COSC 355 Computer Graphics Spring
1995
* Course Syllabus and Lecture Schedule *
I. Catalog Description:
COSC 355 Computer
Graphics 2c-1l-3sh
Prerequisites: COSC 310 and junior status.
The use of computer graphics hardware and software. An overview of
current applications and experience with representative software will introduce
current practice. Foundations in primitives, geometry, and algorithms of
passive computer graphics are the principal focus of the course. A brief
introduction to interactive computer graphics will be included.
Note: This course is designed as a 300-level first course in
computer graphics for computer science students. It is a controlled elective.
The class meets 3 times a week: twice in lecture, and once in a hands-on, small
group lab session. You will do graphics by writing programs in a higher-level
language .
Expect to write many relatively small programs.
II. Course Objectives
A. To experience computer graphics hardware and software in a
hands-on mode.
B. To write programs those apply basic concepts of computer
graphics in 2 and 3 dimensions.
C. To learn and apply the mathematics and algorithms that are
required for constructing, transforming, and rendering graphic images. These
images will include complex fractal images in 2D, perspective views of
wire-frame images in 3D, and solids that have back faces removed.
D. To program interactive and animated graphic images in 2D.
E. To apply basic concepts of recursion, dynamic memory
allocation, and mathematics to tasks in computer graphics.
III. Preliminary Schedule
for Fall 1994
(Notes: L after a meeting number signifies a hands-on lab session.
All hands-on labs except 6L will be in Stright 107C. Because the text and
working environment are subject to failure and change and because we will need
some flexibility, the following plan is likely to change.)
Class Dates
Topic / Activity /
Comments
------- -------
--------------------------------------------
1 1/18 Intro;
handouts; info sheet; Hill Preface.
2 1/20 Hill
1; Ex. 1.3, 1.4; Finish overview of computer graphics; Paintbrush in Microsoft Windows 3.1.
3L 1/23 Paintbrush
in Windows 3.1; Printing and color printing; Graphic file formats; Scanning; Start
Project #1.
4 1/25 Hill
2.
5 1/27 Hill
2; Hill A1; Services on the Internet that involve graphics.
6L 1/30 Meet
in G-33, the Computer Learning Facility. Project ids on the academic VAX; Graphics
and the Internet; Project 2.
7 2/1 Hill
3.
8 2/3 Hill
3 including Programming Exercises.
9L 2/6 TurboPascal
Graphics; do line drawings; Project 3.
10 2/8 Hill
4.
11 2/10 Hill
4 and Programming Exercises.
12L 2/13 Curves;
Project 4.
13 2/15 Hill 4 and 5.
14 2/17 Hill
5.
15L 2/20 Recursive
curves; Project 5 (three weeks).
16 2/22 Hill
5.
17 2/24 Hill
6.
18L 2/27 Mouse
programming; Hill 1 through 6; Project 5.
19 3/1 Catch-up,
follow-up on details, prepare for mid-term; Reading assignment for lab immediately after break.
20 3/3 Mid-term
Exam.
21L 3/13 2D
transformations. (Hill 6*, photocopies from Second Edition). Project 6; Last day to withdraw
with a W grade.
22 3/15 Review
Exam; Hill 6*.
23 3/17 Hill
6*; Animation.
24L 3/20 Animation;
Project 7.
25 3/22 Hill
10.
26 3/24 Hill
10.
27L 3/27 3D
objects; Project 8 (two weeks).
28 3/29 Hill
11.
29 3/31
Hill 11.
30L 4/3 The
general perspective transformation.
31 4/5 Hill
12.
32 4/7 Hill
12
33L 4/10 Generalized
curves and surfaces; Project 9 (3 weeks).
34 4/12 Hill
14.
35 4/14 Hill
14.
36L 4/17 Curves
and surfaces.
37 4/19 Hill 14.
38 4/21 Hill
16.
39L 4/24 Color.
40 4/26 Hill
16.
41 4/28 Catch-up.
42 5/1 Last
Class - Meet in STR 302 - Project #9 Due
IV. Evaluation
Methods.
I will grade you on projects, quizzes as needed, a midterm exam
and a final. If I give a quiz, I will announce it at least one class prior to
when I give it.
Note that your final examination will seem to be cumulative
because of the nature of the course, but questions from material that was part
of the midterm exam period will focus on absolutely fundamental ideas or
something that was missed on a previous examination. In simpler terms: after
the first exam, study current material, old exams, and really fundamental
things.
I base your final letter grades on the total number of points you
have earned relative to what I judge to be appropriate cutoffs for different
letter grades. You may expect that 90%-80%-70%-60%
will earn no less that A-B-C-D. I will consider moving students
who are close to a cutoff point up or down, depending on your exam scores, your
attendance and participation in each class, and other indications of knowledge
of the subject matter of CO 355. You may check your grades by using the "grade-check." The
APPROXIMATE point distribution will be:
Mid-Term Exam 100
points
Final 100
Projects 150-250
Quizzes 0-50
----------
* Total * 350-500 points