Swarthmore CS40: Graphics, Spring 2011

Announcements

Info for final exam

Introduction

Welcome to CS40: Computer Graphics. This course focuses on the creation and manipulation of digital imagery. We will examine modeling from both a pixel-based perspective and the more geometric vector-based approach. Core topics include geometric primitives, 2D and 3D matrix transformations, projective geometry, and object modelling. We also examine the rendering pipeline and algorithms that improve performance including clipping and hidden surface removal and depth buffers. Intermediate topics include texture mapping, lighting, shadows, and the use of programmable shaders. Starting with the OpenGL framework allows us to explore some advanced topics as well including grammar based models, isosurface extraction, and applications to Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Class info

Room: Science Center 240
Time: MWF 9:30am–10:20am
Lab: W 1:30pm–3:00pm
Text: Interactive Computer Graphics (5e) by Edward Angel (required)
OpenGL Programming Guide (7e) by Shreiner et al. (recommended)

Instructor info

Professor: Andrew Danner
Office: Science Center 253
Phone: (610) 328-8665
Office hours: by appointment

Schedule

WEEK	DATE	ANNOUNCEMENTS	TOPIC & READING	LAB
1	Jan 17		Intro to C++/OpenGL Graphic Primatives The Rendering Pipeline	Lab 01
	Jan 19
	Jan 21
2	Jan 24		Event driven programming, simple animation	Lab 02
	Jan 26
	Jan 28	Drop/Add ends
3	Jan 31		Geometric Primitives Vector and Matrix operations	Lab 03
	Feb 02
	Feb 04
4	Feb 07		3D Transforms gluLookAt, projections	Lab 04
	Feb 09
	Feb 11
5	Feb 14		more 3D transforms, Texture mapping	Lab 05
	Feb 16
	Feb 18
6	Feb 21		Phong Lighting model, normals, stencil buffer, mirrors
	Feb 23
	Feb 25
7	Feb 28		Quaternions, smooth rotations, camera class
	Mar 02
	Mar 04
	Mar 07	Spring Break
	Mar 09
	Mar 11
8	Mar 14		ray-tracing, shading/advanced lighting, shadows	Midterm project
	Mar 16
	Mar 18
9	Mar 21		Intro to Shaders
	Mar 23
	Mar 25	Last day to declare CR/NC or withdraw with a "W"
10	Mar 28		Procedural Methods Bump mapping
	Mar 30
	Apr 01
11	Apr 04		Grammar based Methods	Lab 7
	Apr 06
	Apr 08
12	Apr 11		Parallel Computing CUDA Intro
	Apr 13
	Apr 15
13	Apr 18		More CUDA Thread syncronization
	Apr 20
	Apr 22
14	Apr 25		Wrapup
	Apr 27
	Apr 29
	May 12	Take Home Final due at 5pm

Grading

Grades will be weighted as follows:

50% Lab assignments

20% Midterm

20% Final

10% Class participation

Homework policy

Lab assignments will typically be assigned in class at the end of the week and will be due before midnight the following Thursday night. You are strongly encouraged to start early and ask questions early if you get stuck. You will submit you assignments electronically using the handin40 program. You may submit your assignment multiple times, but each submission overwrites the previous one and only the final submission will be graded. I will also use Prof. Newhall's late homework policy for this course. You (or you and your partner) are allowed to use up to 3 late days this semester for turning in lab project assignments. However, at most 2 late days can be used on an individual assignment. Late "days" are measured in class periods after the due date. For example, if the original assignment is due on Thursday before 1am, then if you submit it after Thursday at 1am but before next Tuesday at 1am it is one day late.

Use late days wisely; once you have used up your late days, I reserve the right to not accept any further late assignments from you, and if I do accept further late assignments from you, you will receive a significant late penalty on them. I strongly recommend that you do not use any late days on the first few assignments.

Academic Accommodations

Academic accommodations are available for students with disabilities who are registered with Student Disability Services in the Dean's office.

If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Tracey Rush in the Office of Student Disability Services, located in Parrish 113, or e-mail trush1 for an appointment to discuss your needs and the process for requesting accommodations. Tracey Rush is responsible for reviewing and approving disability-related accommodation requests and, as appropriate, she will issue students with documented disabilities an Accommodation Authorization Letter. Since accommodations may require early planning and are not retroactive, please contact her as soon as possible.

You are also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs. However, all disability-related accommodations must be arranged through Tracey Rush in the Office Of Student Disability Services.

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is required in all work you submit to be graded. You may not submit work done with (or by) someone else. You may not examine or use work done by others to complete your own work. You may discuss assignment specifications and requirements with others in the class to be sure you understand the problem. In addition, you are allowed to work with others to help learn the course material. However, with the exception of the student mentors and your partner on group assignments, you may not work with others on your assignments.

All code you submit must be your own with the following permissible exceptions: code distributed in class, code found in the course text book, and code worked on with an partner. In these cases, you should always include detailed comments that indicates on which parts of the assignment you received help, and what your sources were.

"It is the opinion of the faculty that for an intentional first offense, failure in the course normally is appropriate. Suspension for a semester or deprivation of the degree in that year may also be appropriate when warranted by the seriousness of the offense." - Student Handbook (2010-2011, pg36 Section A.4.b.i)

Please see me if there are any questions about what is permissible.

CS40 — Graphics