fbpx
Wikipedia

3D computer graphics

January 29, 2023

For the academic discipline, see Computer graphics (computer science).
For broader coverage of this topic, see Computer graphics.

3D computer graphics, sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering digital images, usually 2D images but sometimes 3D images. The resulting images may be stored for viewing later (possibly as an animation) or displayed in real time.

3D computer graphics, contrary to what the name suggests, are most often displayed on two-dimensional displays. Unlike 3D film and similar techniques, the result is two-dimensional, without visual depth. More often, 3D graphics are being displayed on 3D displays, like in virtual reality systems.

3D graphics stand in contrast to 2D computer graphics which typically use completely different methods and formats for creation and rendering.

3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2D computer vector graphics in the wire-frame model and 2D computer raster graphics in the final rendered display. In computer graphics software, 2D applications may use 3D techniques to achieve effects such as lighting, and similarly, 3D may use some 2D rendering techniques.

The objects in 3D computer graphics are often referred to as 3D models. Unlike the rendered image, a model's data is contained within a graphical data file. A 3D model is a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional object; a model is not technically a graphic until it is displayed. A model can be displayed visually as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering, or it can be used in non-graphical computer simulations and calculations. With 3D printing, models are rendered into an actual 3D physical representation of themselves, with some limitations as to how accurately the physical model can match the virtual model.[1]

History

Main article: History of computer animation

William Fetter was credited with coining the term computer graphics in 1961[2][3] to describe his work at Boeing. One of the first displays of computer animation was Futureworld (1976), which included an animation of a human face and a hand that had originally appeared in the 1971 experimental short A Computer Animated Hand, created by University of Utah students Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke.[4]

3D computer graphics software began appearing for home computers in the late 1970s. The earliest known example is 3D Art Graphics, a set of 3D computer graphics effects, written by Kazumasa Mitazawa and released in June 1978 for the Apple II.[5][6]

Overview

3D computer graphics production workflow falls into three basic phases:

  1. 3D modeling – the process of forming a computer model of an object's shape
  2. Layout and CGI animation – the placement and movement of objects (models, lights etc.) within a scene
  3. 3D rendering – the computer calculations that, based on light placement, surface types, and other qualities, generate (rasterize the scene into) an image

Modeling

Main article: 3D modeling

The model describes the process of forming the shape of an object. The two most common sources of 3D models are those that an artist or engineer originates on the computer with some kind of 3D modeling tool, and models scanned into a computer from real-world objects (Polygonal Modeling, Patch Modeling and NURBS Modeling are some popular tools used in 3d modeling). Models can also be produced procedurally or via physical simulation. Basically, a 3D model is formed from points called vertices that define the shape and form polygons. A polygon is an area formed from at least three vertices (a triangle). A polygon of n points is an n-gon.[7] The overall integrity of the model and its suitability to use in animation depend on the structure of the polygons.

Layout and animation

Main article: Computer animation

Before rendering into an image, objects must be laid out in a scene. This defines spatial relationships between objects, including location and size. Animation refers to the temporal description of an object (i.e., how it moves and deforms over time. Popular methods include keyframing, inverse kinematics, and motion capture). These techniques are often used in combination. As with animation, physical simulation also specifies motion.

Materials and textures

Materials and textures are properties that the render engine uses to render the model. One can give the model materials to tell the render engine how to treat light when it hits the surface. Textures are used to give the material color using a color or albedo map, or give the surface features using a bump map or normal map. It can be also used to deform the model itself using a displacement map.

Rendering

Main article: 3D rendering

Rendering converts a model into an image either by simulating light transport to get photo-realistic images, or by applying an art style as in non-photorealistic rendering. The two basic operations in realistic rendering are transport (how much light gets from one place to another) and scattering (how surfaces interact with light). This step is usually performed using 3D computer graphics software or a 3D graphics API. Altering the scene into a suitable form for rendering also involves 3D projection, which displays a three-dimensional image in two dimensions. Although 3D modeling and CAD software may perform 3D rendering as well (e.g., Autodesk 3ds Max or Blender), exclusive 3D rendering software also exists (e.g., OTOY's Octane Rendering Engine, Maxon's Redshift)

Software

3D computer graphics software produces computer-generated imagery (CGI) through 3D modeling and 3D rendering or produces 3D models for analytic, scientific and industrial purposes.

