Course: "Graphics" is an introductory course about computer graphics. Computer graphics deals with the algorithmic processing of visual (images) and spatial (geometry) data. The course will focus on the very basics of modeling and rendering, i.e., the mathematical description of three-dimensional scenes and how to create (realistic) images of such models.

Rendering Algorithms: We have several options to convert the mathematical representation of a virtual world into a digital image. Modern games typically rely on the z-buffer algorithm. An alternative approach is ray tracing. In this course we will explore both methods. Ray tracing allows us to produce 'correct' images; rasterization lets us approximate this in real-time.

Math: An important aspect of computer graphics is the use of mathematics. This course provides a short coverage of the mathematical basics needed for rendering. We will introduce fundamental concepts of linear algebra and other areas of higher mathematics that are important far beyond the field of graphics.

The information on this website is static; announcements and discussions will be on Teams.

This course takes place offline, in person, on campus. Please join us there!
We expect that the greater part of our communication will be offline during the lectures and tutorial sessions. Please use Teams as a way to interact with each other and with us, but we may not be able to respond quickly to Teams questions.

This course will be taught in English.

Lecturers:     (email both of us if you have a personal question that cannot be asked in Teams)

•   Peter Vangorp (p.vangorp@uu.nl)
  
•   Tamara Mchedlidze (t.mtsentlintze@uu.nl)
  

Student Assistants:

•   Pepijn Bakker
•   Romeo Zeph
•   Georgios Psomathianos
•   Guido Mintjes
  
•   Gideon Ogilvie
•   Tjalle Schoonderwoerd
•   Jonne Visser

Teaching Assistants:

•   Sarita de Berg
•   Victor Stenvers

Period 4 Schedule

• You are supposed to work alone on the exercises, for the reason that they prepare you for the exam, which is also individual.
• You are expected to prepare the solution for the exercises before the tutorial session. So, for example, before the tutorial session on May 4 you should have finished all exercises on Vectors and 2D Geometry.
• Presence at the Math tutorial sessions (certain Thursdays, usually at 17:15-19:00) is highly recommended, as the solutions of the exercises will be discussed and you will get a chance to ask questions. During these sessions, we will offer you the possibility to present your solution, either verbally or using the blackboard. This gives you an additional possibility to train your presentation and verbal skills, so please use it as much as you can. Please do not worry: presenting your solution will not influence your grade in any way.
• Please use the Teams channel "Math Tutorials" to ask questions about the exercises but only do this in two cases:
  • if for some good reason you were not able to attend the corresponding Math tutorial session, or
  • if you don't understand the question of the exercise.
  Make sure your question is concise and suitably specific. We cannot help you if you just state ‘I do not understand this exercise’.

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS

There will be two practical assignments, covering the two main rendering algorithms: ray tracing (P1) and rasterization (P2). An introduction practical (P0) that prepares you for these assignments will be online on the first day of the course. We recommend that you start working on it right away.

Important Rules

Because of the large group of students taking this lecture, we need strict rules to keep everything manageable.

• Presence at the Practicals Support sessions (certain Thursdays at 17:15-19:00) is strongly recommended. During these sessions, you should bring your laptop so you can work on the practicals and get help from your classmates and from us.

• Working in teams: The programming assignments are designed for groups of two students. You may however also work on the assignments alone. Details:
  
  • Working alone: There is no penalty for working alone on the assignments, but you will be expected to complete the same amount of work as a two-person team. It is however not allowed to work in a team of three or more students.
    
  • Building groups: You can choose your partner yourself among your fellow students. If you cannot find one on your own, ask on the Teams channel "Graphics Practicals" or during the tutorial sessions. We will help you to team up with other students.
  • If your partner drops the course: This is a risk of working in pairs. You may continue working with the materials that you produced together. You can however not continue working on these materials with a new partner.
  • Project team responsibility: It is up to you how you split the work among your team members. However, this freedom comes at the price that you have to be prepared for situations such as team members dropping the course or not delivering what they promised to you. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are aware of your team's progress, so you can react to such issues in an appropriate way.

