumetric data, octrees, BSP trees

Procedural methods
Fractals, shape grammars

Constructive solid geometry

3D Object Representation

Three Dimensional Issues

More Complicated Objects than 2D
bounded by planes and curved surfaces have internal/external components

More involved geometric transformations Viewing transformations much more complicated Projection onto a two dimensional output display (usually) Identification of Visible Surfaces