File formats

Main article: List of file formats § 3D graphics

There are many varieties of files supporting 3D graphics, for example, Wavefront .obj files and .x DirectX files. Each file type generally tends to have its own unique data structure.

Each file format can be accessed through their respective applications, such as DirectX files, and Quake. Alternatively, files can be accessed through third-party standalone programs, or via manual decompilation.

Modeling

Main article: 3D modeling software

3D modeling software is a class of 3D computer graphics software used to produce 3D models. Individual programs of this class are called modeling applications or modelers.

3D modeling starts by describing 3 display models : Drawing Points, Drawing Lines and Drawing triangles and other Polygonal patches.[8]

3D modelers allow users to create and alter models via their 3D mesh. Users can add, subtract, stretch and otherwise change the mesh to their desire. Models can be viewed from a variety of angles, usually simultaneously. Models can be rotated and the view can be zoomed in and out.

3D modelers can export their models to files, which can then be imported into other applications as long as the metadata are compatible. Many modelers allow importers and exporters to be plugged-in, so they can read and write data in the native formats of other applications.

Most 3D modelers contain a number of related features, such as ray tracers and other rendering alternatives and texture mapping facilities. Some also contain features that support or allow animation of models. Some may be able to generate full-motion video of a series of rendered scenes (i.e. animation).

Computer-aided design (CAD)

Main article: Computer-aided design

Computer aided design software may employ the same fundamental 3D modeling techniques that 3D modeling software use but their goal differs. They are used in computer-aided engineering, computer-aided manufacturing, Finite element analysis, product lifecycle management, 3D printing and computer-aided architectural design.

Complementary tools

After producing video, studios then edit or composite the video using programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro at the mid-level, or Autodesk Combustion, Digital Fusion, Shake at the high-end. Match moving software is commonly used to match live video with computer-generated video, keeping the two in sync as the camera moves.

Use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production is called machinima.[9]

Differences with other types of computer graphics

Distinction from photorealistic 2D graphics

See also: Still life § 21st century

Not all computer graphics that appear 3D are based on a wireframe model. 2D computer graphics with 3D photorealistic effects are often achieved without wireframe modeling and are sometimes indistinguishable in the final form. Some graphic art software includes filters that can be applied to 2D vector graphics or 2D raster graphics on transparent layers. Visual artists may also copy or visualize 3D effects and manually render photorealistic effects without the use of filters.

Pseudo 3D and true 3D

Main article: 2.5D

Some video games use restricted projections of three-dimensional environments, such as isometric graphics or virtual cameras with fixed angles, either as a way to improve performance of the game engine or for stylistic and gameplay concerns. Such games are said to use pseudo 3D graphics. By contrast, games using 3D computer graphics without such restrictions are said to use true 3D.

See also

Graphics and software

Fields of use

References

  1. ^ "3D computer graphics". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  3. ^ "Computer Graphics".
  4. ^ "Pixar founder's Utah-made Hand added to National Film Registry". The Salt Lake Tribune. December 28, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  5. ^ "Brutal Deluxe Software". www.brutaldeluxe.fr.
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  7. ^ Simmons, Bruce. . MathWords. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  8. ^ Buss, Samuel R. (2003-05-19). 3D Computer Graphics: A Mathematical Introduction with OpenGL. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-44038-7.
  9. ^ "Machinima". Internet Archive. Retrieved 2020-07-12.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3D computer graphics.
 
Look up computer graphics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
  • (Wayback Machine copy)
  • How Stuff Works - 3D Graphics
  • (Wayback Machine copy)
  • How 3D Works - Explains 3D modeling for an illuminated manuscript