• Plagiarism:

• We use an automated plagiarism detection system. Plagiarism will always be reported and may have severe consequences.

• Do not store or share your projects publicly, e.g., on GitHub. If your code is used by another team you may be penalized as well. Sharing ideas is fine, of course.

• We recognize the value of AI assistive technologies for programming such as GPT or Copilot to understand and improve code. However, using such tools to produce significant amounts of code is considered plagiarism.

• Exceptions to the rules:

• All exceptions require involvement of the study advisor. Ask the study advisor to email us directly with their suggested exception.
  

Soft- / Hardware and Infrastructure:

• Required equipment: For the practicals, you need a Windows PC with Visual Studio. The free Community Edition of Visual Studio 2022 is a good platform for C# development. We will be using OpenTK to access OpenGL from C#. This is also free software.
  
• Alternative platforms: For this course, support will be mostly limited to Microsoft Windows and C#. You may of course use alternative platforms and programming languages, but an appropriate level of autonomy is expected in that case.
  
  

GRADING

Programming assignments: There will be two programming assignments throughout the course. The final grading P for your programming assignments is the average of the two grades for the assignments: P = (P1+P2)/2. P must be at least 5.0 (before rounding) to pass the course.

Exams: There will be a midterm exam T1 and a final exam T2. The final grading T for your exams is calculated as follows: T = 0.3*T1 + 0.7*T2. T must be at least 5.0 (before rounding) to pass the course.

Final grade: If both T (= the grade for the exams) and P (= the programming grade) are at least 5.0, the final grade for the course is (T + P) / 2. Your final grade must be at least 6 (after rounding) to pass the course.

RETAKES AND REQUIREMENTS

If you did not pass the course but your final grade for the course is at least 4.0 (before rounding), you are entitled to participate in one retake. This can either be a retake assignment or a retake exam.

Retake final exam (T2): This exam will cover all lectures and tutorials. Criteria for passing stay the same as indicated above (i.e. P and T must be at least 5.0 before rounding, and your final grade must be at least 6 after rounding).

Retake practicals: There will be one retake assignment that can replace either P1 or P2 if it improves your final grade. The topic for the retake assignment is decided on individually. To get your assignment and related deadlines, contact the instructor.

Exceptions: All exceptions require involvement of the study advisor. Ask the study advisor to email us directly with their suggested exception.

Textbook:

• The textbook of this course is Fundamentals of Computer Graphics by Peter Shirley et al. The course is designed based on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th editions of the book. The basics (which we are covering) haven't changed much between those editions.
• Here is the web page of the text book.

Additional free online resources that might be helpful:

• Interactive linear algebra book: Immersive Math
• Linear algebra tutorial videos: Essence of Linear Algebra
  
• Linear algebra book: 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development
  
• Somewhat old ray tracing tutorial: Ray Tracing Topics & Techniques
• More recent ray tracing tutorial: Ray Tracing in One Weekend
• Graphics and OpenGL video lectures: Introduction to Computer Graphics
  
• Graphics online course: Interactive 3D Graphics
  
• Collection of tutorials on various graphics topics: Scratchapixel
  
• Graphics encyclopedia: The Graphics Codex
  
• Advanced ray tracing book: Physically Based Rendering
• Two books on advanced ray tracing topics: Ray Tracing Gems
• Advanced OpenGL book: Learn OpenGL Graphics Programming
• Older advanced graphics book: Principles of Digital Image Synthesis

About this course:

• Department website about INFOGR
  
• 2014 Graphics course, by Michael Wand
• 2015 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker
• 2016 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker
• 2017 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker and Deb Panja.
• 2018 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker and Deb Panja.
• 2019 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker and Deb Panja.
• 2020 Graphics course, by Jacco Bikker and Michael Behrisch.
• 2021 Graphics course, by Tamara Mchedlidze, Evanthia Dimara, and Jacco Bikker.
• 2022 Graphics course, by Tamara Mchedlidze and Peter Vangorp.