COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Definition of Computer Graphics

Computer Graphics offers methods
and techniques for producing and
manipulating images as a special
kind of output of computer
representation.

Applications of Computer
Graphics
Graphics Presentations
(The one like this)
Paint Systems
Word Processing, Spreadsheet and
Desktop Publishing
Computer Aided Design and Analysis
Animation, simulation, entertainment
and scientific visualization
Process Control
Education and Training
Cartography
Graphics System Configuration

Graphics System Configuration
3 Components

Application System
Graphic System
User

Graphics System Configuration
Graphics System Configuration
3 Components of Software
1) Application Program
- creates, store and retrieves the data/objects to
be pictured on the screen from (2) and sends
graphics commands to (3)
2) Application Data
- stores the data used by application program

Graphics System Configuration
3 Components of Software
3) Graphics System
- interacts between the user and the application
program
- responsible for actually producing picture
Graphics System
Cathode Ray Tube
Cathode Ray Tube
Cathode Ray Tube Operation
An electron gun emits a beam of electrons,
which passes through focusing and deflection
systems and hits on the phosphor-coated
screen.

The number of points displayed on a CRT is
referred to as the resolution (e.g. 1074 x 768)
Cathode Ray Tube Operation
The light emitted by phosphor fades very
rapidly so it needs to redraw the picture
repeatedly

There are two kinds of redrawing operation:
Raster-Scan and Random Scan
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
Electron beam is swept across the screen one
row at a time from top to bottom

This scanning process is also called
refreshing. Each complete scanning is
normally called a frame.

The refreshing rate is called the frame rate
which is normally 60-80 frames per second
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
Picture definition is stored in a memory area
called the frame buffer

The frame buffer stores the intensity values for
all the screen points. Each screen point is
called a pixel (picture element)

CRT Operation: Raster Scan
The picture is built up in the frame buffer one bit at a
time (either 0 or 1) causing black or white (monochrome)
display.
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
Intensity level between 0 (dark) and 2
N
1 (full intensity)
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
8
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
Color frame buffer contains
three bit planes for each
primary color i.e. red (R),
green (G) and blue (B)
Each bit plane drives an
individual color gun for
each of the primary color
used in color video
Table on the right plane
shows a sample color table
Figure in the next slide
demonstrates Simple Color
Frame Buffer
Black Green Blue
Black 0 0 0
Red 1 0 0
Green 0 1 0
Blue 0 0 1
Yellow 1 1 0
Cyan 0 1 1
Magenta 1 0 1
White 1 1 1
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
CRT Operation: Raster Scan
Increasing number of shades of each color
CRT Operation: Random Scan
CRT Operation: Random Scan
Also known as Vector Display

The CRTs electron beam is directed only to
the parts of the screen where picture is to be
drawn.
CRT Operation
Block diagram of a CRT graphics system
Basics of Images
Pixel
in short of picture elements

basic unit of a composition of an image

an array of pixels composed an image

Example of Pixels
Exercise
Open an image in an editor(e.g. MS Paint)

Zoom in to maximum

Determine the number of pixels in the image

Resolution
density of pixels in an image

measured by number of pixels per linear inch

Example:
100x100 pixel image that is printed in a 1-square
inch has a resolution of 100 pixels per inch


Example
Tip of arrow drawn in different resolutions
Example
Exercise
Compute the following
a) size of 800x600 image at 240 pixels
per inch resolution

b) resolution of 2x2 inch image that has
512x512 pixels
Solution
a) 240 pixels correspond to 1 inch
800/240 = 3
1
3
inch
600/240 = 2 inch
Hence, the size of the image is 3
1
3
inch x 2
1
2
inch.

b) 512/2 = 256 pixels per inch


Black and White Image
Each pixel can either be black or white

Each pixel can be represented by a bit


Monochrome/Grayscale
A pixel can be represented by 3 bits



For a wider range of shades, a pixel can be
represented by 8 bits

8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RGB
A pixel is represented with 24 bits(8 bits Red,
8 bits Green, 8 bits Blue)

Black(0,0,0)

White(255,255,255)

More examples, go to MS Office and open
color palette



Exercises
Determine the size(in bytes) of the black and
white 600x400 image.

The memory cost of a colored(RGB) image is
1.6 million bytes. What is the size of the
image?


Videos
Sequence of still images

Usually 30 frames per second => frame rate
Exercise
Compute the video size of the video with the
following specifications:

1. Duration : 1 hour
2. Frame size: 640 x 480
3. Color depth: 24 bits
4. Frame rate: 25 frames per second