January 29, 2023
computer, graphics, academic, discipline, computer, graphics, computer, science, broader, coverage, this, topic, computer, graphics, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, s. For the academic discipline see Computer graphics computer science For broader coverage of this topic see Computer graphics This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 3D computer graphics news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message 3D computer graphics sometimes called CGI 3D CGI or three dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three dimensional representation of geometric data often Cartesian that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering digital images usually 2D images but sometimes 3D images The resulting images may be stored for viewing later possibly as an animation or displayed in real time 3D computer graphics contrary to what the name suggests are most often displayed on two dimensional displays Unlike 3D film and similar techniques the result is two dimensional without visual depth More often 3D graphics are being displayed on 3D displays like in virtual reality systems 3D graphics stand in contrast to 2D computer graphics which typically use completely different methods and formats for creation and rendering 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms as 2D computer vector graphics in the wire frame model and 2D computer raster graphics in the final rendered display In computer graphics software 2D applications may use 3D techniques to achieve effects such as lighting and similarly 3D may use some 2D rendering techniques The objects in 3D computer graphics are often referred to as 3D models Unlike the rendered image a model s data is contained within a graphical data file A 3D model is a mathematical representation of any three dimensional object a model is not technically a graphic until it is displayed A model can be displayed visually as a two dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or it can be used in non graphical computer simulations and calculations With 3D printing models are rendered into an actual 3D physical representation of themselves with some limitations as to how accurately the physical model can match the virtual model 1 Contents 1 History 2 Overview 2 1 Modeling 2 2 Layout and animation 2 3 Materials and textures 2 4 Rendering 3 Software 3 1 File formats 3 2 Modeling 3 3 Computer aided design CAD 3 4 Complementary tools 4 Differences with other types of computer graphics 4 1 Distinction from photorealistic 2D graphics 4 2 Pseudo 3D and true 3D 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditMain article History of computer animation William Fetter was credited with coining the term computer graphics in 1961 2 3 to describe his work at Boeing One of the first displays of computer animation was Futureworld 1976 which included an animation of a human face and a hand that had originally appeared in the 1971 experimental short A Computer Animated Hand created by University of Utah students Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke 4 3D computer graphics software began appearing for home computers in the late 1970s The earliest known example is 3D Art Graphics a set of 3D computer graphics effects written by Kazumasa Mitazawa and released in June 1978 for the Apple II 5 6 Overview Edit3D computer graphics production workflow falls into three basic phases 3D modeling the process of forming a computer model of an object s shape Layout and CGI animation the placement and movement of objects models lights etc within a scene 3D rendering the computer calculations that based on light placement surface types and other qualities generate rasterize the scene into an imageModeling Edit Main article 3D modeling The model describes the process of forming the shape of an object The two most common sources of 3D models are those that an artist or engineer originates on the computer with some kind of 3D modeling tool and models scanned into a computer from real world objects Polygonal Modeling Patch Modeling and NURBS Modeling are some popular tools used in 3d modeling Models can also be produced procedurally or via physical simulation Basically a 3D model is formed from points called vertices that define the shape and form polygons A polygon is an area formed from at least three vertices a triangle A polygon of n points is an n gon 7 The overall integrity of the model and its suitability to use in animation depend on the structure of the polygons Layout and animation Edit Main article Computer animation Before rendering into an image objects must be laid out in a scene This defines spatial relationships between objects including location and size Animation refers to the temporal description of an object i e how it moves and deforms over time Popular methods include keyframing inverse kinematics and motion capture These techniques are often used in combination As with animation physical simulation also specifies motion Materials and textures Edit Materials and textures are properties that the render engine uses to render the model One can give the model materials to tell the render engine how to treat light when it hits the surface Textures are used to give the material color using a color or albedo map or give the surface features using a bump map or normal map It can be also used to deform the model itself using a displacement map Rendering Edit Main article 3D rendering Rendering converts a model into an image either by simulating light transport to get photo realistic images or by applying an art style as in non photorealistic rendering The two basic operations in realistic rendering are transport how much light gets from one place to another and scattering how surfaces interact with light This step is usually performed using 3D computer graphics software or a 3D graphics API Altering the scene into a suitable form for rendering also involves 3D projection which displays a three dimensional image in two dimensions Although 3D modeling and CAD software may perform 3D rendering as well e g Autodesk 3ds Max or Blender exclusive 3D rendering software also exists e g OTOY s Octane Rendering Engine Maxon s Redshift Examples of 3D rendering