CSC 418/2504, Fall 2001: Computer Graphics

Instructor Alejo Hausner
Email ah AT dgp.utoronto.ca
Phone (416) 946-5819
Office Hours SF 4306B, Mon, Wed 2-3pm
(other times by appointment only)

Sections L0101, L2001 Sections L2002, L5101
Lectures Mon, Wed 1pm, SS 2117 Wed 7-9pm, SS 2102
Tutorials Fri. 1pm Wed. 6pm

Online www.cs.utoronto.ca/~csc418

Synopsis

This course introduces the basic concepts and algorithms of computer graphics.

Topics

Most of the following will be covered:
colour representation and perception, colour displays, basic optics, light energy transfer, line drawing, affine and perspective transformations, windows and viewports, clipping, visibility, illumination models, energy transfer models, parametric representations, curves and surfaces, texture mapping, graphics hardware, ray tracing, graphics toolkits, procedural models, animation systems.

Course Texts

Required CSC 418/2504 Course Notes, Fall 2001.
Required F.S. Hill, Jr. Computer Graphics Using OpenGL, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 2001.
Recommended Mason Woo et al, OpenGL 1.2 Programming Guide, Third Edition, Addison-Wesley, 1999 (recommended for learning OpenGL).

Grading Scheme

out in weight
Assignment #1 Wed. Sept 19 Wed. Oct 3, in class 15%
Assignment #2 Wed. Oct 10 Wed. Oct 24, in class 15%
Assignment #3 Wed. Nov 14 Wed. Dec 5, in class 20%
Midterm Test Wed. Oct 31, in class 20%
Final Dec 10-19 30%
Unscheduled visits*
(see below)		 -0.5%

Assignments involve both analytic problems as well as implementation of algorithms. Assignment 3 will include a small project. Descriptions of suggested projects will be provided online. Late assignments will be penalized 20% per day.

You are expected to be a competent programmer in C or C++ in this course. You will need knowledge of 3D geometry, linear algebra, calculus, complexity theory, and data structures.

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense; the work submitted should be your own. If you have exchanged ideas with a fellow student and thus have answers which might be falsely construed as being plagiarised, you should state this.

Computer Facilities, St. George campus

The programming assignments will make use of the CDF Unix facilities. Those unfamiliar with CDF will find A student's Guide to CDF to be useful. This guide is available in the bookstore. The CDF workstations are located in the Engineering Annex in EA107, EA201, and EA203. There's also an online FAQ, with a variety of useful information about working on the CDF Unix machines.

* Unscheduled Visits

Feel free to consult the professor during office hours. If you come outside these hours, you must make an appointment (by email, phone, or dropping by). Outside these parameters, it will cost you 0.5% (half a course mark). I'm available, but I need to know when you're coming.

The course newsgroup ut.cdf.csc418h can be used as a discussion forum, and the professor and TAs will check it periodically, and may answer your questions posted there. Questions are best asked in person to the TAs or the professor, at appointed times. Common questions and problems with assignments will be handled using online FAQs.