A 3D rendering with ray tracing and ambient occlusion using Blender and YafaRay A 3D model of a Dunkerque class battleship rendered with flat shading During the 3D rendering step the number of reflections light rays can take as well as various other attributes can be tailored to achieve a desired visual effect Rendered with Cobalt Software Edit3D computer graphics software produces computer generated imagery CGI through 3D modeling and 3D rendering or produces 3D models for analytic scientific and industrial purposes File formats Edit Main article List of file formats 3D graphics There are many varieties of files supporting 3D graphics for example Wavefront obj files and x DirectX files Each file type generally tends to have its own unique data structure Each file format can be accessed through their respective applications such as DirectX files and Quake Alternatively files can be accessed through third party standalone programs or via manual decompilation Modeling Edit Main article 3D modeling software 3D modeling software is a class of 3D computer graphics software used to produce 3D models Individual programs of this class are called modeling applications or modelers 3D modeling starts by describing 3 display models Drawing Points Drawing Lines and Drawing triangles and other Polygonal patches 8 3D modelers allow users to create and alter models via their 3D mesh Users can add subtract stretch and otherwise change the mesh to their desire Models can be viewed from a variety of angles usually simultaneously Models can be rotated and the view can be zoomed in and out 3D modelers can export their models to files which can then be imported into other applications as long as the metadata are compatible Many modelers allow importers and exporters to be plugged in so they can read and write data in the native formats of other applications Most 3D modelers contain a number of related features such as ray tracers and other rendering alternatives and texture mapping facilities Some also contain features that support or allow animation of models Some may be able to generate full motion video of a series of rendered scenes i e animation Computer aided design CAD Edit Main article Computer aided design Computer aided design software may employ the same fundamental 3D modeling techniques that 3D modeling software use but their goal differs They are used in computer aided engineering computer aided manufacturing Finite element analysis product lifecycle management 3D printing and computer aided architectural design Complementary tools Edit After producing video studios then edit or composite the video using programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro at the mid level or Autodesk Combustion Digital Fusion Shake at the high end Match moving software is commonly used to match live video with computer generated video keeping the two in sync as the camera moves Use of real time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production is called machinima 9 Differences with other types of computer graphics EditDistinction from photorealistic 2D graphics Edit See also Still life 21st century Not all computer graphics that appear 3D are based on a wireframe model 2D computer graphics with 3D photorealistic effects are often achieved without wireframe modeling and are sometimes indistinguishable in the final form Some graphic art software includes filters that can be applied to 2D vector graphics or 2D raster graphics on transparent layers Visual artists may also copy or visualize 3D effects and manually render photorealistic effects without the use of filters Pseudo 3D and true 3D Edit Main article 2 5D Some video games use restricted projections of three dimensional environments such as isometric graphics or virtual cameras with fixed angles either as a way to improve performance of the game engine or for stylistic and gameplay concerns Such games are said to use pseudo 3D graphics By contrast games using 3D computer graphics without such restrictions are said to use true 3D See also EditGraphics and software Glossary of computer graphics Comparison of 3D computer graphics software Graphics processing unit GPU Graphical output devices List of 3D computer graphics software List of 3D modeling software List of 3D rendering software Real time computer graphics Reflection computer graphics Rendering computer graphics Fields of use 3D data acquisition and object reconstruction 3D motion controller 3D projection on 2D planes 3D reconstruction 3D reconstruction from multiple images Anaglyph 3D Cel shading Computer animation Computer vision Digital geometry Digital image processing Game development tool Game engine Geometry pipelines Geometry processing Graphics Isometric graphics in video games and pixel art Level editor List of stereoscopic video games Medical animation Render farm SIGGRAPH Stereoscopy Timeline of computer animation in film and television Video game graphicsReferences Edit 3D computer graphics ScienceDaily Retrieved 2019 01 19 An Historical Timeline of Computer Graphics and Animation Archived from the original on 2008 03 10 Retrieved 2009 07 22 Computer Graphics Pixar founder s Utah made Hand added to National Film Registry The Salt Lake Tribune December 28 2011 Retrieved January 8 2012 Brutal Deluxe Software www brutaldeluxe fr PROJECTS AND ARTICLES Retrieving Japanese Apple II programs Archived from the original on 2016 10 05 Retrieved 2017 03 26 Simmons Bruce n gon MathWords Archived from the original on 2018 12 15 Retrieved 2018 11 30 Buss Samuel R 2003 05 19 3D Computer Graphics A Mathematical Introduction with OpenGL Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 139 44038 7 Machinima Internet Archive Retrieved 2020 07 12 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to 3D computer graphics Look up computer graphics in Wiktionary the free dictionary A Critical History of Computer Graphics and Animation Wayback Machine copy How Stuff Works 3D Graphics History of Computer Graphics series of articles Wayback Machine copy How 3D Works Explains 3D modeling for an illuminated manuscript Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 3D computer graphics amp oldid 1135197603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.